Honeydew, Meatless Longaniza, & Mental Healthy-ness

You have no idea how happy I was when I walked into the supermarket and the first thing I saw was a large box full of honeydew melons. I know I yelled; “Honeydew, yay” It came out sort of muffled as I was wearing a mask. The tall seventeen year old unloading avocados looked up, but acted like he didn’t see me. I didn’t care. Honeydew melons mean summer is here, or right around the corner and by that association, I’m hoping this weird, weird spring will be over.

Two weeks before, the last time I grocery shopped, I might have hollered when I saw apricots. I think I need to get out more, or get help. But, they were so beautiful and I had forgotten apricots even existed.

A little voice in my head said, “Hey, it’s only the first of May. You know, apricots aren’t ripe yet, it hasn’t been that warm.” I ended up buying five, at $2.99 a pound even though they were sort of hard. As I shopped I imagined all the ways I was going to use them; sliced in a salad with walnuts, or mushed on a toasted bagel with dairy free cheese in lieu of jelly (remember Rick doesn’t eat sugar). Two weeks later, they’re still sitting on the little plate on the window sill. Oy vey. Should’ve listened to the voice.

Be sure to click back on my previous blog  Tortilla Tofu Scramble and see the endless possibilities you can do with tofu and tortillas.

Are you mentally healthy?

I love it when a friend of mine goes to the doctor. Well, of course I don’t like when someone needs to go, but I sit in rapt attention asking what did the doctor say, and what did he/she give you. I avoid delving in about symptoms, if I do, within twelve hours, I’ll experience the same.

I call it pathological empathy. It can be embarrassing especially if I’m talking to someone with an accent, the next thing you know, I’m talking in an accent. God forbid they have a limp.

The other day a really dear friend was telling me about her need for therapy after two and half months of living in constant anxiety regarding Covid-19.

“Call me the second you’re finished.” I said trying not to sound too excited.

Like an angel from heaven bearing good sensible gifts she called.
I’ll make it short. Essentially her doc told her, if she wasn’t feeling anxious and stressed out by what is happening, he would be concerned. He said look at the facts:

1.  You are home with your family 24/7, so you always have to be on.
2. Now is the time to practice excellent communication skills; telling your beloveds in the most effective way possible what you need and how you feel.
3. Be aware of the triggers.
4. Have a plan in place for when you first feel a twinge of anxiety in the pit of your stomach and redirect your thoughts.
5.  Say out loud what it is you are fearful of, and then rationally, examine the reality of those fears.
6. And of course use every healthy precaution.

There was more, but I really appreciated the pragmatic wisdom given by her therapist. I would never have identified the “need now for excellent communication skills” and “Say your fears out loud” I don’t know if I would have thought of that. And I absolutely love the, “have a plan.” And more importantly, “do it.”

The very next day,

I opened the quarterly newsletter my good friend sends to his customers. I’m lucky to be a recipient of these well written articles. Joe is an excellent communicator. I walk away from every conversation either learning something or really blessed by a profound insight he has shared. And brilliantly he sent out along with his newsletter, an Anxiety Workbook, published by the Wellness Society, Supported by JAMMA International. Free to download. I encourage you to check it out.

Of course I immediately spent the next hour perusing through this invaluable home therapy tool. “Anxiety is best described as the unhelpful thinking patterns we experience when our mind fixates on threat, uncertainty and negativity.” And also there was this; “ Anxiety for some people is the fear of uncertainty.” A large part of the workbook was devoted to helping you develop an action plan. There’s that word again.

Of course we are feeling anxious

There is no end in sight of this virus. The future for so many is full of uncertainty. But there are some things we can be certain about; how we eat? Do we exercise? Are we close to our families, our friends? What do we watch on TV?  Are we kind? ETC….”Freedom and happiness are won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control” Epictetus

A change of subject, but I’ll do my best to tie it in..

I’m reading right now, The Splendid and The Vile by Erik Larson; A Saga of Churchill, Family and Defiance During the Blitz. (non-fiction) I know, I know what a time to read about Hitler bombing England for 57 days and nights, on day 94 of the Covid-19.

Wouldn’t you think a city the size of London being bombed, and by that I mean, imagine if you can; 348 bombers and 617 fighter jets took part of the first night of the Blitz; wouldn’t you think the civilians of London would be running pell mell in the streets screaming and panicking? Because they had a plan in place, in orderly fashion, instead, headed for the subways and were prepared with gas masks and other incidentals. For weeks before, leaflets had been passed out to the citizens, informing where best to go and what to do.

Don’t get me wrong

Comparing Covid-19 to the Blitzkrieg is not my point. The horror of what the British people endured is unimaginable. But repeatedly throughout this incredible piece of well researched literature, I found myself thinking about what we are facing in this modern time.

What’s our plan? What’s your plan? If you are struggling emotionally there are tools so many Mental Health Professionals are sharing. Tap in, to help ward off tailspinning into the void. Take care of yourself, if you don’t who will.

If any of you have a comfort recipe or a helpful suggestion; I’m all ears.

Thank you Joe Zaniker for being a wonderful human.