Love in the Time of Coronavirus, Pt. 1
Like much of the world last month, I found myself feeling anxious and scared as we became more aware of how devastating the coronavirus pandemic is. I wanted to know that despite all the uncertainty and fear permeating the air, there are still good things in our lives — if we allow ourselves the reminder.
So I turned my weekly newsletter into a daily one: short love notes to support and encourage you.
Usually, you would have to be subscriber to see my newsletter, but I thought that maybe what I write could help you too. So as long as I write them (I set myself the goal of two weeks, but I’ll likely extend that through the end of April), I will publish them in batches of seven for you to read here too.
March 23rd, 2020
Neighbors and pedestrians singing “Lean on Me” on a street in Boston.
A dog so excited about having his quarantined humans at home that he sprained his tail.
Luxury designers LVMH and Christian Siriano allocating resources to produce hand sanitizer and hospital masks.
Entire families spread across the globe catching up over Zoom.
Singer-actress Mandy Moore and her husband hosting a free concert from their home for her followers on Instagram.
Doctors and nurses delivering babies in overburdened hospitals.
An elderly couple celebrating their wedding anniversary through the window of a nursing home.
Trevor Noah humorously, kindly, sharing the news with daily “social distancing” dispatches.
People donating money to make sure no child goes hungry.
Neighbors running errands for one another.
Disney fast-tracking the release of “Frozen 2” on their streaming platform.
Actor Josh Gad reading bedtime stories for children online.
People sharing fun activity suggestions to keep the entire family happily occupied.
Medical teams from China and Cuba arriving in Italy to help.
Landlords offering low-income tenants free board.
Grocery stores opening earlier for seniors.
Tesla producing ventilators for hospitals.
Chef Jose Andres turning is five-star restaurants into soup kitchens.
Companies big and small giving their employees full pay even when their businesses are shuttered.
Children sharing their piggy bank savings with people in need.
An NYC couple getting married on a city street, while their friend officiates from four stories up.
There’s evidence of so much generosity, compassion, and goodness around us right now, if you look.
Always keep looking.
March 24th, 2020
Well after midnight on Saturday night, I said to my hubby, “I think we should do the plank challenge.”
He looked up from his phone and asked, “What do you mean?”
So I explained to him how I’ve seen photo after photo on my Instagram feed of people challenging themselves daily, seeing how long they can hold plank position…and if they can hold it a little longer tomorrow.
My hubby’s response? “Let’s do it.”
While we stay home, one of the best ways we can use this time is to take on a mini-project — something we can manageably commit to — that is challenging, unexpected, and fun.
Choose something — or more than one something — that you can take a step towards daily and that puts a smile on your face. Things like:
Planking for at least 30 seconds.
Doing a YouTube dance tutorial.
Decluttering and organizing your cupboards and closets.
Updating your website or blog.
Reading a classic novel or poetry.
Watching movies or TV shows on your never-ending Netflix/Prime/Hulu/Disney queue.
Composing and taking a photo.
Preparing a new recipe.
Donating $1 to different charities supporting your favorite cause.
Writing a love letter to family and friends.
Or whatever piques your fancy.
That way, when we’re on the other side of this pandemic, you can feel good about having done something for yourself that you wanted to do. No questions asked. No justifications needed.
This is one of the greatest kindnesses you can do for yourself.
And who knows? Your mini-project may give you the inspiration, confidence, and courage to pursue one of your bigger dreams.
March 25th, 2020
Social distancing is about physical distance, but it doesn’t mean preserving a six-feet-or-more emotional distance from the people you love.
One of the best things I’ve done in the past week was to start having FaceTime dates with my BFFs. I also started a group text with all my favorite people.
Doing this has brought some much-needed humor and levity to these crazy circumstances we find ourselves in today.
It feels good to hear the little “ping!” from my phone and see what funny thoughts, stories, and GIPHYs are being shared.
Laughter really is the best medicine.
Don’t wait or second-guess your need for connection and how it will lift your spirts — as well as the spirts of everyone you choose to reach out to.
Remember: the only way out is through. Together.
March 26th, 2020
Let’s clear the air on what it actually means to be positive, shall we?
Staying positive during trying times doesn’t mean you have to dilute or suppress difficult thoughts and feelings.
It’s a form of self-punishment to deny what comes up naturally when the world is inexplicably suffering: irritation, frustration, stress, anxiety, anger, rage, fear.
Ignoring those feelings won’t make you feel better — nor does it make you any less positive.
Being positive is having the ability to own the rainbow of your feelings. It’s recognizing that though you may feel like crap in this moment, you may not in the next moment.
Positivity is the highest form of emotional growth and maturity.
Our world needs our positivity now more than ever.
We all want to preserve our optimism and trust that good things are just around the corner.
And they are!
Our ability to be positive is only enhanced by being able to feel whatever comes up, then find the next best feeling thought or action to move us forward to something better.
So please don’t feel bad about…feeling bad.
Cry, scream, kick, yell, curse your heart out.
Get it out of your system.
Once you do, you’ll be ready to start feeling good again.
March 27th, 2020
Though our best laid plans have fallen to the wayside, though we are inconvenienced, though we face disappointments big and small, one of the biggest gifts we can give ourselves is to see how this may be working in our favor.
This can feel so hard to do, and maybe it even feels wrong, but it’s the most natural way to tap into our patience, generosity, kindness, and love.
What gifts are these unprecedented circumstances giving you?
Perhaps you’ve been given the gift of time: to do things you otherwise don’t have time for, invest in self-care, or laugh with loved ones.
Perhaps you’ve been given the gift of inspiration: to create, explore, or experiment with ideas and projects.
Perhaps you’ve been given the gift of opportunity: to reinforce what feels right or choose differently.
Perhaps you’ve been given the gift of motivation: to start, continue, or finish.
The more you focus on the best of right now, the more you can feel good about where you’re going.
March 28th, 2020
Today, I dare you to do something bold: I want you to write a note to someone you don’t know personally.
You could write to someone you follow on social media, someone you greatly admire, a celebrity, a friend of a friend you’ve heard stories about, a long-lost relative, whomever!
You could ask them a question a fun question or a more specific one, let them know what you appreciate about them, say thank you, or send your best, healthiest wishes. You’re only limited by your inhibitions and imagination.
Even if you don’t get a response, doing this is a an act of generosity and camaraderie — which are the facets of connection.
And I know even the most introverted of us can use reminders that in these most uncertain of times, connection is always available.
March 30th, 2020
We have forgotten how to sit with boredom.
Since this period of distance and isolation started, there have been more public declarations of boredom than I can remember ever seeing.
Boredom is actually an excellent challenge for the imagination.
On one hand, it sparks your creativity, asking you to think of things you can do.
On the other, it asks you to be present with your underlying feelings.
We’re so used to to-do-listing our way through life that boredom makes us want to rip our hair out.
But the best way to be in-flow with boredom (aka stop fighting it and yourself) is to find something to focus your attention on. Do something that you find calming, meditative even, so that you can be in-step with your boredom. It can be anything at all. Just do it without second-guessing or over-analyzing.
Sometimes we just need to do…things. No big reason needed.
Doing this is just letting yourself be, which is so powerful because answers come to you more easily when you’re not fighting so hard against whatever the present is serving you.
Don’t avoid your boredom. Embrace it. It is a luxury that can help you figure out what you need, want, and are capable of.
This is about you
You can see a compilation of the next seven Love Notes here next week.
Or you can get them (nearly) every day by subscribing to my newsletter, Sunday Letters.
Either way, I hope you and yours are safe, healthy, and still able to find reasons to feel good every day.
