Reading Corner

Links related to the weekly posts.

 

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In this week’s blog, we wrote about the dance of grief and joy we are all experiencing. It is important to be in touch with our feelings and to be present with them. This doesn’t mean we should wallow in our losses, but rather acknowledge the sadness and grief, while at the same time feeling the joy and beauty around us. Here are some other articles exploring other aspects of this.

That uncomfortable coronavirus feeling: It could be grief “Maybe you’re among the most fortunate in the coronavirus crisis — your loved ones are healthy and you’re sheltering at home. Yet you still feel emotionally bulldozed by the pandemic. Those feelings of uncertainty, helplessness and exhaustion may be grief…. But grief can come from the loss of anything we’re attached to deeply: the loss of economic stability, the loss of our ability to move around freely, the ability to participate in life’s milestones in person.”

Coronavirus Has Upended Our World. It’s OK To Grieve “The coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe has not only left many anxious about life and death issues, it’s also left people struggling with a host of less obvious, existential losses as they heed stay-home warnings and wonder how bad all of this is going to get. To weather these uncertain times, it’s important to acknowledge and grieve lost routines, social connections, family structures and our sense of security — and then create new ways to move forward — says interfaith chaplain and trauma counselor, Terri Daniel.”

Balancing Grief and Joy in a Time of Uncertainty “‘Grief is love that has nowhere to go.’ Buddhist teacher Roshi Joan Halifax took our breaths away with truth as she shared this bit of wisdom she learned from one of her students in an Irresistible podcast episode titled, ‘Grief in a time of not knowing.’ For the past month and a half, I’ve been contemplating the role of collective grief in this global crisis with hesitant curiosity”

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In this week’s blog, we wrote about how to find mutual solutions and avoid conflict. Here is some more advice on doing just that.

Interpersonal Conflict and Effective Communication “Conflicts run all the way from minor, unimportant differences to disputes which can threaten the existence of a relationship. Conflicts with a loved one or a long-term friend are, of course, different from negotiating with someone who does not care about your needs, like a stranger or a salesperson. However, there is an underlying principle that underscores all successful conflict resolution. That is, both parties must view their conflict as a problem to be solved mutually so that both parties have the feeling of winning – or at least finding a solution which is acceptable to both. Each person must participate actively in the resolution and make an effort and commitment to find answers which are as fair as possible to both.”

More About Dissolving Conflict, Part Two of Two “Act as if he means well, especially if he appears not to — not for his sake, but for yours. The more you can look to someone else’s positive intent, the greater the likelihood you can respond to her comments before she adds more or elaborates. Follow this easy-to-remember four-step process when responding to criticism. Remember, it is never comfortable to hear negative comments, yet with this approach, you’ll increase your ease in the moment:” (P.S. The link to Part One is broken; find it here.)

Conflict Resolution Skills for Healthy Relationships “Conflict is a predictable part of virtually all relationships. It can also be a significant source of stress. Therefore, with most conflicts, it’s important to find a resolution. This seems like a statement of the obvious, but many people suppress their anger or just ‘go along to get along.’ Some think that by addressing a conflict, they are creating one, and simply keep quiet when upset. Unfortunately, this isn’t a healthy long-term strategy.”

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This week in our blog, we discussed how to handle changes in your life and relationships arising from the coronavirus. We found some good views on this, each one from a different perspective.

Our post-pandemic selves: why the virus is an opportunity to grow and develop “Without downplaying the tragedies of the current pandemic, Smith…observes ‘there is liberation in this suspension of more or less everything. Any fashion, sensibility, ideology, set of priorities, worldview or hobby that you acquired prior to March 2020, and that may have by then started to seem to you cumbersome, dull, inauthentic, a drag: you are no longer beholden to it,’ he writes. ‘You can cast it off entirely and no one will care; likely, no one will notice.'”

How will coronavirus change the world? “There are a number of possible futures, all dependent on how governments and society respond to coronavirus and its economic aftermath. Hopefully we will use this crisis to rebuild, produce something better and more humane. But we may slide into something worse. I think we can understand our situation – and what might lie in our future – by looking at other crises.”

Stress and Coping “The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.”

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In this week’s blog, we wrote about how our connections with community have changed as a result of the stay-at-home orders. We found some interesting articles around this subject.

Helping Others Can Help You Cope with Lockdown “Our first instinct may be to hunker down and protect ourselves and our immediate families. But to get through these times with our sanity and well-being intact, we may need to push back on this initial impulse—to turn outward, not just inward. Research shows that when we put a high priority on reaching out to others, our own mental and physical health flourish.”

Here Are 18 Of The Best Examples Of Social Distancing During The Lockdown “Health authorities all across the world are declaring quarantine and encouraging people to practice social distancing by minimizing contact with other people as much as possible and maintaining a distance of at least six feet between themselves… some people [who] think it’s best just to lead by example are dedicated to making the best of the quarantine period. And to our joy, they took to Twitter to share their ideas!”

Coming together amid the coronavirus crisis: how Londoners are connecting with neighbours and building micro communities during lockdown “Even though front doors are shut, residents and local businesses are finding new ways of supporting their neighbourhoods, with WhatsApp groups being set up street by street and “angel” volunteers delivering supplies. But there is another epidemic to tackle. Loneliness is a modern urban disease expected to spread during the lockdown. Jessica Kleczka, a student in Islington, is one of thousands posting leaflets through doors to make contact.”

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Well, here we are, still in the year of the virus! Last week we shared experiences of couples and what it’s like living together during these times. This week we spoke with those who are living alone, and here are some other articles looking at this subject.

Coronavirus: How to cope with living alone in self-isolation “There are millions more stories like this around the world. As governments scramble to contain the deadly Covid-19 pandemic by restricting public life, many living alone have had to accept that they might not spend time with anyone else for a long time. I know because I’m among them. Weeks into the UK lockdown, my ordinary life in London goes on but it looks and feels different.”

A woman living alone: Seven stories of solitude during the coronavirus, from ages 24 to 86 “Today approximately 23.5 million American women live alone, more than ever before. That’s largely because we’re staying single longer. The average woman now waits until she’s 28 to get married. More women are getting divorced or opting out of marriage altogether. Women who live alone are not necessarily lonely.”

How To Cope With Loneliness During Social Distancing If You Live Alone “Social distancing is tough on all of us, but people who live alone may be struggling even more right now…. We asked experts to share their advice for how to feel more connected during this period of social distancing.”