So, everything quit on my this week. My phone is buggy, this new website is giving me trouble (did I lose all my old posts? Noooooooo!) And Corona-life is past ‘fraying at the edges’ and is full-on crises. But a slow crises. Slow-drip crazy is happening globally and the worst part is, we have no idea when things will start to get better. My usual, customary, no-fail optimism is at critical breaking point. I know. It’s an issue.

So, tears in my tea this morning. Tears of frustration from Benji (we weathered another epic tantrum the cause if which I am still not sure of). Even the SKY is crying today. At one point during the tantrum Benji was screaming, Ellie was crying/screaming, Bill was arguing with me about the best way to handle it, and the DOGS were yowling.

So what do you do when everyone around you has completely lost their mind, and nothing is working the way it is supposed to? (Also, it’s way too loud and you haven’t had your coffee yet?)

The crazier it feels, the deeper you have to go to find that calm and strength inside you. And if you can’t find the calm (and you can’t even find the coffee!) take a time-out. Remove yourself from the situation until you can get a grip on your own emotions. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, and as long as (if its a baby) they’re in the crib or a safe place, it’s better to go take a couple deep breaths, get a handle on your own emotions, then you can jump back into the fray a calmer, more level-headed person.

Times are stressful people, for everyone. Some people are dealing with tragedies the likes of which I think will only start to come out as the months and years go by.

Have compassion for yourself. When you feel like your emotional stock-piles are getting pulled on, make sure you put some back in. And you do that by taking care of yourself. Go watch a kitten video, cuddle your dog, and for goodness sakes go get some coffee!

“It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed. Doe Zantamata