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Deep Blonde Thoughts

~ Emitting thoughts, tongue-in-cheek observations on life and lifestyles

Deep Blonde Thoughts

Tag Archives: mental health

Using humour to get through the rough times

12 Saturday Sep 2020

Posted by shewrite63 in education, Health, pets, therapy

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

art therapy, connections, COVIDdoodles, doodles, family, humor, humour, mental health, pandemic, plague, remote work

First, I hope followers and readers are safe and healthy.

I am thinking of folks adapting to pandemic protocols, political uncertainty in the south, forest fires in the west, tornadoes in the middle and hurricanes in the east.

Then there’s the rest of the world where I feel I have little control of events except through donations to humanitarian causes.

Doodle – I accept that I don’t have control of everything

When you’re surrounded by chaos and uncertainty, it helps to take a few minutes a day to sit in quiet, to meditate and if anything, just count the breaths.

I am still grateful to have a job and flexibility to work from home. I am still hopeful for a future career by starting school last week, now as an online course in the part-time program. It’s nice to hear familiar voices, to see familiar faces although pixelated, and to discipline myself into focused learning again.

I am grateful to see one of my offspring in person every few weeks. I feel satisfied to hear and see other loved ones over the phone, video chats and during physically distanced picnics in the park. It has been over a year since I have travelled to visit my grandchildren. Heartbroken, I still compensate by sending them birthday cards and small gifts through the mail. My heart skips a happy beat when their parents send me an email or text message. It seems like so long since I have received a barely legible letter from my oldest granddaughter.

The used bookshop where I would volunteer on weekends has been closed since March. I miss it. I think about the library staff, the regular patrons, the Seniors, the socially and economically challenged who rely on these services.

I spend my lonely nights watching TV, movies and doodling. I seek out comedies to help with the release of belly laughs.

COVIDdoodle One Day at a Time

Hop on over to the Tabby Cat’s blog to see some doodles I did to get me through the blur of days and weeks in the past six months.

Pushing for Friday

I invite you to read this quickly sketched comic, a humorous depiction of a typical day working from home.

Humour: Going through the motions of remote work during isolation

Thanks for dropping by. What are you doing to cope during these trying times?

COVIDdoodle – This too shall pass

Otherwise, stay safe. Take care of yourself and each other.

T

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Six weeks into the pandemic lock-down

26 Sunday Apr 2020

Posted by shewrite63 in community, Food and Cooking, Health, philosophy, Warm fuzzy, writing

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

agoraphobia, coping skills, introverts, isolation, mental health, pandemic

It has been one month since my last blog entry. 

The days and weeks blend together like a blur while in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here’s my status update:

  • Still alive and in relatively good health (physically and mentally);
  • Still performing remote IT support work and getting paid;
  • Got my bedroom back after one offspring decided to return to his rental;
  • I am thankful for the remaining offspring who is good company, a big help with getting groceries and doing other chores;
  • Cooking a lot of hearty meals to share and use for plan-overs;
  • Spending more time on the phone, chatting with family and friends;
  • Handed in my final exam for one part-time college course (essay questions – yuck);
  • I trimmed my own bangs.

As a Canadian, I am proud of and I trust the efforts made by our Governments and public health advisors in keeping us updated on the pandemic issue. Politicians at all levels seem to be putting aside their partisanship and are working together to battle this common enemy.

I am in no rush to return to the buses, the office, restaurants, coffee bars and beauty salons.

little blonde jots words of wisdom - introvert during pandemic

Little Blonde Jots – Words of Wisdom

If you appreciate shorter bursts of observational wisdom, you might like the Little Blonde Jots photo series.

Suggestions / words of wisdom: 

  • This is bigger than all of us and our problems in comparison. As we manage our own anxieties, we need to keep things in perspective;
  • Keep in contact with family and friends (Ring, ring: Canadians are calling each other a lot more during COVID-19 pandemic, telecoms say – https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/canada-phone-covid-19-1.5540075);
  • Don’t watch the news too often – especially press briefings with the big mouth to the south! As incredibly stupid as it is, don’t expose your sensibilities to his rants.
  • Get fresh air, move your body and.. wash your hands.

See you in another month.

Thanks for dropping by. Take care of yourself and each other.

T

 

Comforting thoughts of going home

07 Saturday Apr 2018

Posted by shewrite63 in Art, community, Health, pets, therapy, Warm fuzzy

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

anxieties, cats, comforts, community, crafts, fund raising, health, homeless, mental health, quilt

I recently pushed my limits with social anxieties.

I was proud with how I kept it together at a public event last month. Yeah, I lasted about an hour and a half. 

The event was a mid-week fund raiser for a local agency that provides temporary shelter plus mental health support for the homeless and those caught in the claws of addiction.

Based on the ticket cost, the quality of the tasty treats, wine and dignitaries in attendance, I could soon tell I was in with a different crowd.

According to the suggested starting bids for the items in the silent auction and the live auction, I felt a sense of disparity between the purpose of the event and the money flowing from attendees. I felt disappointment at the waste of food and lack of sustainable measures taken for composting and recycling.

I was certainly in with a different crowd.

The one thing that kept me staying longer than I wanted was to see if anyone else would outbid me on a quilt in the silent auction. I lingered beside the table, nursing my wine while wincing at the loud music from the speakers and the over-excited voice of the live auctioneer. I had my fill of food and wine. I had my fill of social interactions.

The quilt appealed to me because my paternal grandmother used to make them – back in the day when they used scrap material and there was symbolism, cultural meaning in the patterns.

The quilt appealed to me because of the comforting feeling it can represent, a feeling like a loving home, like a soft blanket wrapped around you, holding you tight and assuring that everything is going to be alright.

It also appealed to me because it was one of the less-expensive items on the table. 

Quilt on futon

I approached the people at the registration desk and explained my need to leave. They assured me it was okay and that they would call my cell number later if I had the winning bid.

And they did.

I was soon the proud owner of a locally crafted quilt. I like how it adds to the colour and comfort of my quiet, humble home. 

Tabby cat on quilt on futon

Miss Geneva Tabby checks out the new quilt on her futon

I have a home. For that I am grateful.

Thank you for stopping by.

 T
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