I woke up early today to get ready for my work week. Did my usual morning routine – meditate, stretch, 6-minute HIIT session and then coffee and a light breakfast.

My day began with a conference call at 8:00 am followed by two more. It would have been 3 if the other one slated before noon didn’t get cancelled. Yet, it’s the slowest Monday ever. I miss the incessant phone rings and the buzz generated by office activity. I miss bumping with colleagues in the hallways. I miss moving from one area of the office to the other or moving from one floor to the next to attend face-to-face meetings. We do have the video conference calls now but for an extrovert like me, I miss the human touch. The weather is not helping with my Monday blues. The rain has been steady all day.

Towards the mid afternoon, my phone buzzed – the PM of UK, Boris Johnson is now in ICU. He was diagnosed with CoVid19 a few days ago and was on self-quarantine but probably because of stress of managing his own country’s viral travails, his system is not strong enough to handle the virus’ insidious invasion of his lungs. Sadly, his second in-command is also in quarantine. I was watching the video earlier from NYT of how the virus spreads and blocks one’s lung air cavities. So fast and without mercy. Then the health committee chair of New York announced that the City may have to set up temporary burial sites in parks. This news made me even more depressed.

I hope, as I’m sure millions of others are as well, that the smartest people in the planet will figure this out very soon. It’s spreading like wildfire and we need to contain it very, very soon. I’m sort of glad that our county so far has zero CoVid19 case to-date. Even with nil, however, the potential for spread is still 9%. I also read that California is trying to work with other states to form a buying group. This is to prevent a bidding war on important hospital supplies. Today, our state also sent 400 ventilators to NY to help their system weather the deadly viral pandemic. They waited too long, unfortunately. Now they are paying the prize.

So how do I cope with all of these? Meditation certainly helps. Writing this blog also helps me calm down. I’m not one to dwell on negativity. I’m feel I’m blessed in this way. Somehow, I can command my mind to wander into happy moments when I need them the most. We can train our brain to do this by the way. Recall and visualize the best exeperiences you’ve ever had. Close your eyes and picture some moment in your life that made you laugh, made you feel blessed, made you happy. Bring yourself in that moment with slow, deep breaths. I promise you, you will feel better. Try it.

Other ways to cope? If you’re not working full time unlike me, and you do not have any one in your circle that’s vulnerable, I encourage you to volunteer in your community. You don’t need to unnecessarily expose yourself to CoVid19. If you have time in your hands while sheltered-in-place, how about volunteering to just call and chat with an elderly person who is probably scared and need some human contact? Or volunteering with your local food bank to either deliver or pack some relief goods for the needy? Or sewing masks to give away to your community if you have the talent and the machine to do so or cooking/baking something to also give to those in homeless shelters? There’s so much to do. If you’re bored, ask yourself what have you been doing to help or what can you do to help outside of staying in place?

I believe that if you’re productive, that sense of accomplishment will do well for your psyche. If you just lost you job and you’re young and able, instead of wallowing in self-pity, find means to help in any small way you can. Being a Good Samaritan will have its reward in due course. It’s hard, it’s tough, you’re scared but think abut it – it’s even tougher, harder, scarier to be in a hospital right now fighting for your life. So be thankful. You’re still blessed.

Now – time to make dinner. Another day is almost over and my family is safe. For that, I’m very thankful.