Thinking of the Positives

My sister sent me an article today entitled "How I Survive Social Distancing" and just like the article  I read yesterday from the doctor in New York City, it really helped me understand what is happening here and calmed my nervousness.

First of all...today's article. Yes, I have been checking the news several times a day.  I have been receiving emails from the Indiana Dept of Health with updated numbers each day.  If I can't open the attachment, someone will post the picture of the state on FB, and I panic when I see the numbers.

I read too much that is posted on FB.  Then I let my mind run wild.   However......

"The most powerful weapon against fear during a crisis is gratitude."

Wow~ I hadn't really thought about that.  And then....

"Instead, we look at reality through the lens of all the things for which
we should be thankful."

Interesting.  


The first thing to do is to thank God for his mercy, his grace, his wisdom, his power.  He is in charge and we need to thank him for all that he does for us.

Next.  Thank God for the people in my life.  What would I do without Gary?  Without the girls?  Without Blaine and Matt?  Without the kids?  Without Megan the Trainer and the workouts each morning?  Without the Dotti's ladies and their daily Zoom chats?  Without my sister and her texts and emails?  We are all in this together.  All of us. Not just some of us or a few of us.  All of us.  And we are supporting each other.

Thank God for the places in my life.  I have said several times that I am SO glad we live here now.  We are set back from the road.  In the past two years I have adjusted to not having traffic past the house and not hearing noises from the road.  The only thing that we really hear on a regular basis is the train noises and we are getting more used to those.  We have a wonderful house with three levels so that we can distance ourselves from each other or we can be together.  Actually there seem to be four areas:  the upstairs (bedrooms), the living room, the kitchen/dining room, and the downstairs (family room and sewing room).  We don't get in each other's way inside the house very often.  I can spend time in the sewing room or work on a puzzle and watch the Game Show Network while Gary is watching yet another rerun of NCIS. We have a big yard to roam around in.  We have a lane to walk up and down.  We are close enough to Delphi to run into the stores there so we don't have to go into Lafayette.  There are also several options for carry-out meals if we choose to go that route.  Yes. I am thankful for living here.

Thank God for the things in my life.  Yes. Things.  Internet.  iPhones.  Zoom.  Facetime.  Being able to communicate with our family members without even using the old way of calling someone and talking.  I am SO thankful for the technology that allows Megan and Matt to continue to teach, and for Landon, Tessa, and Cooper to continue their classwork.  People may gripe about techology, but that same technology is keeping us connected with others during this crisis.  Fabric.  I have fabric.  I am SO thankful that I have a sewing room with two dressers full of fabric that I can go through and search for just what I need.  And today I found the perfect piece (which is a fat quarter of teal) for the cornerstone piece for Tessa's quilt.  Puzzles.  Books. Movies. The new TV which allows us to watch Netflix and Amazon Prime and YouTube on which we can see the church services!

And one other thing...I am SO thankful that we are both retired, with retirement income, Social Security, and a good bank account so that we don't have to worry about where money is coming from for food and other bills.  Even though I would be fine with teaching online and even though I had a contract and salary, we would still be concerned about the planting season once again this year.  After the rainy spring last year, it wouldn't be a good thing for us to be planting again this spring.

These things put a  different spin on this whole pandemic mess.  Yes, there are concerns.  But looking at us right now?  We have SO much to be thankful for and so many blessings.