Advice from a Worrywart – Coronavirus
I have spent most of my life weighing my need to be informed against my need to be sane. I am a worrywart. Knowing that someone was bitten by a snake in Brazil and the snake is on the loose can cause me great distress, even from my safe perch a continent away. So, you can imagine what all the news about the Coronavirus is doing to me – and maybe you even feel the same way. By ten o’clock this morning I realized that if the virus doesn’t kill me, my nerves certainly will.
My tendency to worry has forced me to develop habits and tools that help to rein me in. With the “Happiest Place on Earth” (Disneyland) announcing its temporary closure, what better time than now to implement some of these strategies. I am hoping some of these ideas can help you too!
- Go buy some bubble gum. Don’t panic – you do not need much; unlike toilet paper, one package is enough. Plus, you can share that package! Chewing the gum will help calm your nerves and you can think about this statement while blowing bubbles:
There are things we can control and things we can’t control. We are all good at controlling what we can, so let’s face it the things we are worrying about are the things we can’t control. Mary Schmich tells us that “Worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.” So, make a list of what you can control and control it, and then smack your lips around that pink glob and do some deep breathing.
- Wash your hands and be wise, and then spread kindness. Kindness can actually spread faster the any virus and is known for its health-inducing features. Kindness is also contagious. Think of the ripple effect it can have if everyone did something! Call or text your neighbors to check in on them. Stay home and make some cookies and ding-dong ditch someone you know is lonely. Say some prayers for others and let them know you are thinking about them.
- Be like Uncle Roy. Be Positive. During the Great Depression of the 1930’s, my Uncle Roy always wore two things. A smile and a button that said “Business is great!” People were inherently drawn to Uncle Roy because of his positivity. He believed that America would come out on top. And while I’m not comparing the Great Depression to the Coronavirus, the principle stands. Uncle Roy’s warmth, positivity, and willingness to adapt not only enabled him to become a successful businessman, but to inspire positivity and hope in others.
- Flex your muscles. You can do hard things. Yes, the sky is grey, everyone is worried, and it is no fun to have all the NCAA games canceled. I was already working on my March Madness bracket when I heard the news. But in all seriousness, I know the economy will be affected and there will be many other repercussions from this virus in addition to the health issues. And yet we need to remember, each of us – we are stronger than we think. We are innovative, we are creative, and we will figure it all out. For now, look at the Coronavirus as a challenge and don’t throw your hands up into the air. You are strong. You can turn disappointment and worry into something else. Find ways to bring joy into your life. Put that Christmas puzzle together with your kids. Write a letter to your grandmother. Finish that basement project. Make your home the happiest place on earth.
I read an article today written by a woman who has lived in quarantine for a month in Wuhan, China. But instead of listing her grievances and the many luxuries she is learning to live without, she listed her blessings. Quarantine has offered her the gift of more family time. More rest. More time to read, reminisce, and snuggle her loved ones. But perhaps her most remarkable observation was the gift of bird song. The constant grind of city noise and traffic has always drowned out any sounds of nature. But now that Wuhan is silent, she wakes up each morning listening to the birds sing. This may be a time of dramatic change, worry, and sickness, but let’s lean into the quiet and remember that it’s also a time for kindness, positivity, and bird song.
