By Paula Bianchi –

During our time of self-isolation, it’s hard to keep ourselves from thinking the worst. We’re all so vulnerable to this contagious germ that’s invading our bodies, our families, our homes, and our daily lives.

To be stuck in our house, is against human nature, but here we all are. As usual, some of us want to comply with this self-imposed lockdown, hoping it will make our situation come to an end sooner, while others feel they have nothing to worry about as they continue to socialize in groups.

They go visit their families without any concern of what they may be infecting them with. If they’re not careful with their choices, they may end up being in the second wave of this virus as it continues to infect those who choose to socialize. Anyone can be a carrier.

We hear how many people are dying from this virus, and we think the worst. The hospitals are overflowing, and they don’t have enough protective gear to meet their needs, to keep them healthy, so they can take care of the sick. Makes me wonder what will happen to us if we end up having to go to the hospital.

Older people in our communities worry whether they’ll be passed by for treatment in favor of saving someone younger. Doctors worry they’ll have to make that call because they don’t have enough ventilators for all the sick people flooding through their doors.

This is beyond anything, during my lifetime, that we, as a society, have had to endure. The only way to make this disappear is by doing our part and staying home. But it’s so hard to make this sacrifice, especially when others refuse to, or won’t, comply.

One of my Facebook friends, received a notice from her landlord that she was still expected to pay rent on the first. Really? If all of us are sitting in our homes, complying with self-isolation, and we’re not earning an income, then shouldn’t that also go for the banks and landlords out there. God forbid if they cut us a little break. Why should it be business as usual for them, while the rest of us have to suffer?

I understand that this event, happening in our lives right now, is ruining our economy, but it shouldn’t be just a chosen few who’ll suffer economically. The burden should be shared equally. There has to be a way to work this out so the banks and landlords get their money, but maybe in a prorated way. It’s up to them to come up with some solutions to help their renters and mortgage holders because they can’t place the fault of this virus in our laps.

This worry, on top of everything else, makes us think the worst, but I have heard stories about some landlords who have stepped up to help the renters in their buildings telling them not to worry about paying rent. To all who’ve chosen to help in this time of need, I commend and thank you for being that white light that shines through all of this grey.

The sad part is there are many out there who seek to profit through our suffering. The person selling toilet paper and hand sanitizer in the parking lot at a Target store, or the governors being forced to compete with each other, while bidding on PPE equipment their state needs for their residents who live there. This drives the costs up and puts more money in the hands of the greedy.

We are all thinking the worst as our bills come in because we’re not earning anything to pay them. Some wonder if their jobs will still be there for them, when this is all over. We wonder how in the world are we going to keep a roof over our heads and feed our families. All of this uncertainty would make anyone think the worst.

Teenagers and grade school kids are thinking the worst, when it’s been announced that school will remain closed for the rest of the school year. What about the seniors who were supposed to graduate this year? Hopefully, they’ll get to have a virtual graduation online. That would be the least they could do for them during this crisis.

It’s okay to feel angry, frustrated, mad, sad, or upset about what’s happening to us all right now. In this moment, of time. The key, though, is whether we’ll allow ourselves to dwell in that negativity, or will we choose to be proactive about what we’re going through.

Thanks to technology, we are all just a click away from each other. With all this free time on our hands, let’s put it to good use as we find solutions for us to still feel productive. Schedule our days, so we won’t become couch potatoes. (Save that for the weekends.)

Kids are attending virtual classes on tablets that the schools have provided. This will provide them have some kind of structure in their lives and also a way to see their fellow classmates.

More and more people are working from their homes, but not everyone is as fortunate as they are.

The late-night talk shows, we love to watch, are filming their shows from home. To me, watching them going through the same thing that I’m going through, is very comforting.

Howard Stern has been broad casting his show from home too. When I hear he has a lot of the same concerns as I do, I find comfort in that, and I don’t know why, but I’m grateful he’s still on the air to entertain me.  

I’ve watched a lot of different videos from celebrities reaching out to check in on us, to see how we’re all doing during our time of self-isolation. Ellen DeGeneres has posted quite a few videos, and I look forward to watching them. To see her, and other celebrities, looking just like me, sitting around in a pair of sweats with no makeup, makes me feel more connected to them as a person because of our shared experience.

Now, if we look at our situation from a spiritual point of view, based on the idea that Earth is a school, everything happens for a reason here. For a lesson to be learned. Right in this moment of time, society is being tested. Is it going to be every man for himself in a dog eat dog world, or is it going to be everyone doing what they can, to help get us through this? Even if we’re just staying home, we’re helping the best way that we can.

We’re all in this together. Because of this, we should choose to be more positive about our situation. Keep reminding yourself that staying at home, is keeping all of us safe. It’s the only way to keep the virus from spreading.

There’s no doubt that we’ll all suffer from cabin fever. It’s important for us to remember not to take out our frustrations on those who are closest to us. They are just as upset as we are with what’s happening.

Is this a scary time for all of us? You betcha. Just the uncertainty alone, is enough to drive us mad with thinking the worst, but always remember that you are the orchestra leader of your thoughts and actions. With just a single thought, you can replace the dialog of “I can’t” do this or that anymore, into, but “I can” do this or that instead. The choice is up to you.

Where your thoughts go; your energy flows.

In my next Mind Games article, I’ll talk about being rejected. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed your visit here. Bye for now.

Email: Remyel@hotmail.com

I want to share my gratitude and love with all the people who are battling this virus up close and personal. I send many thanks to our healthcare workers for putting themselves in danger each and every day for us. I want to thank the essential workers. We would be lost without them, so please treat them kindly and thank them for all that they do for us.

Each day, we’re moving closer to the light at the end of the tunnel. Remember to be patient and be kind. Sending light-n-love to everyone.