coronavirus

Day 12 – 52 Good Things

How did today go for you?

Here are a few more good things. I can’t wait to see what good you’ve got happening in your homes, on your screens, and in your connections. Even STILL.

As a reminder, send me a note with the good in your world at 52beautifulthings at gmail dot com or a DM on Instagram. Keep em’ comin.

77. This Tai Chi video submitted by Joyce D

78. A travel bracket on Instagram

79. Ice Cream made in mason jars

80. When best friends bring you ground beef

81. Feeling angry at all of this – anger is allowed

82. COBRA insurance coverage

83. Stretchy pants

84. Naps

85. Sunshine

86. Paint called Squirrel Tail

Spray and Wipe

Photo by Clark Young on Unsplash

I made a choice today at 4:45 pm to go to the grocery store. I heard Denver was closing things (don’t know if this is true because I’ve been avoiding the news) and I knew I had to buy groceries for my mom and grandma.

Had to – two strong words. Chose to. Wanted to.

There are plenty of capable people making choices of whether or not to walk into public all day, all over the world. We are scared and unsure and wringing our hands.

I did not HAVE to. I chose too. My fear of running out motivated me out of my home office and into the parking lot. I brought Dylan with me.

Before entering the store, a man about my age stood in front of the carts. Wearing blue gloves and holding a flowing blanket of Clorox-like wipes, he sprayed cart after cart and wiped down other people’s invisible germs.

While we waited for our ominous cart to be cleaned, I got emotional.

I paused and said, “Thank you.”

I waited and hoped he looked me in the eye.

“You matter and what you are doing here is making a big difference. Thank you.”

His eyes dipped down onto the next cart and he started again to spray and wipe. Spray and wipe. I’m guessing he did not choose to be in that role. I’m guessing he has to.

He made the biggest difference in my health all day.

We went into the store. Wandered the aisles and picked a few items that were left on the almost bare shelves.

I brought our selections home and washed my hands. Then, I wiped everything with Clorox wipes.

Then, I sprayed the trunk of my car and wiped down the steering wheel.

Then, I drove twenty miles and delivered another bag of basics to my grandmothers house.

We are all doing the best we can. People deserve to be seen.

Say thank you to the checkers. Say thank you to the people being brave.

Wash your hands. Spray and wipe.

Cry a little.

We’ll get through this with beautiful things.

Day 3 – 52 Good Things

How did today go for you?

Here are a few more good things. I can’t wait to see what good you’ve got happening in your homes, on your screens, and in your connections. Even STILL.

As a reminder, send me a note with the good in your world at 52beautifulthings at gmail dot com or a DM on Instagram. Keep em’ comin.

Sending love and light

(12-17 submitted by Cathy H.)

12. Seeing my coworkers via Google Hangout.

13. People in Spain playing a big game of bingo together on their balconies.

14. Flowers popping up in the garden.

15. Regardless of what is going on – the sun still shines.

16. Check in on someone you don’t connect with daily.

17. Take a walk and wave or say hi to those you pass by.

18. Beauty from back yard quarantine, aka “Weeds” (submitted by Emily A.)

backyard weeds

19. Sierra Frost is hosting free, online support circles. I participated in her grief circle today and got some lovely, helpful perspective.

She invites you to: use circling principles to create collective communication and maintain a healthy shared space.

Community Connections
A time to come together and battle isolation with meaningful connection, witnessing, and being seen. Sierra will help facilitate with any anxiety, depression, relationship challenges happening for you at this time.

Every Tuesday 11am MST/9am AK/ 10am PST/ 1pm EST

https://zoom.us/j/816798805

Grief Circle
Come get support for all kinds of grief: loss of loved ones, loss of work, sudden change of lifestyle, social loss, loss of normalcy…and so much more.

Grief is a communal process. Sierra will help facilitate where to go from wherever you are now.

Every Wednesday 3pm MST/1pm AK/2pm PST/5pm EST

https://zoom.us/j/726426006

Business & Leadership Sharing

Come with your questions about your business, podcasting, writing a book, selling, adapting policy and procedure and more. Come with your questions and ideas for effective and mature leadership in these times. Sierra will facilitate for you to leave knowing your next step.

Every Thursday 1pm MST/11am AK/12pm PST/3pm EST

https://zoom.us/j/145671405

Day 2 – 52 Good Things

How did today go for you? Something about 5 pm marks another day in the books.

Like when I was in college, I felt better if I made it to 3 pm.

I know you’ve got hours to go and weeks to unfold.

Here are a few more good things. I can’t wait to see what good you’ve got happening in your homes, on your screens, and in your connections. Even STILL.

As a reminder, send me a note with the good in your world at 52beautifulthings at gmail dot com or a DM on Instagram.

Sending love and light

6. This Guinness ad

7. Free yoga and barre workouts until April 1st with Down Dog

8. Fill up a growler or buy a t-shirt at local breweries (submitted by Katie M)

9. Cancel your personal care appointments and pay the stylist or teachers anyway (submitted by Katie M)

10. These penguins at the Shedd Aquarium

11. Get outside. (Photos submitted by Beth U)

52 Good Things

Here we are.

In times unprecedented, checking our phones, our screens, the constant news streams.

I know it’s scary right now. Uncertain. Unclear.

I’ve been holding tight and sitting on my fingertips for fear of typing something ignorant. I don’t know how the details of this pandemic are affecting the multitudes of us working from couches, those not working, those wondering how this will rip everything apart.

I do not want to trigger, or isolate, or add to the hurt.

I’ve got my Christian memorization ringing through my ears and think, rather begrudgingly, on Psalm 118:24: This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.

How can we be rejoicing when things seem to be locking down at each moment?

I’m called again, in whispers, to remember the choices we make when things seem the bleakest are opportunities for our wondering souls. What we focus on, while not ignoring painful realities, makes or breaks our spirits.

In conversations with friends and co-workers and texts and Instagram conversations, I’m reminded to look for the good.

For the foreseeable future, I’ll be sharing roundups of encouragement, joy, connection, and heartwarming examples of the human spirit. I’m also asking you to pay-it-forward. Please send me an email at 52beautifulthings at gmail dot com and I’ll share your examples here too. Let’s start something big – a record of kindness – an inventory of good in these next few weeks. Let’s see how many lists of 52 Good Things we can come up with.

Here are my ideas today:

Write a card to a nurse in your life. Say thank you for their service and sacrifice.

2. Buy an online gift card from a small business. Use it later this summer.

3. This guy is encouraging folks to log on and learn how to Doodle at 1 pm every day.

4.This woman is giving away eggs to those who need it.

5. Share a roll of toilet paper. Throw it over your neighbor’s fence. Make sure to tape the end first.

Whatcha got?

52 Beautiful Things

An imperfect attempt to find some beauty the world has to offer. One week at a time.

coronavirus

Day 12 – 52 Good Things

Spray and Wipe

Day 3 – 52 Good Things

Day 2 – 52 Good Things