Wisdom from a Friend

If you really want to stomp your feet, then you should wear cowboy boots.

This was my friend's response to my story of a disgruntled coworker. So whether a temper tantrum or line dancing, wear cowboy boots. Or cowgirl boots.

Nurses Ask...

• Nurses' #1 request of public: Stay Home. 
• Nurses' #1 request of government: PPE. 
• Nurses' #1 fear: passing COVID-19 to their families. 
• Nurses' #1 objective: To interact with you intermittently to help you achieve your optimal health. 

Please stay home if you can, wash your hands, and write to your legislators; thank you. 

Pandemic 2020: COVID-19 

COVID-19 Daily Routine

I am grateful to have a job, grateful to be able to work from home. I have so much respect and compassion for my former students, who are immersed in caring for people who are ill in the midst of this pandemic. I am isolating, distancing, and trying to stay as healthy as possible.

I know of one person who likely has COVID-19; a nurse, ill with a flu-like illness, with a sudden loss of her sense of smell. She was not tested, as test kits are rationed and she is not in a "high-risk" group. She is a nurse, so I trust her self-diagnosis.

I hear from former students, bedside nurses, that they are angry and frightened. Their primary fear is bringing the virus home to their families. Their primary anger is at people who continue to gather, to recklessly engage in social contact. So far, they tell me, their supplies of personal protective equipment are adequate.

My new daily routine centers around work and walks. My old pattern was to go to my office and work seven days a week. I did this for the past two years: every day. I worked at my regular job and I worked on classes. In the past two years I helped to develop an RN-BSN program, earned a certificate in online teaching, and completed 10 courses towards an advanced degree. Now I am locked out of my office. I work from home. I walk in nature preserves and state parks. I shop at farmer's markets, and haven't been to the grocery store for two weeks. I work, walk, and work. I'm not saying that I'm bored, but I swept my garage. I cleaned my shower stall with a toothbrush; not the whole thing, the small cracks and corners. It snowed this week, a big dump of six inches or so. Spring sun melted most of it. I found a crocus yesterday, the first one. Seasons change.

COVID-19

As a bedside nurse I lived through the onset and evolution of AIDS. Scary times, lots of memories of those clients. As a bedside nurse, I developed germaphobe habits. I am fine with the social isolation, as a divorced introverted survivor I have lived with that for 15 years. I do find the numbers alarming - the coming deaths. The actual and expected incidence, prevalence, and mortality.

Also alarming, the job and financial losses. I have compassion for those who will suffer. For the ill and their families. Their fear.

I have tons of compassion for my former students who are now living with fear. Fear of transmitting the disease to their families. Fear of contracting the disease. Fear of going to work. Fear of working without proper protection (PPE). I am angry that the federal government is so completely bungling the crisis. Angry at the lack of supplies: PPE, ICU beds, and ventilators. Impatient with the stupid hoarding, denial, and racism.

I remember Dr. Anthony Fauci from the AIDS crisis. He did a wonderful job then and has re-emerged as a leader in the COVID-19 pandemic. Maine CDC and Maine Gov doing a fantastic job managing the crisis. For best info, see WHO, CDC, and NIH.

Best wishes for your optimal health. Connect with spirit. Love your neighbors - from  feet away. Wash your hands. Be well ~ Reiki Nurse

Connections

I hope you feel the gentle energy of Reiki. I hope you feel a sense of peace, of renewal. I hope you feel centered in yourself and connected to your spirit.

May I make a suggestion? Several times a day, stop and connect with your inner self. Check in with yourself. Notice your breath. Breath connects you with your environment. 

Be still and breathe. 

Be well ~ Reiki Nurse

Love in the time of pandemic

Be nice to the workers in the grocery store, they interact with panicked people.
Help a student, they were stressed anyway, now more so.
Cook a meal for a parent, they work and are caring for kids too.
Go for a walk with a nurse and listen. They need to vent.
Encourage sick people to get tested for COVID-19.
Wash your hands, eat vegetables, drink water.
Just for today, do not worry.
Just love.

Love a nurse

Support a nurse today. Send a message. Make a healthy meal, help with housework, babysit. Drop off chocolates, wine, pizza. Take a walk together and listen. Nurses are at bedsides, caring for you; your family, friends, and neighbors. Nurses are worried about becoming ill themselves and about bringing the virus home to loved ones. Nurses are brave. Love a nurse.

Social distancing

Pandemic. Isolation, working from home, quarantining, and social distancing. Introvert's paradise!

Campus is closed. I am working from home. I teach online anyway, but usually from my office on campus. So I grade papers, email students, read, work on the class I'm taking (finance and budgets), and do healthy life-balancing activities.

So man lives turned upside down.

Wishing strength and wellness for people all over the world.

Groceries

I went to the grocery store after work yesterday to pick up some pickles. People were streaming out of the store, loaded with stuff. One guy carried an armload of toilet paper, at least three dozen rolls. Carts were overflowing, and everyone had toilet paper and bottled water. Inside it was like the day before a blizzard, times ten. People were frantic; there was a sense of panic. I peeked into carts to see what essential items were being stockpiled. Soda, candy, beer, and TP. Everyone was buying TP.

The checkout lines were long. So glad we have cell phones to entertain ourselves while in line. So glad to get out of there and hope I don't have to go back any time soon.