"I say this to myself to remind myself how blessed I am, to stay on track, and stay grateful.

[babylonsister]

From a friend; I do not know the author...

Today a friend shared an entry she had come across which she felt provided her with a sense of balance and perspective. I think it is worth sharing. Here it is:

"I say this to myself to remind myself how blessed I am, to stay on track, and stay grateful.

1. There are no bombs raining on our heads.
2. I am not a prisoner held in solitary confinement, as millions are.
3. I am not a refugee trying to escape with my life.
4. I am not standing in line waiting to fill a pot of water.
5. I have access to fresh food and I'm not starving.
6. I have hot running water.
7. My country has not been devastated by years of war.
8. I can reach my friends (by phone, text, email, social media) and check in with them.
9, My friends check in on me because they care about me.
10. Any whiplash I feel about this strange turn of events is itself a sign of privilege.
11. More than half the world would gladly trade their everyday problems for the modest inconveniences I am experiencing.
12. I may have anxious dreams, but I'm dreaming them in a proper bed, and I'm not sleeping on the sidewalk.
13. By staying at home, I am helping the planet rest. [Note: If you live in LA, look outside at the sky -- it's clearer now than it has ever been in our lifetimes.]
14. As long as I have my mind I can create, imagine, dream and not be lonely.
15. This global crisis connects me to people around the world and reminds me of our common humanity.
16. When something tragic happens to another country next time, I will respond to it, not with superiority, but with humility and recognition.
17. I will fight for positive changes, social and economic justice, in my own country.
18. I am surrounded by books [I will read, and I will learn].
19. I am surrounded by love.
20. I will take solace from the trees: they have already started to bloom."

[Skittles]

1. indeed

I find a lot of the angst out there now - just ONE MONTH into this - a bit odd - I think maybe a lot of folk have never been through bad times before.

[babylonsister]

2. For me, I think fear of the unknown is the most frightening.

That might apply to a lot of people. So I stay home.

[Skittles]

3. it's an unsettling feeling

I grew up with it.

[SheltieLover]

4. Me too, Skittles

WTH staying home is that bad? (I am not diminishing the suffering, death & financial terror by any means.)

I'm very grateful I have a safe roof over my head, food to eat, clean water to drink & wash with, etc. 👍

And I truly fear for the planet because it does not seem there is much, if any, talk about how continued telework arrangements, etc. can help to slow global warming. 😢

Everyone wants to "get back to normal," but "normal" was not serving us well long-term.

This is all so heartbreaking.

[Nay]

5. I think a lot of the angst comes from knowing what a fuckwit we have for a president.

We can't rely on him doing anything right, except by accident.

Mixed into all this are the millions of people who lost their jobs -- their plight is dire, and getting worse by the day. Back in the first Depression, everyone who lost a job was able to find a relative with a farm and go there to help with farming and livestock so they didn't starve. Now? Gotta have enough money for rent and food. There are no farms to go back to.

[Skittles]

6. oh don't get me wrong

I understand people are distressed - but some of the reactions are bizarre - not changing clothes for days? not bathing? Acting as if you're a prisoner? Howling to "feel alive"? I mean, come on.

[smirkymonkey]

7. Thank you for this.

I try to remind myself every day of what I have to be grateful for, and there is a lot.

This is only a minor inconvenience for me. I have everything I need and I am still connected to the outside world via various forms of multi-media so I am hardly suffering. It's a little scary, but for now I am safe and healthy and that is the best I can hope for.

This will end eventually, but for now, I am taking it a day at a time and trying to make the best of it. I will do my part to avoid making the problem worse.