Sheltering in Place, Social Distancing

Sheltering in Place and Social Distancing:  where these even terms two or three months ago?  Well, out of necessity they are things we are trying that we haven't tried before.  My thoughts, I am sure, are not different from most.  I have tried to keep up to date and have gone from going about business as usual to not doing anything except essentials with others.  This has happened over a two week period.  My mind and emotions are both reeling.  trying to make sense, but failing.  Some things are not to be made sense of.

I don't know any answers.  I do know I do not want to be responsible for any unintended exposures among my friends and family, so while I do not like it I am doing things differently.  I am not hugging, and I miss it.  Growing up, our family was not huggers, or I guess I should say my mom was not a hugger, and I took my cues from her until I was well into adulthood and friends taught me the value to the human spirit of physical contact.  Anyhow, when Mom was dying and could not fight back, her sister and I gave her hugs and told her there was nothing she could do.  In a croaky voice her response, "It's ok, I like hugs." This has little to do with sheltering in place and social distancing, but does speak to human needs that are sometimes masked by whatever social norms we grow up with.  I was lucky enough to have friends and family work me through the hugs issue...Mom never had that opportunity.

So, back to sheltering in Place and Social Distancing.  I miss hugging.  I am still walking with friends and have a coffee date (which we have moved to home rather than coffee shop) weekly.  I stress  about whether this is ok or not, and then move on.

I want to: Keep living.  Keep being grateful.  Recognize that this too shall pass.  Continue to find Joy in each day.  I have done these things subconsciously for a long time.  Our altered reality made me bring them back up to a place where I focus on them daily...to offset the unsettling news I do read.  To offset the uncertainty.  To offset the fear and to live in faith and the peace that brings.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2Timothy 1:7

-Sending you all a virtual hug ❤