“Woke up, got outa bed, dragged a comb across my head. ” (Lennon/McCartney)

Who are you when you wake up in the morning? Well, of course you are you, but which version of yourself are you? Will you be getting up on the right, or the wrong side of the bed? Some days we awake angry at the world, grumpy, feeling sorry for ourselves or resenting others, perhaps even the world. Such mornings and mindsets have become more frequent and powerful since this pandemic-created time of fear, claustrophobia, suspicion, and loss.

We are locked down, without any outlets for our anxieties, worries, and troubles. Much-needed visiting with loved ones has been harshly curtailed. Medical treatments, services, and retail options have been unavailable. So yes, we have grounds to be extremely put out and put off!!

Living under this cloud (much darker and ominous than Charlie Brown’s Linus’!) is bad for us in every way: emotionally, psychologically, physically, and in our interpersonal relationships (at he with our loved ones, of allowed.) The media bombard us with negativity, conflict and evoke fear and worry. Endlessly.

So, who decides that we will suffer under this cloud, daily, never escaping its shadow? Of course, the answer is that we do, for ourselves, choosing to let the fear mongering, misinformation, negativity, and anger saturate us; or to by the exertion of great willpower and resolve, to say NO!!!  Don’t watch the news, the self-proclaimed messiahs, or doomsayers.

We benefit in every way when we can calm our minds and bodies and allow the positivity of gratitude in (and love too.) But how can this be achieved?

Sit very still, close your eyes, breathe in slowly and deeply clearing your mind. Then think of a happy memory your childhood that evokes a true sense of being calm, loved, happy and at peace. This might from times with your parents, grandparents, siblings, or friends. Then smile and hold that smile, while continuing to breathe regularly and remember. Appreciate all of the gifts in your life that made you feel that way. Keep that memory close at hand.

We are ruled by our fears and beliefs of scarcity in our lives: there will never be enough food, safety   warmth, love, toilet paper, rapid tests, or vaccines…

I challenge you to turn this scarcity paradigm into a positive attitude. Focus at the beginning of every day on being grateful for what you have and who you are. Say thank you, and smile, as you awake each morning. List a few of the many blessings in your life: warm shelter, clean drinking water, adequate food, and available and unrestricted transportation within our area. Enumerate the love, family, friends, health care system, the generosity of others who are bending over backwards to serve during this impossible time. Be thankful, be grateful, be humble in realizing how amazing and plentiful our reality is.