2. DAILY MUSING DURING PANDEMIC COVID-19--SENDING THANKS

3.18.20  MORNING THOUGHTS:  Woke up feeling...."normal"?  Not anxious.  Not obsessed.  It feels like such a relief, even if it's only temporary.

Grateful for these brilliant sunny days -- always a heart-opening, uplifting experience for me.  Realizing how healing it is for me to have my mornings to myself, to stare out the window, read, think, write.  Write -- I've written my way through every event of my life.  It is so important to how I process, learn, grow, comfort.

A while ago our 10 y/o granddaughter sat down with me and asked, "So, where did this virus come from?"  We have not had the news on at all when the girls are awake, have not talked much about it between/amongst us, but she is aware because she is totally attuned to everything around her and has a maturity beyond her years. Plus, they got a bit of an explanation at school, but no details which of course she needs.  I notice that she, like me, wants the truth and to try to know what to expect in any situation.

I told her what I know about tracing the virus back to animals, how it spread, and why we are "socially distancing" to stop it.  She observed that "everything has changed" and listed the ways in which her life is different: no school, no friends to hang out with, no playgrounds or museums or movie theaters, no trips to Target or Dairy Queen.  And of course she is right.  I told her this is history and when she is older she can say, "I remember that time; I was 10."  I told her in time this will go away and life will resume in more familiar and maybe even better ways.

Then she hopped up to work on the card she is making to send to the long-term care center where my friend's mother has been living.  We decided to be helpful and encouraging to others because it is a loving, kind thing to do. She is so happy when she is crafting and helping.  What a girl!

NIGHT THOUGHTS:  A day of fun and also frustration.  Our 5 y/o had a rough day.  Not every day is perfect, right?  Short tempers, mini tantrums, things not going smoothly.  But we made it.  All was smiles and hugs at bedtime.  Real life.  Thankful to have these beautiful beings with us, to love and care for them, to teach and encourage, to applaud their greatness and breathe through their challenges.  Thankful for sunshine.  Thankful for the beauty of where we live.  Thankful for health.

At least, that's the view from here...©