Keeping active is the hardest part for me right now. As many of you know I work full time as an independent contractor while I volunteer in leading the beach bums club on day trips. I currently have no business, no income, no supplements, and lots of time. We all have been doing the projects, the cleaning, and at this point we are wondering…. what else? I thought I would share a bit of what is keeping my body, mind, and soul healthy.

BODY: My priority is to keep moving. There are many live and recorded videos of yoga, meditation, dance, movement and exercise programs online that I encourage everyone to participate in. Many are free or by donation in efforts to keep us all active and safe. I recommend these programs including movementbrooklyn.com where my son is giving what he has to give while he is isolated in New York. He is teaching classes on movement. Check it out. It will surprise you that he is my son. No, I do not know where he got those good looks. I try to do a beginner level modification and play at moving. I mostly social distance golf with my husband John or with girlfriends. My favorite was to golf in the early eves but they are now closing the courses and the last tee time is 4pm. Yikes! That can be hot. I had to switch to early mornings instead. Having been a night owl I found out that early morning golf has a higher score. If you want to tee it up with John and I send me an email. My bike is ready for bike rides and from Amazon I purchased a bright green vest so I hope to be seen. John cannot do the rides so I am looking for partners. I made a resolution to do more walking but have been too lazy and have not followed through with that one.

MIND: I am not comfortable with takeout food and have only made a pick up once in the last 40 days. I am cooking every day, and gaining weight every day. Butter and carbohydrates are off the chart! To try to counter my eating frenzy and keep my mind healthy, my family has added a ZOOM happy hour at least once every other week. The largest gathering was 30 of us. On the plus side, I see my sons more often than pre-pandemic. They now have the time to chat with the family that they did not have when there was work. I highly recommend facetime or skype for one on one chats or ZOOM for large group gatherings with friends and family as often as you can. I find I will go all week long without seeing myself in a mirror and then just before joining a live chat I will put on makeup. One of our members recently told me how excited she was to put on make-up for the delivery guy from publix! That is both hysterical and true because live social interaction is extremely important to healthy minds. The large Zoom happy hours are fun and if you are close to your neighbors you should put a group happy hour together and don’t forget the Sangria.

SOUL: I record and then watch lots of TV shows that sadly will be going into re-runs because they cannot film anything since mid march. Big news is for tomorrow April 18th 8:00pm, I cannot wait;
One World: Together at Home. https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/connect/togetherathome/
Do you remember live-aid with Robin Williams & Billy Crystal? This is what I imagine tomorrow will be like and hope everyone catches a moment. There will be live streaming of bands and singers from their homes for hours and then 2 hours on Prime time television. Everyone who is anyone will be involved. I heard the Rolling Stones are going to perform! From the website you can also link into hundreds of performances of home-bound recordings from some of the biggest stars that are streamed live daily. John Legend – Bridge over Trouble Water – was fabulous. The concert is to globally thank and support first responders and health professionals who we are relying upon to get us through this. I try every day to take time and encourage others to say thank you to all the essential workers who do not work from home and do not get this heroes recognition. Truck drivers, grocers, warehouse distributors, electricians, plumbers, farmers, food packers, take out restaurant workers, mechanics, radio station/news announcers, TP makers and more. We would not survive without them putting themselves at risk.

So that is what I am doing. Counting my blessings and trying to keep my body, mind and soul strong because as my father (from the generation of the great depression) always would say, “This too shall pass”.

“Thank You” to every Beach Bum and Villages neighbor for doing your part by staying home and keeping John and I healthy and safe. I appreciate it and am doing the same for you.

See you at the Beach!
Kathy