It's a COVID-19 world...I'm just living in it

Hey world. Wow, talk about a recent turn of events, huh? I hope everyone is well and keeping safe in this world currently being dominated by COVID-19. It's kind of odd to me, that expression at this time..."keeping safe." I mean, yes, of course I hope you're staying physically safe, but I also hope that you're keeping your mental health safe. I, in my humble opinion, think the world is so focused on physical health right now that it's easy to overlook our mental state.

People are losing jobs, schools are closed (I now have a *whole* new appreciation for parents who homeschool), stores are closed, almost all of the things that used to bring us joy and fulfillment are now off-limits (call me petty, but I really miss going to Sephora, the hair salon and happy hour). People are stuck indoors, unable to pay for the very walls surrounding them; rates of domestic and child abuse are rising; educations and social events are hugely impacted; weddings are being cancelled or postponed and people are unable to have memorials and/or funerals for their deceased loved ones because of social distancing. I'm sure there are so many other things I can't even fathom.

So, in the spirit of focusing on mental health, I wanted to share some things that are currently keeping me (partially) sane:

• Card games. I broke out my deck and have rediscovered my love for Solitaire, sans computer. I have also learned my son is really good at Go Fish, Old Maid and SlapJack. I wouldn't have known this if I wasn't forced to come up with activities to do together now that we have an unexpected 6+ hours together every day.  

Playing Solitaire during self-isolation is perfect poetic justice

• Getting creative with my workouts. At home bodyweight workouts, running (when the weather isn't complete shit) and biking have become my go-tos. I have always known that exercising was so much more to me than simply staying in shape. It is my mental release, my free therapy (and who doesn't need that right now, amiright?) and keeps me pleasant to be around. I need it now more than ever.

Missing the gym but not giving up

• Reading. OH MY GOD I AM READING SO MUCH RIGHT NOW. I will do a book post soon because guys, I have *so* many freaking good book recommendations. Trust. 

So many books, so much time...

• TV. I cringe as I write this because normally I can hardly sit through an entire episode, much less a movie (my son may or may not have inherited his ADHD from his mama....). But, with forced isolation, I got sucked into Tiger King, Little Fires Everywhere, and The Morning Show. They are brilliant, awe-inspiring and guilty pleasure induced viewing. #obsessed

My cat was more obsessed with Tiger King than I was

• Wine. 'Nuff said. Also, if you're a fellow wine lover, I highly encourage you to (re?)watch Sideways starring Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church..."I am NOT drinking any fucking Merlot!" Haha, so good.

It's Pinot Noir, not Merlot

• Connecting with friends whom I haven't spoken with in a long time, or talking even more with the people I already bug on a weekly basis. I really miss human interaction, but I am glad that our pandemic is happening in an age of FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, Marco Polo, etc. etc. Can you imagine how it would be to get through the 1918 pandemic?! No, thanks!

So, so thankful for these beautiful ladies

I hope sharing some of the things I'm doing is helpful, if not at least a little entertaining. In all seriousness, I'm really struggling through all of this, but as Robert Frost said, "The best way out is through." We will get through this, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and we will be able to look back at this one day and rejoice together that it's over. Until then, I recommend drinking wine and watching Tiger King.

xo,

R