Coronavirus – how are you really feeling? #5

Just in case you didn’t know, I am still feeling very overwhelmed and anxious due to the whole Coronavius pandemic.  I just can’t shake those feelings…… how about you?  Are you having the same feelings?  Please share with me if you have any suggestions or thoughts for how to lift my spirits….

As of yesterday, there are 2 cases of the virus in our county.  There are still no cases in the adjoining county where we actually do all our shopping & medical appts.  So far, our very rural area has been spared as most rural communities seem to be.  We are thankful for living where we do…. something to be said for living somewhere rural away from hurricanes, tornadoes, and, in this case, the virus.

In Norfolk, where my mom resides, there are already 25+ cases.  In McMinn County TN, where Daniel & his family live, there are 3 cases.  In the Pender County NC, where David & his family live, there are zero cases, but he works close to New Hanover where there are 27 cases.  In San Antonio TX, where Derrick & his family live, there are 157 cases and 5 deaths.  All very very scary.

This is a time we can all come together as neighbors and friends.  This is a time we should get back in touch with loved ones who may have drifted apart from us either intentionally or just because we have been so busy we have let them drift away.  Make a list of those folks whom you feel compelled to reach out to then reach out to at least one a day.  Check out each person as you make contact and when (hopefully) they respond or reply.  Reacquainting ourselves with even one neighbor, one friend, one family member, will help us see some sunshine in our lives and will serve to help lift up our spirits.

Today, we are reaching out to a neighbor.  We have drifted apart due to political differences.  Nothing in particular happened, but, due to our political differences, we have gone our separate ways.  We know we will never be “best friends” because of those differences, but we can sure be good neighbors.  We never know when we might need them or vice versa.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

Try this today and let me know your results.  I am betting it will be positive and uplifting.  God bless you all today & always! ❤

Coronavirus is making me feel anxious #4

For some reason, I am feeling very anxious… nervous….jittery today.  And I just can’t figure out exactly why….. I mean I can’t figure out specifically why.  Is anyone else feeling the same?

Unfortunately, I have had these feelings before….. even not long ago.  I had thoughts of who would even miss me if I was gone?  I had thoughts of just signing off – saying goodbye.  Not a pleasant feeling at all, so, if anyone else feels this way, trust me, I can definitely relate.  It took every single bit of my being to push those thoughts back in a corner and even now they stick their ugly head out occasionally.  I just don’t talk about it.  And I have only shared this emotional distress with one dear friend (you know who you are)!

So, why do we feel this way?  I know & understand why some folks feel this way because of what they are going through – cancer, loss of job, etc.  But, I have none of those pressures in my life.  None.

I have a great husband.  I have 3 successful sons, 3 wonderful daughter in laws, and 6 precious grandchildren.  I could say that maybe I am distressed because I don’t see the boys and their families often enough, but, I honestly don’t think that fact would make me feel this down & out….. would it?

Sure, I have health issues – Lupus, hypothyroidism, terrible knee issues (yes, I need total knee replacements in both knees!), Rosacea, all kinds of spinal issues and spurs in different locations in my neck & back…. the list goes on but I won’t bore you and I won’t say my anxiety is due to my health issues.

Money could be a partial problem but I wouldn’t even say that was a main cause….. we are managing because we have my husband’s Social Security and we have some savings which we are trying not to dip into.  I do feel that sometimes my husband is very redundant when it comes to money issues and, yes, that stresses me out, but is it a cause for some major anxiety?  I don’t know.

Then, there is the fact we are trying to sell our property here.  We do love our property and that’s a given, but, we are not able to keep up and care for it the way we were when we bought the place in 2003.  Apple orchards, blueberry patch, 4+ acres of grass to mow & trim, 2 ponds to keep pristine, and the list goes on.  We are thankful for it all, but, at the same time we are getting tired.  We are ready to move so a young couple can buy this place and love it the way we have loved it.

Another contributing factor is the situation with my mother in law.  She is in CO with my sister in law.  Due to my sister in law controlling every aspect of my mother in law’s life, we are not able to see her, talk to her, or even communicate with her in any way whatsoever.  It’s a very sad situation which my husband brings up almost every single day and I admit that it does add to my level of anxiety because we can’t change anything about it – we’ve tried.

So, there are a few things going on…. maybe my anxiety is just due to the ol’ Coronavirus, but I am guessing that it is because of all the above including the virus and put together it’s a heavy burden and definitely a cause for distress…..

Ok, friends, I can’t change much about the above (I’ve tried), so I realize I need to put these things behind me.  Do what I can each day to bring calm to our every day lives and take one day – one step – at a time.  That’s really all I can do right now…. .

How are you feeling?  Do you feel anxiety?  I will be praying for my readers today and always.

God bless you!

Coronavirus makes people do crazy things #3

So, what all have you seen that fits under my title?  I am wondering because I honestly believe that the Coronavirus is making people do crazy things!!

Like the whole toilet paper thing…. people are absolutely hoarding toilet paper!  When I went into Ingles grocery store the other day there was a lady with two carts – yes, two! – full of toilet paper!  Not one single package of any kind was on the shelf, so she graciously asked me if I would like one package which I did take then thanked her.  I think she felt bad cause she had so much toilet paper so she explained that she has 8 extra people at her home so she needed more toilet paper then usual.  🙂

From that aisle I went to get some milk, eggs, cheese, etc.  Picked up the items I needed then went to grab a bottle of wine.  When I pushed my way into the beer/wine area there were these two younger guys chatting – both guys had two carts each of beer/wine!  No kidding – two carts each!  They saw me glance at their carts so one of them said they had what they needed to get through…. wow!  I grabbed a box of beer then went on to the register where I had to wait behind 3 other folks before my turn.  My favorite cashier, an older guy named Brian, was running the register.  The folks ahead of me had so many groceries, toilet paper, etc that it took 30 minutes for me to just get up to where I could start putting my things on the conveyor belt!  Anyway, after I asked Brian how he was doing he said that the store had been swamped that day and two or three days prior.  All the cashiers were getting overtime and things were hopping!  No complaints for a bigger pay check but he was worried about the possibility of contracting the virus from someone who unknowingly had the virus and thus they were spreading germs…. I mean, how would we even know?

It’s a risk we take when we go into the store, the post office, the pharmacy….. and all I know to do is pray and try to social distance myself from others in the store.  No idea what else I could do…..

So, tomorrow, instead of going to our dermatologist (appt has been cancelled by the doctor’s office) we’ll go by the recycling center to dispose of our accumulation of trash…. we’ll go by the pharmacy to pick up our filled prescriptions… and we’ll hit up the grocery store for a couple things.  I am already praying I do not come in contact with anyone carrying the virus….

In this time of uncertainty & sickness, we need to be caring, prayerful, kind, and patient with others.  We are all in the same boat of uncertainty, floating along, waiting on something positive to happen and a cure to be found.

Love you & God bless you!

Please share your thoughts!