I’ve been amazed by the endless coverage of shortages, overages (the
coverage itself), and general panicking the past week or so. I get it.
At least I think I do.
I’ve concluded that hoarding toilet paper (beyond one’s reasonable needs and forecast-able time frame, and profiteering aside) is one answer to people’s desire for a sense of control. I have six months’ worth of paper products therefore I am. Trust me, I’m not mocking (much) but I do wonder if what I see as folks flailing around with their credit cards and carts are desperate attempts to shore up their defenses against a relative unknown. At least an invisible foe.
My personal motto emerged on paper last week: Hunkering, not bunkering.
Now and at the risk of turning that into the world’s longest motto, I seem to add to it daily as I come up with ways to minimize my anxiety while building up both my emotional and physical resilience.
When faced with something new, my first instinct is to research it, try to learn all I can, and get a grasp on it. That’s difficult and overwhelming with something as open-ended as this axis-tilting world situation. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
My latest choice: Rationing my news consumption. I embarked on a news fast nearly two years ago but find it necessary to cut back even more now. My body started registering (dis)stress yesterday as I watched a Christiane Amanpour interview – one of my go-to programs. Fifteen minutes in and I turned it off. Tried with the PBS NewsHour later and hit the remote again. Big disappointment; still, heart flutters? Gone. Gotta love that built-in biofeedback system.
My latest revelation: I’m better off reading the news than watching/listening to it. I’m relying on reputable sources online where I can pick and choose what and how much to read...er, consume. Frankly, I’m prone to picking up on the subtle and not so subtle energy, urgency and stress present in some broadcasts. Their pace and mine sync and ratchet up in tandem. Understandable given the state of things but I don’t need to absorb all of that static.
Now, when did I have that revelatory moment? At 3 a.m. as I lay awake...again. This time it wasn’t with swirling thoughts but rather slow, deep breaths, composing (composting too) in my head, and finding clarity without the distractions of daily life. I just might come to like this nocturnal noodling...
You may ask, what does all of this have to do with toilet paper? Simple. Others' toilet paper is my news...and vice versa. We’re all just trying to gain and maintain some control these days. Frankly, I continue to believe that the only things I can control or at least manage are my attitude and reactions. I might overreact sometimes but I can also self-correct. Consider me corrected at least regarding some of what’s been contributing to my own simmering discontent.
There. I feel better already. How about you?
I’ve concluded that hoarding toilet paper (beyond one’s reasonable needs and forecast-able time frame, and profiteering aside) is one answer to people’s desire for a sense of control. I have six months’ worth of paper products therefore I am. Trust me, I’m not mocking (much) but I do wonder if what I see as folks flailing around with their credit cards and carts are desperate attempts to shore up their defenses against a relative unknown. At least an invisible foe.
My personal motto emerged on paper last week: Hunkering, not bunkering.
Now and at the risk of turning that into the world’s longest motto, I seem to add to it daily as I come up with ways to minimize my anxiety while building up both my emotional and physical resilience.
When faced with something new, my first instinct is to research it, try to learn all I can, and get a grasp on it. That’s difficult and overwhelming with something as open-ended as this axis-tilting world situation. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
My latest choice: Rationing my news consumption. I embarked on a news fast nearly two years ago but find it necessary to cut back even more now. My body started registering (dis)stress yesterday as I watched a Christiane Amanpour interview – one of my go-to programs. Fifteen minutes in and I turned it off. Tried with the PBS NewsHour later and hit the remote again. Big disappointment; still, heart flutters? Gone. Gotta love that built-in biofeedback system.
My latest revelation: I’m better off reading the news than watching/listening to it. I’m relying on reputable sources online where I can pick and choose what and how much to read...er, consume. Frankly, I’m prone to picking up on the subtle and not so subtle energy, urgency and stress present in some broadcasts. Their pace and mine sync and ratchet up in tandem. Understandable given the state of things but I don’t need to absorb all of that static.
Now, when did I have that revelatory moment? At 3 a.m. as I lay awake...again. This time it wasn’t with swirling thoughts but rather slow, deep breaths, composing (composting too) in my head, and finding clarity without the distractions of daily life. I just might come to like this nocturnal noodling...
You may ask, what does all of this have to do with toilet paper? Simple. Others' toilet paper is my news...and vice versa. We’re all just trying to gain and maintain some control these days. Frankly, I continue to believe that the only things I can control or at least manage are my attitude and reactions. I might overreact sometimes but I can also self-correct. Consider me corrected at least regarding some of what’s been contributing to my own simmering discontent.
There. I feel better already. How about you?
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Please be considerate and respect others' feelings and opinions even if you disagree. Facts are facts. Feelings are subjective, legit and personal. Opinions...belly buttons. 'nuff said. Thanks.