Pandemic Improvisation

My role in the fifth-grade French skit was to pull the tablecloth out from under the dishes, leaving the table settings intact. To incorporate unpredictable outcomes into the action and dialogue, we had to learn ALL the vocabulary and prepare for improvisation, since I couldn’t guarantee the same results yank after yank in rehearsals. Winging it produced lots of laughs along with the messes.

2020 has felt like an elementary school skit. I’ve learned new words. I’ve prepared based on expert predictions, only to have circumstances change, voiding all plans and expectations leaving experts and ordinary folks alike scrambling. Life is messy but where are the laughs? Chaos seems to reign, but it’s not the Three Stooges variety. There is nothing laughable about isolation, distancing, shortages, working and learning from home, winging it day to day to deal with change and loss.

I can speak only for myself here, but this pandemic improvisation is taking a toll on my psyche. I’m on a roller coaster racing to break the sound barrier. Pre-pandemic rituals to soothe nerves and promote tranquility - enjoying walks in the sun, drives to nostalgic places, sing-alongs, good books, delightful chats, hugs for hellos and goodbyes - you know, the normal stuff that filled the interludes of lives busy with routines and schedules, don’t offer the respite they once provided. I miss the predictable outcomes.

Now I WORK at relaxing. I learned new words and tasks - all with focus on the moment, not next week or month, not even the next hour. I work to keep negativity off-stage to focus on NOW. That means I limit my news access, I censor my own reading, I turn off screens earlier to foster restorative sleep, I incorporate more healthy meals to offset my comfort foods. I turned to those same experts as baffled as I am by current circumstances for tips on curbing anxiety.

One recommendation is to focus on the five senses. This focus acts as a speed-bump for escalating anxiety. I consider it an activity in gratitude, too one that is easy to remember and simple enough to teach to a child. (1) I note 5 things I see around me that I appreciate or find intriguing. This is a time I might talk out loud, but I can do it in my head if I am in a setting with others, like in a really long grocery line. (2) Listen for 4 distinct sounds. (3) Reach out and touch 3 things. Best to imagine what they feel like if you are standing in that checkout line :). (4) Notice two different smells around you. (5) If feasible, take time to savor a bite or a sip of nearby food/drink.

Our world offers much to appreciate if we make the time to notice, whether far-away majestic mountains or leaves swirling at your feet, whether symphonic crescendos or baby giggles, whether Current River water rippling through your fingers or honey making them sticky, whether the aroma of coffee brewing on the counter or the bleachy smell from a freshly wiped surface, whether the sip of that coffee or a taste of dressing before it reaches the table.

However you may choose to alter your Thanksgiving traditions this year, may you have a peaceful, grateful day that gives you smiles to share.