I hoped to write more articles this year, but... you know, life...
However, for the end of this catastrophic year, I had to write the words that I heard in my head a couple of days ago and that is
"be merry anyway"
The above piece of advice has helped me to face the challenges life has thrown at me the past years of light sensitivty. To me, it says "don't let anyone or anything destroy your inner self".
It also says to me: "Don't let disease (fibro, Covid - whatever) spoil the good things in your life". This is very easy to say, and very hard to apply to every day life. And in addition, many of you have to face loss and sorrow, but if you read this post, it means that you are still there. It also means that you have shelter, food, contact through Internet technology. When I realized, yesterday, that it somehow is a miracle that I (and hubby) reached Christmas time, I cried with relief.
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| Winter time is a pause, and in the Spring Nature will wake up again. |
The whole world is working hard to find solutions and I'm sure that they will be found. It is my hope that we will reach the end of this nightmare all together real soon. Despair is not an option, we need to remain positive.When the feeling of isolation hits hard, it might be helpful to think of it as an unusually long Winter.
There are better days ahead.
What also helps, is to join a ZOOM drop-in or group meeting. It is free. I assure you that stranded-mermaid-social-interaction-through-ZOOM is much more bearable than stranded-mermaid-loneliness.
Also, where else would you hear about the existence of the MerB'ys calendar, a group of Mermen who proudly take the pose for a charity.
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| Just a wink. These Canadian guys do the calendar to raise funds in favor of mental illness patients. |
I would like to thank the Beadworkers Guild trustees and other lovely people who regularly organize heart-warming, informal get-togethers. For me, it is the silver-lining of the pandemic, because the whole world got locked up like me, and found new ways to gather. Suddenly I wasn't lonely anymore! If you too want to join a meeting, send me a message and I will gladly help you.
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| I had my first Christmas "social get together" in years and cannot express how happy I am about that. |
We, as humans, have amazing resilience. And just a bit of kindness can do wonders.
My hubby said that this year we have to re-invent Christmas. He cheers up the cashiers, all masked up and having, before he does his magic, long sad faces, because most people are stressed and unpleasant or simply not talking at all. He says things like "I'm so grateful that I could find all this nice food! I feared that with this year's situation, tons of things would be missing. It must have been quite a tour de force to have it all available, allowing us to make something nice for our Christmas dinner..." And that makes them happy. He also is specially kind with all those waiting in line when waiting to pay for groceries, and gives them and others his best tips, like using a phone stylet instead of fingers to type a code on payment terminals, the door keys to touch the lift buttons... He has a spare mask in his pocket, in case he feels that one is not good anymore.
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| Wearing a mask is like holding an umbrella for someone else. |
I am so grateful to have this man in my life.
People were surprised that he brought them home-made cookies. Although he refused to enter their apartments, he explained that making happy makes us happy too, so we decided to do something for those living nearby (in the same flat or send something by post). Guaranteed covid free! They liked that, and suddenly, we are some sort of adoptive family under the same roof.
We also donated to the "Heart boxes", an org that collects pantry goods in favour of the poor, whose numbers are rising. I wish that I could do more than that, but alas. But I ordered little stylets to offer to many. Such a great yet cheap gift that fits in an envelop and hop, in the mail box.
I hope that, you too, have the chance to brighten somebody's day these days.
Make Christmas special in a different way.
Have a Merry Christmas anyway.
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| With all my love, Cath |
