March 26th, 2020

How are you coping with COVID and quarantine? Many people are stressed and frustrated with the risk, fear, isolation and the mixed messaging that is emanating from the government and media. In times like this, it is time to access the village. Since social distancing is the norm and should be, it is time to invoke FaceTime and Skype to feel close to those in your support village. Say hi daily to those that you love and respect. Talk through your fears and worries. Look around you for those in a stressful state and offer kind words, balanced thoughts and love. Together, we can make it through anything that comes at us. History has proven this fact time and again.

Augment your coping with meditation and prayer and remember that you can only control what you can control. In the words of Marcus Aurelius: "You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength. Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth. The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it."

Control the decisions that you make regarding social distancing, how you speak to others when stressed, how you experience others and ultimately your responses to them. You are in full control of your faculties. Remember that life is a daily gift. Be grateful for your abilities, your love, your breath, your food and yes the rare square of toilet paper that was not hoarded by the unkind hoarder.

 These decisions will go along way toward maintaining a grounded mental state and keeping you unstressed which is a great way to maintain a robust and active immune system to combat SARS2.

 Dr. M

 In a move of great kindness, The University of Arizona School of Integrative Medicine is offering two free courses for the public for a few months.

 

Here are the two Links:

 1) Nutrition Above the Neck - Link

2) An Introduction to Contemplative Care - Link

 THE ADULT CHAIR PODCAST:

Here is an Adult Chair Podcast on developing resilience in the storm of tragedy or difficult times. Link