As Kitten Stitcher would say

What am I all into today.......in the midst of the Coronavirus......

I mentally was listing what has not changed in my life the last month.  When I did, I realized I have a lot to be thankful for.

• Still am getting up and getting dressed every day - may be wearing sweats more than usual
• Still showering every day - may be closer to 9:30 some mornings than 7 a.m.
• Still making my bed every morning
• Still doing laundry and hanging it outside on nice days
• Still enjoying my cross stitching
• Still enjoying gardening on warmer days
• Still communicating with friends but not in person; using FaceTime, Skype and Zoom
• Still cooking dinner
• Still doing dishes
• Still cleaning my house
• Still able to pay my bills
• Still not believing most “stuff” posted on FB 
• Still don't want to be included in any "copy and paste" chain mail or FB posts
• Still thankful for things like the internet to help us keep in touch and entertained
• Still have food in the pantry and freezer.

What has changed...

• Not driving my car.  Started it yesterday to make sure the battery was still charged.   Most of us have Halo Bolts so it would not have been a problem  if the battery were dead.
• Not meeting friends for dinner.   This kind of runs in fits and starts.  Either plans 8 nights a week or no plans for weeks.
• Not meeting friends for stitching but communicating other ways...girls did a FaceTime catch up earlier this week.

What I am missing.....

• Not seeing my children and grand babies in person but that happens anytime there is a lot of time between visits
• Not hopping in the car and driving somewhere just because
• Not packing for a trip somewhere or making any future  travel arrangements

What I am I doing new....

• Going to try online grocery shopping
• Having a renewed appreciation for the internet 
• Watching Season 5 of Outlander!  Thankful STARZ is being offered  free.  I lost STARZ  in the  latest rebundle and therefore lost Outlander this season.

For me, this has been not an overwhelming hardship so far and may be why I am not overcome with the Cabin Fever yet.  Having STASH and staying positive are my key.   That said, I am in no way diminishing what is happening. 

I am......

• Scared for my friends and family
• Thankful for all the essential people - doctors, nurses, pharmacists, EMT's, police, grocery store workers, garbage men, etc.
• Keeping informed by my the local health department 
• Offended by people that tell me not to look down on service workers because I never have.  
• Frustrated by people that won't follow the rules and stay home or practice social distancing 
• Not understanding the toilet paper shortage
• Fearful of what this will do to families and small businesses financially
• Unable to wrap my brain around what this will do to the world economy and what the recovery time will be
• Not worrying about my 401K 
• Stressed on the days I am not able to focus or have the drive to work on a project 
• Delaying the sorting that box of photos (recipes, news clippings, etc.) that I said I would do one day when I had time
• Uplifted by acts of kindness
• Watching way too much television
• Hopeful for the human race
• Somewhat enjoying the downtime and lack of pressure to be somewhere and do something
• Feeling accomplished by all my crafting, household fix ups and gardening I am getting done
• Exasperated by "well" intended people that message or email misinformation.  Please fact check people
• Optimistic that this pandemic may change a lot of people going forward
• Encouraged by parents that are spendings inventive quality time with kids
• Thrilled that those that have the means (sports figures, actors, business men, the average joe, music stars, teams owners, etc.) are donating all kinds of things from money, to paying for meals, to flying around the world for masks, and more
• Partaking in an evening Happy Hour more frequently

• Praying this will be over soon. 

From WillowHillSamplings.net

I like to think like Henry David Thoreau, to live simply, simply live which is very important now.  Every now and then we all need to be reminded to focus on what we have and not what we don’t have.   It could be a great time to reset yourself;   take stock of what is really important; and  take care of yourself and your family.  By the way, Thoreau's  Waldens Pond is a beautiful place to put on a list of places to visit

Stopped here several years ago on my way home from Mass.

Think about it......What’s different for you?  What’s your biggest change?  What are you missing?  What are you thankful for?

OK, I'm off my soapbox now. 

Thanks for stopping by....keep calm....keep being thankful......keep on stitching.