A few weeks ago, when we were still in the early stages of our stay at home order in Minnesota, I was driving by a nearby lake trying to clear my head. It was then that I first realized one of the oddities of being physically distant from each other:  no one else is around to laugh when you make a mistake, mess up, or are generally acting like an idiot!

I saw a young woman trying very determinedly to stretch her calves by standing on a park bench, the bench clearly had the upper hand in this scenario, and despite her clear struggle to stay balanced, she toppled backward into the grass. In the few seconds after she looked to her left, then looked to her right…and instantaneously burst into laughter. That woman, like so many of us these days, might be caught by surprise when we realize there’s no one else around to judge us! Perhaps, in these current times with less of a (physical) audience at our disposal than we are used to, we can learn to be more fully ourselves.

I’ve been thinking back to that situation because for me it makes me think of what a funny place we find ourselves in these days. We are all just a bunch of weirdos trying to do the best we can. We are so used to having an audience or a group of people in front of us, whether it be family or friends to laugh at our own stupidity at times. But now, we are the ones who get to be delighted and entertained by our own weirdness. After all, recognizing our own stupidity and awkwardness is what makes us remember we are human.

We are all just a bunch of weirdos trying to do the best we can.

I’ve been struck by the thought this week that with each loss we face, therein lies a new opportunity: the chance to try something new we have never made before with what we have left in our kitchens; increased time on our hands to revisit an old hobby; fully realize a day dream we thought we had put to rest; or just to spend more time in our sweatpants😊.

I’ve been asking myself, like so many of us are right now trying to find solid ground on shifting sand:

What am I missing? What has been lost (at least for the time being)?

My answers: embracing family, BBQs, s’mores and bonfires, concerts, going to the library and browsing books, sitting in a coffeeshop and drinking up all their free water, getting happy hour and sitting on a patio, freedom to travel when and where I want to whenever I want!

I allow myself some time to stew and be angry and sad about the things I miss.

And, then I’ve asked myself:

What can be renewed? My answers: A weekly writing practice, attempts at meditation 3 minutes a day, sticking to healthy routines

What can be revived? My answers: walks in nature, learning to be more patient, cooking a bit more creatively than normal, buying things with more intentionally and purpose

What can be restored? My answers: Time spent cleaning and taking care of the space where I live, tuning off from Facebook and social media and tuning in to the landscape and neighbors around me more

I challenge you to ask yourself some of these questions, and remember none of us have the perfect answers right now.

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This week I stumbled upon an incredible daily activity made available by Suleika Jaouad called The Isolation Journals. The idea for Isolation journals was first created when Suleika battled lukeima during her 20’s and spent “100 days” coming up with new ways to connect with family and friends and have something to look forward to. The Isolation Journals include different prompts for each day by different authors. It really is a fun and interesting way to approach journaling, and allows you to experience it by yourself while knowing hundreds of people are also writing that day from the same journal prompt!

A few days ago on day 28 of the “Isolation Journals” Ayodele Casel shared her own journey overcoming fear. The prompt of the day was: “Write about a time when your bravery or curiosity was stronger than your fear. If it moves you, dance it out.”

It amazes me how being brave enough to try something new can lead to a totally new way of seeing things and being able to laugh at ourselves is oftentimes the most healing balm we can find! I have been re-discovering, like so many of us, that creativity and humor make grief more bearable especially during difficult times. For me, watching and listening to comedians like Conan O’Brien, Ali Wong, Tina Fey, Melissa Villasenor, Eddie Murphy, Amy Poehler (and so many more) makes me feel a bit more human, and a bit more hopeful.

Creativity and humor make grief more bearable.

With all the loss around us right now, let’s remind each other that it’s okay to still find things to laugh at, whether it’s birds or random people we see falling off park benches. 😊 

Lastly, I would like to share 2 poems with you that I’ve been reflecting on this week.

Poem of the One World by Mary Oliver

This morning

the beautiful white heron

was floating along above the water

and then into the sky of this

the one world

we all belong to

where everything

sooner or later

is a part of everything else

which thought made me feel

for a little while

quite beautiful myself.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

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Be well, be brave, and keep laughing, friends!