General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: How is Everyone Here Coping? I'm find it very hard these days.. [View all]silverweb
(16,402 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"](1) Avoid most news programs and most TV. The actual television itself was given away in 2007, and I only watch 1-2 favorite shows on line each evening. Reading is more rewarding, anyway.
(2) Music... and dancing when I feel like it, 'cause no one's looking. Pandora's on most of the time and programming my favorites is an ongoing project.
(3) Gardening. I have a tiny, tiny fenced "yard" with limited sunshine that I've been turning into my "secret garden," with herbs and partial-sun-loving plants. Another ongoing project.
(4) Eating right. I rarely eat out or have any kind of junk food. Ovo-lacto-vegetarian, healthy oils, multi-culture yogurt, lots of veggies, and lots healthy herbs and tasty spices (especially black seed, turmeric, and cinnamon, but a number of carefully selected others, too).
(5) Meditation. I've been practicing this casually for a few years now and it's become a necessary, very fruitful part of my life.
(6) Other personal projects. Started sewing again after many years and making my own clothes. I'm trying to get most of my fabrics from thrift store clothes, hoping to re-imagine them into a useful, attractive wardrobe. Another ongoing project.
(7) Cats. I have 4 of them, all rescues from my years in Mexico, who are a major part of my life, good for a lot of laughs and cozy companionship.
(8) My kids. They're both grown and I don't see them as often as I'd like, but thanks to modern technology, we're in close touch.
(9) Last but not least... beer. I don't drink, but there was a fascinating study published in The Smithsonian about how just a taste of beer, not counting any alcohol effects, causes a major boost in dopamine and pleasure/happiness reaction. I bought some Guinness lager and have started drinking just a small wine glass of it with dinner. Very nice.
Yeah, I'm coping okay.