Do Not Under Estimate the Power of Giving Yourself a Hug, Especially If You Are Physically Isolated
I remembered this tonight.

Today I was filled with grief and anxiety, having taken in the pictures of India and Palestine and Iran and New York and Italy and for-profit prisons in the US and cages of refugees at the border and the over-burdened and under-supported health care workers and and and. And being out walking is strange.
First, I counted my blessings. Then because I know what helps me, I did it:
I sat myself down and did pranayama and meditation, made healthy simple meals, worked with focus all day, gave more money to those out helping and trying to change things for the better, spent some time cleaning and gardening, and soon will return to practicing, putting aside the influx of information for the remaining hours before bed.
Blessings to all of you.

I went for a walk with a neighbor–all the way remaining 6+feet apart and changing course to give others that we encountered at least that much space. It’s been a while since I’ve talked while I walked.
Then I washed with requisite attention and enthusiasm when I came back home.

I’ve been going out just at full light, before even most of the workers, to be safe and actually practice physical distancing.
I am realizing just how dependent I am on walkabout, and this next phase is requiring me to find other ways to soothe spirit and best exercise for my body.
I’m blessed to have internal stairs. I’ve been going up and down them a lot.

The beans were the last of last year’s beans out of the freezer, the squash was the last of last year’s squash. Everything else was a long storage vegetable or a pantry item.
