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<\/a>I was incredibly excited as I watched the NASA\/SpaceX<\/strong> astronauts speeding into the atmosphere last week.\u00a0 As a person who grew up during the space age, I never tire of seeing a rocket launch.\u00a0 The technology behind it all confounds me and I marvel at the bravery of the people who willingly jump into a hunk of metal and hurl into the great unknown.\u00a0 As the week went on and they successfully met up with the International Space Station<\/strong> I found a new reason to admire them – they were no longer on Earth.\u00a0 Let’s face it – it’s been a crappy year.\u00a0 A really crappy year.\u00a0 The notion of being able to leave Earth for a bit is very tantalizing.\u00a0 I know I’m not alone.\u00a0 Last week the financial giant Market Watch reported that anti-anxiety medication prescriptions have soared 34%<\/strong> during the COVID crisis.\u00a0 Antidepressants and anti-insomnia drugs are also at all time highs.\u00a0 There was some speculation that the pipeline of those drugs might dry up .\u00a0 On the assumption that we might all need some coping mechanisms right now I decided to do some research on that topic for this week’s post.\u00a0 I hope it helps.<\/p>\nTake breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting. \u00a0<\/strong>Okay Captain Obvious, we all KNOW that endless exposure to the news is not healthy.\u00a0 That said, it’s been hard to turn away from the news as it’s the only source we have for getting up-to-date information about where the virus is and how it is progressing.\u00a0 Add the protests and looting to the mix and it becomes akin to watching a train wreck – we just can’t look away.\u00a0 That said, every expert I read advises that while it’s important to stay informed about current events, it’s just as important to take a break from it.\u00a0 So, read a book, stream a movie, drink a pina colada while lounging in a hammock.<\/p>\n Take care of your body.\u00a0 <\/strong>Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate.\u00a0 Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.\u00a0 I’m including cake as part of that because it keeps me mentally well-balanced.\u00a0 Exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep (even if it’s drug-induced).\u00a0 The “experts” also advise to avoid alcohol and drugs. \u00a0 I may have to draw the line here and, again, I’m not alone.\u00a0 Liquor sales have soared during the pandemic.\u00a0 The primary reason given is that because restaurants were shut down people were given no choice but to drink at home.\u00a0 Okay, I’ll buy that.\u00a0 But given the aforementioned increase in anti-anxiety drug use, I’m guessing it’s more self-medication.<\/p>\n Connect with others.<\/strong>\u00a0 Endless articles have been written in the past few weeks about the importance of talking with someone you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.\u00a0 I have found this piece of advice to be the most important and the most difficult.\u00a0 Many of us have relied on friends or family to fill the role of listener-in-chief.\u00a0 But now I’m 6 feet apart from everyone.\u00a0 I give elbow bumps where I once gave a hug.\u00a0 I miss that.\u00a0 And the problem is, as COVID has dragged on, most people don’t have much in reserve to cheer up anyone else.\u00a0 As May drug into June I hesitated calling my girlfriends because I knew they were feeling as discouraged as I was.\u00a0 It’s not fair to expect them to lift me up too. So who’s left?\u00a0 The dog. It’s amazing how well Dash the Wonder Dog listens and then gives a little lick to let me know that I’ve been heard.\u00a0 I’m not sure what to advise if you own a cat.\u00a0 As a previous cat owner my guess is that the cat couldn’t give a shit less about your feelings.\u00a0 All I know is that as we begin to open up a bit I’m looking forward to lunch with my girlfriends and a good hug.<\/p>\n Focus on the positive. \u00a0<\/strong>It’s easy to get down about all that’s going on but there are still plenty of things about which to be positive.\u00a0 I’m convinced that the reason John Kraskinski’s Some Good News<\/em> channel on YouTube was so wildly successful is that people crave to see all the good things that we do for one another.\u00a0 If you haven’t watched it yet, do yourself a favor and tune in.\u00a0 It will restore your faith in mankind.\u00a0 SGN also does daily updates on Facebook and Instagram, which believe me, are the best things about those social media platforms.<\/p>\n These five pieces of advice pretty much sum up every article I read.\u00a0 I guess if all else fails we could train to be astronauts and get the heck off Earth.\u00a0 In the mean time, be safe and be well, everyone!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Suzanne Sparrow Watson I was incredibly excited as I watched the NASA\/SpaceX astronauts speeding into the atmosphere last week.\u00a0 As a person who grew up during the space age, I never tire of seeing a rocket launch.\u00a0 The technology … read more![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/alcohol-glass-225x300.jpg\")
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<\/a>Be grateful.<\/strong>\u00a0 Yes, there are a lot of people hurting right now for a lot of different reasons. But most people have something for which to be grateful.\u00a0 Admittedly, sometimes that “something” is quite small, but focusing on the positive can bring an attitude change that leads to a more hopeful perspective.\u00a0 Sometimes when I’m feeling down I chide myself because I know deep down that I’m really quite fortunate in many, if not most, ways.\u00a0 Still, it helps when I remember that old mantra, “I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.”\u00a0 There is always someone worse off than you and often that person has a better attitude about it so…get over yourself and be grateful for what you have.<\/p>\n