Life goes on

It’s been a tough week. Every morning we got up wondering what bad news awaited us, and sure enough there was more.

But this afternoon, Ella and I went for our walk in the orchard and the bright sun shining made me feel a bit lighter. I took a deep breath and noticed there were robins, all over. 

I must have counted 30 chirping red-breasted harbingers of spring flitting about between the trees and on the grass. Suddenly my spirits were lifted even further as I remembered, spring is officially here.

I had a feeling all week that time had stopped except for the telling of more bad news. Those happy little singers reminded me time was still moving along, and the bad news wasn’t the whole story.

The good news is that I see all kinds of posts on social media of people baking and cooking and playing with their kids. I’m glad for that and hoping we all keep at least a bit of it up when the world goes back to some kind of normal. 

If you are looking for ideas, there are plenty of free online videos through Facebook, Instagram and even on many websites. Take advantage while you have the time and learn a handy skill.

The ones I have enjoyed include:

•  Bread Ahead Bakery  
• Jamie Oliver’s son Buddy (#KitchenBuddies) for their live Instagram videos
• Smitten Kitchen  
• The Kitchn for their websites with recipes and tips. 

I also read a great article on other free cooking videos available right now. (link: http://www.startribune.com/free-online-cooking-lessons-from-culinary-masters-while-you-re-social-distancing/568958782/) 

It is tough not being able to go out. It’s even tougher for the many small businesses across our region and worldwide.

Fellow columnist and person-in-the-know Alison Markin of All She Wrote included some thoughtful and practical options for helping out many small businesses in her Okanagan Taste  piece this week.

I will add arts companies to her list of places you can support. Please do what you can to help your neighbours. (Thanks too, Alison, for sharing this week’s image.)

We will get through this. We will survive it better if we remember the big picture. Please be kind, be thoughtful – to others, and yourself.

Give yourself, and others a break. Stop and take a breath when you are overwhelmed. Ask for help if you’re feeling anxious. Get in touch with friends and family, even more now because you can’t have a hug. 

We need to accept that the world right now is different from what we are used to experiencing. Don’t fight it, embrace it – virtually.

• Wash your hands
• Don’t touch your face often.
• Keep your distance so you don’t spread anything, or receive anything, you don’t want shared. Stay at home as much as you can. 

This is time to love your pets, master those board games, learn new domestic skills and eat at the table.

I look forward to seeing you on the other side of this — soon.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.