Tag Archives: #pandemicposts

Astronaut Tips for Self Isolation

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If anyone should be an expert at self isolation, it’s astronauts. Spending weeks or months holed up in a confined space with others, physically disconnected from the natural world and everyone else they know and love, astronauts have to develop strategies to cope, stay healthy, and stay sane.

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield spent 166 days in space and offered this advice:

  1. Understand the actual risk – fear is not helpful; look to credible sources to find out the real level of risk
  2. What’s your mission? – pick a mission and decide on what you hope to achieve (learn a language, complete a project, learn a skill)
  3. Look at your constraints – beyond social distancing, consider other factors like financial resources
  4. Take action -start acting, whether caring for others, learning something new: “It’s a chance to do something different”

“Take care of yourself. Take care of your family. Take care of your friends. Take care of your spaceship.”

To read more about Hadfield’s advice, click here.

Astronaut Leroy Chiao spent over 229 days in space. Here are his suggestions:

  1. See the bigger picture – set realistic expectations, what resources do you have to help you prepare mentally
  2. Make sure operations (surroundings) are in order – everything is working (within reason), tidy, organized, comfortable
  3. Take stock of supplies – don’t panic buy, set expectations,
  4. Keep channels of communication open – stay connected
  5. Keep your spirits up – do things to help each other, use humor, share

One thing astronauts cannot do is go for a walk in the park and enjoy nature. Some relaxed by listening to recordings of birds or watching videos of nature. We can do that ourselves by going for a walk in the park (if you are allowed outside).

Also, although things have improved greatly, we generally have much more access to audio and video communications here on earth. Reach out and connect with friends, family, and acquaintances. You will both feel better if you do.

Stay safe, stay sane, and stay connected (at a safe minimum distance).

Chino Valley USD Students Spread Hope During School Closure

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High school students at the Chino Valley Unified School District had their annual Choral Festival cancelled. But that didn’t stop them from sharing their beautiful singing. Here they are singing an a cappella version of “Over the Rainbow” from their separate homes. As of this writing, the video has had nearly 129,000 views since it was posted just two days ago.

Click here for more about the story.

I am inspired by works like this and am cooking something up of my own. Stay tuned!

Don’t Forget To Show Love – posts during the pandemic

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During this unprecedented time of stress, fear, isolation, and a never-ending cavalcade of bad news, I want to use this blog to foster connection, and spread joy, hope, and kindness. Like President Austin, I want to “show love.”

I have some ideas and projects in the works I hope to share soon. In the meantime, I will share links and stories I hope will bring some a much-needed reprieve from the current worldwide pandemic.

I particularly want to bring attention to works by artists as that is a group most directly hit by cancellations of concerts, performances, and gigs and with no safety net (not that there is much for other groups).

I hope these will resonate with you. But if they do not, fuhgeddaboudit. No harm, no foul.

The first is a video shared by my dear friend, Anna, showing one dance performed by 42 contemporary choreographers. It is called “Exquisite Corps” and although created in 2016, it it feels very timely. If you like it, a sequel, “And So Say All of Us” was made in 2019.