(quilt made by my bee group for my friend Patsy several years ago)
Life is not business as usual and I am no expert on dealing with crisis but here are some of my thoughts on the current situation...
A FULL HEART
Thank you so much to all of the amazing medical and essential workers for showing up and doing your jobs and making a difference. My heart is full of gratitude for each of you.
BE BRAVE
I'm so concerned about those medical and essential workers. It's hard to put into perspective sometimes. My husband is an airline pilot, and he has to travel and ride on airplanes as well as fly them. I have never been concerned for him in the past. I never for one moment worried that he would have a situation that he couldn't handle. Never. Not once. And yet I physically felt ill when he left the house this week. Because this is something he can't control. He has his mask and gloves and wipes and gel and he is smart. He takes all the precautions, but my body told me I was stressed about him leaving for the first time in our 27 years together. (I can't imagine what I would be feeling if he was and ER worker.)
BE KIND
I cope with stress (in general) by doing for others. If I am busy doing something to make a difference for someone else, then I'm not thinking about my own stress. This has been very effective for me in the past. (You may have noticed that I have posted 3 free patterns and tutorials in the past two weeks...yep, my idea of coping!) LOL I've also finished 3 more donation quilts and I'm longarm quilting a pile of donation quilts made by friends.
BE PATIENT
Inability to concentrate must be a side effect of the current situation stress. I can't finish a book, I can't finish a project, I can't finish a task, without being distracted or wandering off to another thing. I'm giving myself permission for that to be okay right now. Now is not the time to get everything done, now is the time to show myself the level of patience I've often shown others.
DON'T GIVE UP
I'm going to KEEP TRYING! I am going to continue to pick up books, start tasks, and make daily to do lists. I'm going to continue to finish what I can and abandon what I can't. I'm much better when I have a lot to accomplish, it gives me motivation to keep going, but I am telling myself daily that it's okay if I don't get the list completed each day.
BE CURIOUS
I know this won't last forever, but will things go back to the way they were before? Do we really want them to? I am thinking about things (habits, thoughts, and activities) that I have had to abandon, and when and if I want to pick those back up. What can I let fall away for the good? What can I recreate or embrace in a new and different way? What new routines and habits will serve me better going forward? I'm not trying to figure it out all at once, but I am trying to be intentional about the choices I make and the thoughts I embrace.
HOPE RISES
Our family economics will change. I am no longer making a financial contribution to the kids college expenses. My husband's job will change dramatically very soon with a much smaller paycheck. We are financially stable, we have reserves, but things will ultimately require that we make different decisions. Our household is now four instead of two. Our family life looks different than it did before. None of these are complaints. We have each other and we are beyond blessed to have the safety net of our love.
My thoughts go out to those whose safety net is not so secure. What can I and my family do to help and support those in our community? What can we do to make life easier and more hopeful for others? I have so many questions with so few specific answers at the moment, but I know that love and hope and family and friends will get us through this strange and scary time.
ASK ME
Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you during this difficult time. Can I share something you are curious about here on the blog? Can I make a tutorial for something you have questions about? Can I longarm for you? Can I send you a box of supplies? Please ask me. I want to be of service to you if I possibly can.
BE SAFE AND STAY WELL
We will get through this together,
Diane
Uncertain times for sure. I appreciate I ate you sharing your thought with us. Since you offered...do you know where I can find the pattern for the quilt in your post? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteLove how you summed all of this up. We are certainly in for a long time of this. I do not know what I would do without my sewing, needlework and quilting. I had been busy making masks for everyone.. Happy Easter to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post and all that you share with us. Take care and stay well.
ReplyDeleteI guess we are twins (oops, I only wish I had a LA!). I'm making masks for family and friends, and now for the cancer center where I have maintenance therapy. "If I'm busy doing something to make a difference for someone else then I'm not thinking about my own stress." That's it! And I'm also having trouble getting into a book, have discarded two in the last week, and that's not normal. But right now, it's okay. I'm going to try sewing something other than masks today, without feeling like I'm a slacker. So maybe a community service quilt? :} Stay well!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your well-considered thoughts. Thank you for offering several new patterns for free. Easter blessings on your family and prayers that your husband stays safe while continuing to provide a necessary service.
ReplyDeletePat
An interesting post on interesting times. I can identify with many of the thoughts, questions, feelings you mentioned. And yes, cutting ourselves and others some slack is really important. But at the same time, I'm trying to keep things as "normal" (whatever that is!) as possible. We are finding that we are having difficulty sleeping, but seem to need more sleep, a cycle that doesn't seem to right itself. Others have mentioned not being able to fall asleep at night. As always, in stressful times, I find the quilting to be soothing and rejuvenating. And when the quilting is to encourage someone else, even more so. Thank you for your inspiring patterns and tutorials and posts. Thank you for being there during these uncertain times. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI was thing before I read your whole blog, how generous you are with your free tutorials. You are certainly helping others, by giving them something else to think about, and a new project to make. Thank you so much for all you do.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking alot about this too: " Iknow this won't last forever, but will things go back to the way they were before? Do we really want them to? I am thinking about things (habits, thoughts, and activities) that I have had to abandon, and when and if I want to pick those back up." No answers but pondering the same. I too....find it difficult to focus. So wierd. But then again, life has been turned upside down! Thinking of you....sending smiles!
ReplyDeleteWhat a thoughtful post and be kind is my wish - this is not a time to be judging others. Thank you for your words
ReplyDelete