Reminders for Good
I know there’s a lot going on right now.
I know you’re as inundated as I am with emails letting you know what every business you’ve ever heard of's official “Covid-19” policies are.
And stories about hoarded hand-sanitizer and empty toilet paper aisles and all the ways people sometimes cope with fear and uncertainty that leave us feeling empty and disconnected.
But I want to remind you of a few things today.
I want to remind you that there is tremendous beauty and kindness and generosity happening all around us right now as well.
Whether it’s Italians singing to each other from their balconies or people and companies doing what they can to ease the financial burden, if you look, you can find a story of love and compassion and community for every single story of selfishness you hear.
I encourage you to not only find and share those stories of compassion and generosity, but also to be those stories.
Where can you give a little extra love right now? Words of encouragement, grace around other people’s responses, support to people who may feel isolated.
I want to remind you that we are complex and multi-faceted beings capable of holding multiple truths within our hearts at once.
It is possible to take a situation seriously and to do your part while also finding humor and lightness where you can.
We are facing a very serious problem, but please don’t deprive your life of laughter and joy while we all wait to see what the next steps are.
You are allowed to feel calm at the same time you feel concerned. You are allowed to enjoy your family or your movie or your cat all while still monitoring the well-being of those around you.
Anxiety and fear and overwhelm are not synonyms for responsibility, and you do not have to feel them as a mark of your engagement.
I want to remind you that you have a lot of real choices right now.
You can choose how much news is healthy for you to take in in any given hour or day.
You can choose whether you balance that news intake with something that helps manage any anxiety or fear that came up.
You can choose to contribute to the chaos or you can choose to contribute to the calm.
You can choose to embrace this break from the usual “busy-ness” or to lament the inconvenience.
You can choose to feel inspired by the challenge of having to learn new ways to do things or you can remain rigid and frustrated.
I understand that this is difficult for many people on many different levels. I understand that this is all very serious.
But we live in an era where it is more possible to connect, even from a healthy and safe distance, than ever before.
Embrace that fact and make the most of it.
Embrace this chance to try new technology, to be creative with how to use it in community with others, to keep sharing your gifts with the world.
And embrace this invitation to slow down, to re-connect with what is most important to you.
Before I go, I just want to leave you with a some links that perhaps you’ll find helpful…if you have anything to add, please leave a comment and share it with me so I can add your recommendations.
If you are looking for ways to fill your time at home with learning:
I taught myself to type here (yes, I somehow made it to adulthood without learning and I’ve long regretted it…) (free)
John and Hank Green and their team created the amazing Crash Course online courses….seriously, these are freaking amazing and super fun and totally free, so brush up on everything from literature to chemistry to film studies in manageable 10-20 minute bites. (free)
Project Gutenberg has more than 60,000 e-books available for free in their online library, no special apps required. (free)
Skillshare is one of my favorite places for learning random creative skills ranging from making videos on my iPhone to watercolor (this is the rabbit hole I fell down a few weeks ago, remember?). Use this link to get 2 months of Premium for free. (Free trial + paid)
Creative Live tends to go a little more in-depth than Skillshare and their classes are paid for individually (or you can watch them live in real-time for free). This is my go-to when I want more in-depth online learning of a specific creative skill. Use this link to get $15 off your first class. (Paid)
Rosetta Stone is my go-to for language learning and I’ve had a membership for a long time (they’re awesome!). It’s a paid program, so if you’re looking for something free, I’ve heard good things about Duolingo, but haven’t ever used it. Try it out and let me know what you think!
And just a friendly reminder- YouTube and enough willingness to dig around until you find something good is an endless treasure trove of free learning, music, etc.
If you are looking for ways to find some calm or inspiration or just a good laugh:
I love the Insight Timer meditation app. It’s my meditation timer of choice, but it has a wide variety of teachers, guided meditations, and classes that are lovely for finding a grounding place when things feel heavy or out of control. I’m a particular fan of Sarah Blondin’s guided meditations and sometimes just like to listen while I walk the dog or prep dinner veggies. (Free + a paid upgrade option)
I’ve mentioned Brendan Leonard’s work here before, but visit his blog and especially his Inspiration Fridays for a wide variety of all that will inspire you and make you laugh that is good on the interwebs. He has a talent for humor with heart and is one of my go-to sources when I’m looking for something to lift my spirits. Plus, his chart art is hysterical. (free)
If you’re a yoga teacher or someone trying to figure out how to pivot quickly into sharing your service online, this resource by Michelle Martello is super handy as a place to begin. (free)
If you are looking for ways to actively contribute to making things better for people struggling:
I know there are community boards popping up all over the place on Facebook and other platforms, and from community centers/churches/etc— please reach out to your community resources online and see if there is a way to connect to their work.
If you have the means, please consider still paying for any services that you usually patronize even if they are cancelled. Massages, yoga classes, cleaning, childcare, etc— let’s minimize the economic impact where we can.
Also if you have the means, please consider helping directly via Go Fund Me pages (you can search by region if you’re looking for something close to home) or via Simone Gordon, a single mom to a special needs child who has dedicated herself to connecting people in need with the resources to take care of them. She’s incredible and I try to go through her projects weekly to find a place I can contribute something.
Please send along any additional resources you can think of or have served you well.
I love the way this community is filled to the brim with kindness, concern, and curiosity. Thank you for being a part of it.
In the words of the ever wonderful Glennon Doyle, “we can do hard things.”
And we can— we really, really can.
Stay curious out there, my friends!