Covid-19 OR The Zombie Apocalypse?

I have a confession. It's really hard to stay out of the line of fire and keep your mind straight during these pre-apocalyptic times that other's are expecting.

It's so hard.

I'm feeling quite overwhelmed by all of this. Within 24 hours things change and as our reality shifts so does our mindset. Things that we feel are important one moment are not the next.

Just to be sure I had an extra few cans of food in my house yesterday on the off chance our town, region, province, country declared lock-down I took my two ladies into the grocery store. Well, I'm not going to lie. This may have been the biggest mistake I had made on not only my mindset, but also on my children's sense of security and safety.

I went to get a couple of things and realized that the shelves were nearly empty. Alarms went off in my head...

"did these people know something I don't?"

So I kept my kids close, I kept them from talking too much about what they were seeing. I began to stock up. I didn't even have a cart, because

1. I had planned to fill up my one bag with cans

2. I didn't want to touch the cart if I didn't have to

I ran into people I know, because I live in small-ville and would on average meet at least 2 people, so the episode of Hoarders in No Frills lead me to meet way more people. Of course we joked about the Armageddon / Apocalypse that was eminent. Because truly what else do you do when you're worried about what's happening next?

Here's what we knew at the time:

1. the NBA and other major sporting programs, conferences, concerts and other large group events had been canceled until further notice

2. we were told to wash our hands and work from home if possible as preventative measures

3. our Province's public schools were canceled for two weeks following March Break (this had just been announced minutes before I went into the store - people are amazingly quick to react)

So upon further reflection, was what I did, what the rest of my town did in No Frills grocery store a reflection of what was real or perceived?

Mass hysteria breeds, hysteria.

So today, dear and fellow mom's, let's try the following:

1. Hype is hype. It should be responded to with a calm level head. Just because someone else is worried, doesn't mean you have to spiral with them.

2. There is enough. We live a great country with a lot of resources. Even if towns and regions shut themselves down to support the abolishment of Covid-19, Grocery Stores and Pharmacies will remain open. They don't want us mingling closely or for too long, but that can be managed. Access to resources to feed our families and poop (!) will always be available to us.

3. You have the skills to make good decisions within yourself. Keep yourself away from the hysterical, turn each conversation into sharing facts about what is true and what you know will happen. Respond with the complete opposite to fear promise and optimism.

4. This too shall pass. By 2020 society has lived through quite a lot. By making this bigger than it actually is, we are a disservice to our children, our friends and our families. If your mind is strong about it, if you put your belief in Public Health, then we will all get through this.

5. Share your positivity. Pull out all of your positivity. Do not let the negative about Covid-19 startle you. You have a duty to protect those around you with your positive attitude. Like breeds like. If you take a positive stance on the situation, it will have a ripple effect and make others feel calmer.

6. You don't have a crystal ball. Neither of us know what is going to happen in the future. But what we do know is Public Health is working day and night. What we do know is that if we distance ourselves from each other physically then the passing of it is limited. Truly the people you can look out for are those who have compromised health - those of 65, those with weakened immune systems. Those of us who are relatively healthy, they actually are seeming to get over it fairly easily.

Here's the thing. In order to get to a place where you are not letting this get to you, you and I must practice our self-care (today and always, but today specifically). Here is a list of things you can do today to make sure you are able to combat this Covid-19 from a point of strength:

1. Use hand cream after each time you wash your hands or use sanitizer. Get into the habit of taking care of business followed by taking care of yourself.

2. Meditate - here use this one. We can't fix this ourselves, which makes us worry if other people are going to do their job to fix it. We need a collective effort and trusting and relying on other is often quite difficult for us. Release it by meditating, it's the thing you can control. Here is the best meditation I have found most helpful: Meditation

3. Laugh - it truly is the best medicine. Call up a friend you know might be struggling, have a good chuckle over the absurdity of it all. Keep your sense of humour in tact because you are going to need it.

4. Check in on those around you. By feeling like you can help those around you feel better, you are helping to take control over your own emotions. By living in a place where you are sharing positive vibes, those positive vibes are having a positive effect on you. Remember that like attracts like. Also shop for your neighbours who might not be able to get out and wait in line-up's. Be kind. Always.

5. Teach your children. This is a stressful time for you, and you understand, somewhat. You get what's going on. You lived through SARS and are still kicking it! You are in a good place to teach. You just need to give the basics and try, unlike myself, to shield your children from too much of the overwhelming. If I could do yesterday all over again, my kids would have gone to the library NOT the grocery store with me. But because they did, I have a teaching opportunity available. I don't want them to feel overwhelmed when they don't need to be. Honest conversations about what they saw were crucial once we returned to the car. They sometimes just need someone to unpack it all for them. And quite frankly, when you unpack it for someone else, you unpack it for yourself too. Which we can all use a little self-therapy at times.

Have a wonderful worry-free day, dear mom's.

Heather xo