Having to stay indoors for the past few months is taking a toll on a lot of people. For those who thrive on social contact, being in nature, or just being out and about, the protocol for isolation as dictated by this pandemic is mentally debilitating and emotionally draining. It reminds me of the way […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought out the best, and in a few cases, the worst, in people. There are helpers and there are hoarders. There are philanthropists and there are profiteers. There are people who are cautious, and people who are careless. As I mentioned in my previous blog, in spite of the fallout of […]

COVID-19 isn’t just physical health issue. It has been a test of resilience, tenacity, and patience, as people try to protect themselves against an enemy they can neither see nor hear. This new, unprecedented reality of isolation and social distancing, of governments and medical officials learning on the fly, has left people wondering what tomorrow […]

One of the things we crave more than anything else during a crisis is a sense of control. We want to be able to plan ahead. We want to feel prepared. We want to be as sure-footed as mountain goats, as we take steps forward. But how the heck do you deal with an invisible […]

I need a break from people. Often. When I go on a group vacation, within two days I am already fed up with everyone’s presence. I have to resist the urge to tell them to stick a cork in their jabbering yapper. I am not a mean person, honestly. I am a charming, funny, and […]

In a previous blog, I talked about how easy it is to get caught up in negative thinking in response to the current pandemic. After all, the number of infected people is rising exponentially, as is unemployment, and the economy is just barely chugging along. That doesn’t mean, however, that things won’t get better. If […]

Allowing negative thoughts to run rampant in your mind unchallenged, is sort of like trying to raft down the Amazon River without a paddle: Soon enough, you will be submerged in negativity. As a ruminator, I can understand the difficulty of breaking a vicious cycle of thoughts, especially in the midst of the current crisis. […]

If you’ve been fortunate to be able to work from home during this pandemic, it might require some adjustment. There’s nothing wrong with working in your pajamas, or starting your day at 8:59AM, but working from home isn’t as easy as people might think – especially with the TV only a few feet away, and […]

It goes without saying, but I will say it anyway: These are frightening and uncertain times, and it’s a hard not to be inundated by what’s going on. I can feel it when I step outside…that collective sense of trepidation that hangs in the air, reflected in the faces of every person I meet. People […]

Italy has gone through earthquakes, volcano eruptions, wars, and plagues, and its latest crisis is nothing short of a tragedy. But Italians are a stout and resolute people. They were blind-sided by the Coronavirus outbreak, but they learned quickly, and adapted as best they could. The videos of people singing and dancing on their balcony […]

With every news channel, radio station, newspaper, and Twitter trend focusing on COVID-19, it’s so easy to get caught up in the wave of negativity, panic, and paranoia. The gravity of our circumstances is undeniable. However, that doesn’t mean you should give yourself license to ruminate, panic, or assume the worst. When times are dark, […]

Unless you’re an introvert, self-isolation and social distancing does not come naturally to you – nor is it likely to appeal to you. Your morning traipse to the coffee shop and a chat with the barista…gone. A happy hour drink after work…gone. Taking in the latest Oscar-buzz movie, or finally finding out what Tovar Dal […]