While it would be terribly easy to work oneself into the most terrible tizzy over a pandemic like this one, hysteria never helped anyone and so it is our role as she in charge of all things domestic, to be like swans – as calm and unruffled as can be as we float through troubled waters, even if it means our legs are going like clappers beyond the surface.
Though this may be asking a lot of us as we manage our own anxiety, it is my belief that it is in times like this women can step into their domestic power and drastically reduce the impact crisis can wreak, by focusing on maintaining the sanctity and sanity of home.
Thus it is up to us to set standards for hygienic conduct, for the avoidance of the kind of so-called fake news that feeds panic, and for the maintenance of order, calm and generosity while ludicrous, selfish chaos still reigns in the aisles of supermarkets. Furthermore, it falls to us to establish boundaries for our children, to shift focus to what matters NOW and to make home seem as inviting as possible during what may turn out be the challenging days ahead.
You see, it is all to easy to react from a place of anxiety, (particularly if it is not a new sensation to us), but it is worth remembering in times like this that anxiety is not a friend of either truth nor rationale and we need both things if we are to behave wisely in the face of crisis. That beyond our own anxiety we should be looking for FACTS not frightened rhetoric, and for science, not opinion. That now is a good time to challenge our reliance upon social media and instead look only to respected news sources, and, where possible, to reduce the noise in our heads by limiting even that. We will not stay safe by entertaining conspiracy theories, increasing our own anxiety by undertaking extreme, toxic measures to prevent even the bravest germ coming within a few foot of us, or by restricting our lives to such a degree that the world starts to seem like a frightening place.
While what is happening with the spread of the Corona Virus may indeed threaten some lives, (a truth that none of us want to consider, but that exists none the less), the majority of humanity remains as beautiful as it always has, and it helps us to have some perspective about the limitations of a virus like
For infection is not a political issue: no-one political leader stands alone when making decisions on behalf of his or her country and there are extremely clever people working night and day on our behalf, in search of answers and solution, so working ourselves into a frenzy about who or who isn’t doing what is both futile and misplaced in a time of unprecedented crisis like this one.
Our energy then will be far better focused on making peace with the unknown. There are very few answers right now to how and when this will be over, but it will help to know that like almost everything, this too will likely pass, and if that means that there are ways of life forever now lost to us, we will adapt, because our ability to do that remains one of the most beautiful of human traits.
So this is a rally cry to step into your own domestic power and to use every maternal, female instinct you have got to protect your family. To roar like the lioness you are at all preventable threat, and as much as possible to keep your attention upon what is happening within your own four walls, and what you can create inside them, instead of fretting about what is happening beyond them.
Take care.
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Good comment “keep your attention on what is happening within your own four walls”. Perhaps too often we are so outward-looking, we neglect what is right under our noses. I’m a great nester and I work from home, so I’m happy to dig in and wait for the cures of warmer weather and high humidity to run this particular bug out of town. Keep safe and well.
For those of us on the medical frontlines it is impossible to stick our heads in the sand and pretend it’s not happening. We are short-staffed, under equipped and overwhelmed. If you really want to help, call your reps and demand that we get protective equipment, ventilators and tests!!! This never should have happened. It is a nightmare.
April, please know how very much we are behind you and will do whatever you ask of us to help you make certain that you and other key workers like you (and my own partner Ste) are as safe as can be. My point in this post was to stress that those of us who have the privilege of staying at home can reduce your burden by creating the right boundaries for our families so we are not contributing to the kind of ignorance and disregard I have seen everywhere recently.
We know how privileged we are and we are so grateful to those of you risking your own health for us.x
Good comment “keep your attention on what is happening within your own four walls”. Perhaps too often we are so outward-looking, we neglect what is right under our noses. I’m a great nester and I work from home, so I’m happy to dig in and wait for the cures of warmer weather and high humidity to run this particular bug out of town. Keep safe and well.
Thank you for encouraging everyone! Awesome blog post.
Thank you Alison, God bless you and your positive words that are like a balm of comfort and goodness.
Thank you Alison, God bless you and your positive words that are like a balm of comfort and goodness.
I like this outlook!
Well said! Thank you for the pep talk <3
Eloquent words of wisdom to a woman’s heart, thank you.
Eloquent words of wisdom to a woman’s heart, thank you.
Please remind people that health care workers are stretched. Although they may appear at times to be super human they are unfortunately not. Be careful of the demands you place on them. They need your patience and support. If there are simple things you can do yourself to save their time please do them. We all must take more responsibility for our own care. If you demand excessively others may suffer. We all need to put a shoulder to the wheel and make allowances.
Thank you for this timely reminder Grainne: my point in this post was to encourage us all to take responsibility for not contributing to the burden felt by key workers and to make sure that as much as possible we are doing what we can as families to look after ourselves.
I am watching my own partner risk his own health (and I suppose ours) by going into the fray and I know how very important it is that for those like him we remain vigilant about risk and respect all the rules our governments impose for all our safety and survival.x
And home is such a comforting refuge when working through harrowing experiences. The hospital is busy, and decisions are changing constantly with fear overlying everything–so important now to be able to come home to a meal, cleanliness, comfort and rest. More important now than ever. Not sticking our heads in sand-it is instinctively reaching into our cores, and creating order within the walls we have some control over.
Your enlightened words show us that we should focus on what we can control…our home environment and our daily interactions with others. I’m finding myself smiling at strangers that cross my path with a returning smile from them. For one brief moment tension is released. We so needed your words today. Please keep them coming as we soldier on.