Below are posts I made on Facebook that aimed at supporting my own and others care for our emotional well-being. (I went into social distancing mode on March 11th)

March 13, 2020

I’ve been practicing and thinking a lot about managing anxiety, social distancing and not emotional distancing, how I and we keep our immune systems healthy… our emotional health impacts our physical health… pleasure must still be a part of our equation…

Lots of good suggestions in this article, 88 Ways to Not Freak the F*ck Out During Isolation. And I’m still soooooo thankful for deep breathing, prayer, outside air (even though the pollen count has my breathing challenged which gave me a scare!!)

I’m taking a deep breath with each of you. And smiling. Wether we like it or not, we are in this together. 💜

March 14

If this applies to you, PLEASE keep tending to your emotional health. What will help you calm your own fear and anxiety? What crafts, reading, music, walks, facetime with people you love, meditation, yoga, jogging, dancing, comedy, shows, movies, games, fires outside, baths, (feel free to add to the list in the comments)… nourish you? Prepping for that is just as important as prepping for you and your people to eat and looking out for your neighbors and those who are even more vulnerable to the impacts of this virus and the disruptions of loss of jobs, business, and school closures. I am very heartened to see all of the mutual aid and community support being organized. Let’s face the brutal facts and maintain connection <3 <3 

March 15

March 18

I’m very grateful for my morning meditation and prayer. This is the time when I practice — practicing breathing, practice feeling trust, practice feeling love, practice feeling protection, practice feeling healthy, practice feeling guided, practice knowing that I’m not in this alone, that I’m in partnership with divine/ancestors/guides, practice being in my body, practice feeling connected to the Earth. I get to be intimate with my breath. Noticing which ways of breathing actually relax my body, the creeks and sounds my body makes when I’m relaxing. It’s also a time of expressing my gratitude. I aim for 15 minutes. In normal life I often don’t make it the full 15. These days, I’m sitting for longer. It’s nourishing and refreshing to give myself total permission to be fully present to this practice (as much as I’m able, my mind wanders). This morning I felt called to add some humming into the mix. In the past, I could feel when I missed a day of meditation, there would be a little extra edge to my nerves and mood. That became motivation to make sure it was at least a small part of my every day.

I’m also grateful for any and all moments of beauty that I’m experiencing. The light outside with the sun rising amidst the fog this morning was delicate and sweet. The birds waking up the day. All the new blooms coming to life. I’m making extra efforts to both notice the moments of beauty and to, in some expressive way, celebrate them — a smile, a vocal release, a praise… #Coping #CalmingAnxiety #PrioritizingJoy #PrioritizingMentalEmotionalHealth

If meditation is new to you there are some good apps to get you started. Many have free 10 day trials (and maybe longer in this time). Feel free to share other things that are supporting you. Headspace, Calm, Insight Timer.
<3

March 20

March 21

What brings you back to center? What reminds you of who you are and helps you feel like yourself again? What supports you to move out of a spiral? What are your tools for this time? For me it’s wild riding these waves of my own emotions and the experiences and needs of my community. Finding my boundaries… What do I have to give? What do my limits feel like? What do I need to stop or start doing when I feel that feeling? Who are the people I can turn to? I’m finding it valuable to answer these questions for myself… and to adapt my answers as needed. Some of my not-yet-healed-wounds are getting triggered by this moment. I’m using all my tools to navigate and feeling grateful to have them. I’m praying that others are also taking stock of what’s in your tool box or collecting some new habits — wether it’s herbs, breathing practices, singing, music, stretches or body movements, water, mindfulness practices, mental tricks, tapping, humming, walking, nature, creating, exercise… I imagine this is the new norm, riding the waves up and down as the known twists inside out and the unknown stewards us into new realities.

I spiraled into some deep places last night… and found my way out. Today I met some new tree friends and chilled by the river and remembered who I am.

Sending out love and gentleness to you all 💛🧡❤️