Are you holding it together or falling apart?

GregP_WN

Anyone can give up,
it’s the easiest thing
in the world to do.
But to hold it together
when everyone would understand
if you fell apart,
now that’s true strength.
~ Chris Bradford

cllinda

I'm holding it together. I'm exercising my knee, crocheting and knitting, reading and generally carrying on in the house. I try not to get upset. It doesn't do any good. It is what it is.
I do call my grandkids and listen to them tell me about what they are doing. It gives me joy to do this even when I can't see them.
And a walk with my son helps clear my mind.
We have to keep it together. I have cried, but I also put on my game face and just keep going.
One day at a time. Cancer has taught me this lesson. And I am stronger than I have ever been.

BuckeyeShelby

Generally, I'm doing ok. But then I'll hit a moment. Did that last night when I heard that John Prine had died of complications of COVID-19. Kinda had a meltdown. Stupid, I know. Not like I knew the man. But then I think we all need a release every now and then. And I so agree... Even though I worked through cancer treatment, I kept people at arms length and used LOTS of hand sanitizer. 4 + months of treatment and working -- no colds, flus, or even issues w/my white blood count.

Dawsonsmom

Buckeye, I had the exact same response to hearing that Bill Withers died last week. Lost it.... but it was about way more sadness than just him dying. I’m generally holding it together pretty well. However, yesterday I was on a rant about the Wisconsin Court and Supreme Court putting people at such risk unnecessarily. That was beyond shameful and irresponsible. They aren’t holding court bc of the risk, but put all those voters in harms way. So, do your part, stay home.

BuckeyeShelby

Doing a Kroger pickup tonight (I love shopping online, except I can't get TP that way). Tomorrow I have to go to the pharmacy to pick up an Rx. Otherwise, I'm in this week, unless I decide to do curbside pickup to support our local restaurants. Afterall, I'm no longer driving 25 miles back and forth to work. I can afford to do that. So, just sitting here auditing customer service phone calls...

LiveWithCancer

We're doing okay. The hours fly by for me - I have way more things I want to get done in a day than I'm able to do. I think I only have had a day when I was bored and at loose ends.

Getting the groceries we need/want is becoming a real game for me - almost like the lottery. I've been grocery shopping more since we've been sheltering in place than most any other time, but that's primarily because I can't get staples like eggs and cheese (it did include bread and crackers and lots of stuff, but I finally have plenty of those items). I shop online and pick it up at Walmart, which has been an overall very pleasant experience. The only time I get out is to pick up my online grocery order. I was surprised to see gasoline available for $1.23/gallon. But, I filled up shortly before the virus hit our area relatively hard so I still have a nearly full tank of gas.

I keep saying I might actually go to the grocery store during senior hours to see if I could get the things we need, but so far I have talked myself out of it at every opportunity.

GregP_WN

Donna has me on lockdown, so I'm in my woodshop all day long making stuff. I'm on a chair binge now with tables. Live you said the hours fly by. I go to my shop and start working on something and before I know it supper time is here.

Carool

Holding it together (after I pick it all up every day). I’m one of those in the eye of the storm (though not in Queens, the most stricken borough). It’s been almost two weeks since I’ve left our apartment. My partner has food shopped twice since I went out, though I’d prefer he’d be on lockdown, as he’s five years older than I am. However, he wants to shop. Just hoping that the death toll begins to subside. Awful.

Bengal

Thank goodness for the internet and the telephone! I think those 2 things are helping many of us to hold it together. I am isolated out in the country but in touch with many folks via those two wonderful inventions. Weekly phone conversations with my mental health counselor have really helped me hold on. It's the one constant that I've been able to count on with all the uncertainty .

I am heartbroken every time I hear the updated "numbers". Those numbers are people and they can't even have their loved ones near at the end. What a tragedy this has become.

Bug

Carool, that's a good way to put it - I'm holding it together after I pick it all up every day. It seems like I have a down/sad/anxious/scared (pick one or more) period and then after getting it out of my system I can move on.

BuckeyeShelby, it is not stupid that you kind of had a meltdown when you heard about John Prine's death.

Greg, I'm glad Donna has you on lockdown!

Carool

Bug, thank you! I myself liked that phrase! LOL (but I did). And I have a similar period every day.

legaljen1969

Carool, I know this thread is a little older but I just saw your response. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be when you are in the eye of the storm. We have several cases here in SC, but we are nowhere near the impact level of New York. I imagine this whole situation is so much more difficult for those in heavily impacted areas.
If I ever seem not to be taking it seriously enough, it's likely because the situation is not quite as serious and widespread. It does not mean I don't have empathy for all who are going through a much more serious storm that I am experiencing.
I will keep you and your loved ones in my thoughts and prayers. Hopefully we are working toward the end of the curve sooner rather than later.
Hugs to you. Please feel free to reach out to me if you ever need any help picking it up on a given day.

Carool

legalgen1969, what a lovely reply! Thank you so much (btw, I did not at all think you weren’t taking the virus seriously).

I tend to aim for humor (maybe even when humor might be inappropriate), so I wasn’t being totally serious in my earlier comment (at least in the first sentence). So far, everyone I know who lives in NYC is okay, so this hasn’t touched me personally, at least not yet. Same as everyone here, I feel so sad about how many people are dying, here and everywhere else. This virus is truly a horror. Other than sad, I feel very angry, but as you know I’ve said my piece about that.

I appreciate very much what you said to me. I know from some of your previous posts that you are dealing with a lot of difficult emotions (I have, too, for most of my life). I send you hugs. I hope all of us will soon be able to focus on things other than this virus.