For those of you who don’t know it already, I qualify as a serious Foodie. I share more about that in our Featured Resource essay this month, along with some links to help feed people and support businesses affected by the pandemic.

Now, as I think about what I put in my mouth that will please me but also keep me healthy, I find myself concerned about the other kinds of consumption in my life. These include what I read and what I listen to, what I watch on the Internet, and how I entertain myself at night. I am curious about what I choose to ingest and how digestible it actually winds up being.

I know that if I watch something with too much drama before I go to bed, I won’t sleep well. I know that if I allow myself to get overly outraged about some of the political machinations going on—no matter how justified—I will feel drained and scared. I know that if I read Tweets and posts that are mean-spirited and inflaming, I will feel helpless and even more alone than I am.

I want to stay abreast of the news and have the necessary information to stay safe and healthy. How do I self-soothe without giving up on caring for others or retreating from a reality that requires me to change my behaviors?

I’ve identified what I am calling the Three G’s Plus One. The first three are Generosity, Gratitude and Grace. They form a kind of feedback loop. When I am generous, I recognize how much grace plays a role in my life. It means I feel gratitude for what I have and a willingness to share. Not surprisingly, there is plenty of research demonstrating that when people give to others, they feel better about themselves. I can almost always counter feelings of deprivation and fear with some act of generosity.

The Plus One is Glee. Laughing out loud connects with a place of deep silliness I know is good for my brain and body. A close friend starts each day with a cluster of silly videos. She is among the more positive people I know. If you’ve given in to funny animal videos, you know it helps.

Reading inspiring blogs—check out my Associate Director Ruth Neuwald Falcon’s Corona Support Blog—also helps. Find the words and poems and videos that remind you of how courageous and generous and funny we humans can be.

NWCCA will continue to send our monthly e-bulletins and include the occasional mid-month edition if we hear of things we think you might want to know about. Meanwhile, take good care of yourselves. Nurture yourselves in the many ways you can and share those choices with others through safe connections.

Stay well. Stay connected.
Rebecca