Anybody out there reading this, wherever you are on Planet Earth, feel like you are living your version of the movie “I am Legend” or that you are playing Tom Hanks in the movie “Cast Away” or maybe even playing yourself in the movie “This is my life during Covid-19”.
Let me be blunt here, if no one is willing to admit it I am! I am a pretty outgoing person in general, but the struggle to balance survival with all the things that make surviving worthwhile, has never been so clear, as it has been for the last 10 months during this COVID-19 pandemic… which is forcing many of us to sacrifice social connections among other things.
The obvious truth is COVID-19 is still here and the need to slow the virus spread or the forceable way we are being told to stay isolated (yup I said it ISOLATED, in one way or another), the fear or however you want to state what is going on, the fact is the social distancing, is affecting every part of our lives, including employment, education, entertainment, travel, transportation, recreation, fun, self-care, adventure and family, NO MATTER what your age.
The Pandemic has shown it is affecting everyone including older adults, students, children, introverts, extroverts, families, workers, males, females, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas… including every culture, color or orientation, another wards every single person it is affecting every darn human on this planet in one way or another! (If I missed someone please forgive me).
Oh, and let’s not forget to mention the other obvious truth…. that the loneliness for most hasbeen found to raise levels of stress, impede sleep and, in turn, harm the body in one way or another, not to mention that loneliness can also enhance depression or anxiety.
OK, I could go on and on, but I am hoping by now you get the obvious connection to the movie “I am Legend” or to being Tom Hanks in the movie “Cast Away”. The writers and producers had a lot of things right when it came to showing how one deals with the loneliness and isolation from other humans. But wait for it… they got one other thing right and frankly I feel like I should have been consulted on the set for this one.
Will Smith in “I am Legend” and Tom Hanks in “Cast Away” and well, me, Wendy Shugar of “This is my life during Covid-19” all have one other thing in common – NATURE… think about it – “Cast Away” on an island in the middle of the ocean with the sand beneath his feet; “I am Legend” with a dog and sunrises, and me, wendy shugar in “This is my life during COVID-19” on Shugar Mountain in a forest, among the trees, and under the sun with days full of amazing sunset hikes, all of which help us all stay sane on some level or another. Why because NATURE HEALS. Yup I’m going there, comparing movies to make my point… LOL
Now If you know me, you know, I don’t like being the bummer monger, or a downer and I love coming up with new ideas and solutions and I LOVE to talk about how NATURE HEALS and how it allows us to reconnect to self, and well NATURE does not judge us on any level, and allows us to be right here right now at this moment in our life.
So where do we go with all of this information? How do we get moving forward despite this isolation and feelings of depression, stress and well whatever you are experiencing?
Can I suggest Journaling and Gratitude and NATURE of course.
Gratitudestarts with a thought and we all know that we are just one decision away from change. Oh whoops squirrel let me rein it back in.
Gratitude allows us to be in the moment and to appreciate the things around us, and frankly within us in the NOW!
Gratitude – Every Morning upon waking take a moment to write down on a sticky note something you are grateful for. Week one make it all about you… what are you grateful for about yourself? Week two you may list other things you are grateful for in your life. Do this every morning and then post it on a mirror or a wall that you can look at it every day!
Here are 5 reasons to start:
Resilience – Gratitude fosters resilience.
Relationships – Gratitude is the way to grow relationships. Expressing gratitude for each other are motivators to maintain relationships with each other.
Sleep – Gratitude before bed helps with sleep. 15 minutes of writing in a gratitude journal before sleep promotes better sleep.
Happiness – Gratitude is linked to happiness. If you need a quick way to cheer up, start listing some things you are grateful for to turn your emotions around.
Save – Collect moments of gratitude in a jar. This exercise is fun to watch as the gratitude fills the jar.
Journaling – Start a journal. This can and will help you during the good and the bad times. Isn’t it time that we all start “training” ourselves to look for the good in everything, especially right now during these crazy ass times!
Here are 3 Ways that Journaling can help you be more productive, focused and motivated
1) Use Journaling to Process Your Thoughts, Feelings – and Blocks!
Journal writing offers you a place to vent, release stress and process emotions that might be causing you upsets in your world. In fact, your journal is a place to explore your thoughts on both your productivity and procrastination.
“The daily journal is like a mirror. When we first look into it, the blank pages stare back with ominous emptiness. But if we keep looking… gradually we begin to see the face that is looking back at us.” Marion Woodman
2) Gain Clarity – It is important to focus on what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.
3) Making Journaling a Habit – Journaling is a healthy habit and can help create other habits that increase our motivation.
I have been journaling for many years. I have explored my life habits (both positive and negative) and this reflective practice has helped me include more positive habits and success in my life! It has also helped me to break ‘bad’ habits – or those things that do not serve me.
NATURE – Go outside and take a walk. NATUREHEALS 100% of the time. As you walk from one place to another, find as many objects as possible to be grateful for. Put your feet in the grass or the dirt or in sand. Breath in fresh air, and feel the sun touching your skin. All of this will help increase your level of energy and happiness. It can definitely turn your “frown upside down.” I always say go outside and make someone smile…. This is why!!
Spending time in nature allows you to commune with other living things while finding comfort in and embracing Mother Earth and all her blessings. When you spend time in nature you cannot help but feel YOU, while walking in the woods, next to a stream or frankly by just sitting next to a tree and using it for a resting spot. By spending time in nature, you allow yourself to connect to the earth ground yourself as you experience its wonders. When in nature you are also surrounded by other living things, such as, animals or plant life, all here trying to just be in the now, so isn’t it time to enjoy your surroundings, accomplishments and heart connections!
Listen, here is another clue I like to share with others, deep down on a heart level, we all know that nature is good for us on many levels…. We feel drawn to it on a soul level even if you live in a concrete infested area. Come on you know it’s true, we spend hours driving to the beach to the snow or frankly to a dog park or an orchard to pick cherries, whatever form of nature it is we are pulled to it, well unless you stop yourself from feeling at some point, but that’s another blog all together 😊
Ok so there you have it folks. Allowing Nature and its healing into your life is key during these crazy times, just ask Will Smith or Tom Hanks… LMAO
Take a walk under the stars or on a path, allowing the wind to run through your hair, but reconnect. Spend time right now reconnecting with Nature and Mother Earth, it will nourish your soul, it will remind you that you are never really alone and that you are as much a part of nature as the trees, the water or frankly any wild life that you may encounter. Once you can feel this and really feel this and allow yourself to be a part of it… you will be able to start moving forward with a stronger purpose, because you will feel you are never truly alone because you are now connected to Mother Earth and all her gifts. You might even feel that you can relax more, go with the flow and take time during this “movie” of yours and learn something about you that can help you rise up and empower yourself… just because you are worth it!
Peace and Happiness to you all!
I can feel the rising of the sun it brings me calmness, even when it retires at night
I can feel the blowing of the wind it makes me feel alive, when there is a chill in the air
I see the opening of flower buds which brings me thoughts of starting again
I see the blue in the sky anytime of the year, which makes me feel all warm inside
I hear the rustling of leaves falling, I am instantly reminded that change is always happening
It is nice to feel and see the beauty that surrounds us at all times
It resembles STRENGTH and LOVE and PEACE that the universe provides
Asking NOTHING in return!
May the Universe feel safe to heal
May the rain fall upon us
May we rise up for those around us
May we find peace within us
May we feel the healing begin today and for everyday forth
May we truly find meaning in Family, Love and Happiness
Peace and Love to all
Shugar
