Heeeeyyyyyyy APW,
I’m at the point—in this roller coaster of a new world, where sitting down to write five sentences about how this week was feels beyond me. My oldest is currently upstairs screaming, because… well, ostensibly because of schoolwork, but really because life. My kids, like us, miss their friends, hugs, leaving the house, and any semblance of a normal life. And of course, they have less coping tools than we do.
Which brings me to coping tools. I recently realized that I spent about a month eating my feelings (personally, I can drink without repercussions, but bacon and chocolate cookies are for sure my vice of choice when it comes to burying my feelings). Last weekend, I decided that needed to stop,—as I realized that this is a long term situation, I also realized that I need to find emotionally healthy(er) ways to cope. And sure enough, day one of not burying my feelings in cookie dough was… emotionally tough (and decidedly less delicious). So I’ve been trying to figure out more emotionally healthy coping tools, but it’s insanely hard, because we can’t… leave the house. I’ve been focusing on moving my body, connecting with friends, and learning new things. Learning new things, in particular, seems to do really good things for my brain. And instead of avoiding my feelings, I’m trying to, you know, feel them. But it’s often not that fun.
So that brings me to you. How are you coping? Of your coping tools, what feels healthy, what feels fine-it’s-a-pandemic, and what feels like Not Coping Well And Probably Should Stop?
What are your wins for the week? I went to a virtual dance class, had lots of (virtual) connection, and worked on putting together virtual education programs. All of them helped, even when it felt like rolling a boulder up a hill.
How are you doing? Here’s your open thread.
xo
Meg
P.S. Breaking! Governor Newsom signed and executive order on virtual marriages. California, it’s GO TIME.
(Photo is from the last time I left the house in a car, on my 40th birthday, two weeks/ a lifetime ago.)
