Sanity in times of COVID-19, one confetti sweater at a time

The past weeks have been a succession of ups and downs. The up days are the days when I am productive, when I feel a sense of purpose, and when I see so much solidarity and greatness around me, making me hopeful for the future. The down days are those when I feel helpless, bored, sad, scared, angry, or just tired.

The notion of time has stretched to morph into some kind of limbo. My agenda has never been more silent, giving me an eerie feeling. We do not have much to plan or look forward to. Many things that were tbc (to be confirmed) are now tbd (to be decided). We have started a marathon whose full distance, route and conditions are unknown to us. It is deeply unnerving and unsettling.

In this temporary new normality, I have decided to let go (as much as possible) and rejoice over the little things: dancing off my feelings in the kitchen, wearing things that I like (hello, confetti sweater), surprising my colleagues at the beginning of a virtual meeting by wearing a pair of pineapple-shaped sunglasses. It brings me joy and gives me a fuzzy feeling inside. And I try to laugh as much as I can. I take each day as it comes and I try to be grateful for what I have. Some days this is easier than others. And that’s all right.

I am writing this in the morning. We will see what today brings. But what about you? What makes you happy in these challenging times? What do you rejoice over? Try to think of five things, big or little. Cherish them, because they will help you through.

See you soon!

The thing that keeps me busiest at the moment is: answering emails.
My favorite app is: Instagram.
One book I recommend: ‘Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets’ by Sudhir Venkatesh.
And if all fails, my instant pick-me-up is: dancing in my kitchen.