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Writer's picturekate-mackinnon

Taking Care of Our Well-being

Updated: Jan 20, 2022

Today we're about taking care of our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.


On January 20, just a few months ago, I was in my seat, waiting for take-off from JFK to Mumbai for a three-week full immersion spiritual pilgrimage in India. I saw a brief bit about the virus in China on my little screen, and though I couldn't remember the name, I was immediately on alert. It reminded me of the SARs pandemic in 2020 when I was supposed to fly to China with my sister, but the trip was canceled.


For most of the trip, we were on tech-fast. While in India, we practiced things like washing our hands and using sanitizer with fervor. Not touching our faces or putting fingers in our mouths. Our immunity system is not equipped to handle the water and certain bacteria there. We also wore gloves and covered our mouths with scarves. We knew very little about what was going on in the outside world.


About three days before we were supposed to travel home, I learned no flights were going in or out of Hong Kong, where I had a stop on the way home, and my flight was canceled. Fortunately, it was rebooked on another airline, and I was very thankful when we arrived at JFK safe and sound, and I stepped onto terra firma.


In the two months since I first learned of the virus, we are all homebound due to what is now known as COVID-19. And our lives have become pretty simple. My husband and I only go out groceries. We make three meals a day, get up early, meditate, and at the end of the day, we have family time either watching a movie, reading, listening to, or playing music. It is a throwback to another time.


The world has slowed down, and we all have too, yet we still feel stress. We have anxiety about money, working, or not working—fear of getting sick. We are worried about our loved ones on the front line. Wondering when we are coming out of lockdown. Can we make plans for the summer? Will our kids be going to school in the fall or attending remotely? So many unknowns. So much up in the air.


This week it all caught up with me, and I have been riding an emotional roller-coaster. As a result, I have taken more breaks and walks, increased my meditation to three times a day, reached out to more people, and have asked for help. I am humbled by people and their courage, grit, and resilience. And I am reminded that the most important thing we can do, anytime, is to express gratitude for what we do have.


We are all citizens of the world, and can best help each other by staying home and keeping others safe. Simple acts like washing our hands, wearing masks and gloves, is an act of care for ourselves and others.


Taking time to stop, breathe, relax, and be in the moment are also acts of self-care and can bring you joy. What are you grateful for? What brings you joy? I would love to hear what they are!


With love and blessings,

Kate

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