A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, I wrote a series of short stories inspired by "faith, hope, and charity" - the cardinal virtues. More recently, in watching the documentary "The Roosevelts," I heard this quote from FDR's acceptance speech at the 1936 Democratic convention: "We do not see faith, hope and … Continue reading Faith, hope, and charity
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The interdependence of life
Last night we watched a Nature special on the wildlife of Cuba. Beautiful, funny, terrifying. (I'd forgotten how these depictions of animal life always include the element of menace: a baby sea turtle, hours old, madly paddling her way across the sand to the ocean, the deep water that is, for her, relative safety; we … Continue reading The interdependence of life
Any way the wind blows
Spring in my town is like this: sunrainwindhailsunrainsleetsunwind, windwindwindwindwin, sun. Sometimes, that's all in one day. This pandemic is like that too, highs and lows and everything in between, all in a single day. Good news = sun, bad news = rain, that cough I have every spring due to allergies = a hailstorm of … Continue reading Any way the wind blows
In this together
I suppose it should go without saying that we are all in this together. I find myself frustrated by what appears to be the fueling of petty feuds and escalation of minor problems, when it seems we should be focused entirely on keeping our communities well and safe. And yet, we human beings continue to … Continue reading In this together
The air we breathe
More than ever, we are confronted by the reality that we are all connected. The air you breathe is the air I breathe. None of the divisions that we tend to create - political or social - mean anything to a virus. To a virus, we are simply hosts, passing breath to breath. Perhaps it … Continue reading The air we breathe
Reframing
Change is tough, even when it's good. When change comes from outside our control and forces us out of our routines, we can easily feel overwhelmed. Overwhelmed people are sometimes tempted to deny or minimize the source of their worries. We all do this, at times. So today I talked to a friend who is … Continue reading Reframing
Step outside, if you can
If you are in an area where you can step outside, even for a few moments, do so. Here in our valley, it is a gorgeous spring day. I am planning two walks a day, maintaining all the social distance rules, and being sure to wave and smile like crazy at everyone I see. Everyone … Continue reading Step outside, if you can
Focus on others
One way to deal with stress and anxiety is to focus on how we can help others. My employer has asked all of us who are able to work from home. I read a note this morning that reminded me of an important, difficult truth: "home is not safe for everyone." So, today I plan … Continue reading Focus on others
Extraordinary times
During these challenging times, first and foremost, devote your attention to your health and the health of those you love. When and if you have a moment, look here. I'll be sharing ideas of how we can care for one another as our world weathers this pandemic. Today's idea: start each day with three minutes … Continue reading Extraordinary times
Vote your gratitude
Voting is one of the most important responsibilities and privileges of our democracy. And this November, we experience one of the most important elections of our lives. Please vote. My wish for you as you complete your ballot, place it in a mailbox or drop box, or go to your polling place, is that you … Continue reading Vote your gratitude
Elizabeth Fountain, Author 