Given the state of our world, checking in seems to be appropriate. How are we all doing? How are we coping?  And what coping strategies work (or don’t work) for you?

I’m coping by focusing on the positive and completely avoiding everything else..

So I’m answering a few questions  about coping—and would love to get your own check-in below, in the blog comments.

Mood:

Avoid real life at the moment.

How I’m starting my days this week.

I start most days with a reading from Mark Nepo’s Book of Awakening. His entries in the daybook are a reminder that there is something bigger at work in our lives and also in the world.

How I get to sleep:

Mindless podcasts. Nothing engaging or that I need to pay attention to.

What Cutie’s been up to.

As I write this in Rochester, Michael’s with Cutie in San Jose.  He went off to neighbors for the ball game on Sunday and when he checked on her at halftime, she was outraged that she was left alone without her “girls.” She definitely dislikes being alone and likes the attention of her petsitters!

What I’m streaming.

The most mindless thing in the world on Netflix: Dubai Bling. Probably the most ridiculous show ever. Or one of them, anyway. I have no defense. It’s pure escapism.

What I’m reading.

Everybody Had an Ocean: Music and Mayhem in 1960s Los Angeles by William McKeen. It’s a great overview of the 60s southern California rock scene and I have to admit, spending time immersed in the past sure does beat the here and now.

Best thing I’ve eaten lately:

I had a delicious scallops entree in Honolulu in January. It was a lasagenette, with avocado, garlic, onion and butter sauce. Absolutely scrumptious! I recreated it a few months ago for a family dinner, and it was very good. Also made a yummy chicken breast with lemon butter sauce, using lemons from one of our trees in California.

Fun things on tap for the week I wrote this.

Meeting up with friends …. the mall with my sister… cookin…organizing my writing office…thinking about buying a new laptop….

Goal for this trip:

Get ready to go back to work on my one-woman show. Well, that WAS the goal. But now the goal is to connect in with deeper spirituality. More on that later.

Current hope:

That you’ll check out my gently supportive healing and grief tools right here.