Get your and move your body: exercise or dance. It can be hard to get out with all that’s going on, but unplug and move your body. PSP has this playlist of about 150 people’s favorite dance songs. I also love Shake it Out by Florence and the Machine.
Check in on your neighbors, friends, and those at risk for both physical and mental illness. You can connect them (or connect on their behalf) to free resources through NYC Well. Look people in the eyes with compassion when you pass them on the streets.
Taking a break from the media can be super useful at clearing your head. Not being bombarded with all the media is like removing a huge heavy backpack. I’ve gone on a media diet that contains just essential news, fun videos that make me smile, and connections to people who are adding positively to the situation.
Laugh more. Share funny jokes, cartoons, and memes, and reflect on funny times together. Don’t feel like you’re not allowed to laugh because of everything going on in the world right now. Laughter is proven to relieve stress, and a little levity can go a long way in times like these.
Check in on your nannies and house cleaners, past and present. There are folks that may be scared for their future.
This is a time to bond. Cooking together, playing games, co-viewing movies, taking walks together (yes, even in the rain) will help your family grow closer.
The beauty and irony of Green-Wood Cemetery. It’s a beautiful place to focus on life as well as grieving; and if you feel a loss around this election, it’s a wonderful escape from all the media right now. (NOTE: If you love it, consider making a donation.)
Helping families and others in need. Contribute to our local soup kitchens (like CHiPS) or Camp Friendship’s Thanksgiving Drive.
Support your local businesses. Shop online from stores in your area, buy gift cards, follow your favorites on social media, leave positive reviews, send encouragement and thank yous to places you love. Focusing inward on our community (PSP and our neighborhoods) is so important right now.
Your kids are going to be okay. They will learn how to handle stress from how you handle stress. They will learn strength, and resilience, and hope from how you show that to them now. Think about how you want to remember this time and strive to reach that goal. You may fall short on some days, but practice self-care, meditate, and exercise to help you be the parent you want to be.
Find the few things that you need to feel sane. For some reason having honeycrisp apples in the house makes me feel like I’ll be able to get through anything. We’re having a Craft Supply Swap on Saturday, November 10th. Come get excited about something new.
Everyone has a different way of dealing with things and we need to keep that in mind and open our hearts to be more compassionate than we ever have. One of the issues that is so apparent in this election is the country’s Us/Them mentality. I truly believe that we are more alike than we are different. If we continue to stay siloed, we won’t see our commonalities. Plan Thanksgiving with “those” relatives; play board games and take walks. You don’t have to talk about politics, and remember that much of the media we've been fed over this election is meant to create strong emotions in us. Unfortunately those emotions are focused on outrage, anger, and differences. We can only heal the divide in this country when we see our joint humanity.
(This one is verbatim from Spring 2020, and I hope it is not too prophetic).
Hang in there. Remember that NYC and the world is going through a collective trauma. We’re experiencing restrictions on our freedoms, a massive change in our lifestyles, and uncertainty about the future. It’s no wonder we aren’t being our most productive, compassionate, and understanding parents and workers. Cut yourself, your kids, your family, friends, and strangers on the street a ton of slack right now. Take a deep breath before you react, and give other people the benefit of the doubt, since they may be dealing with all sorts of stressful things and not thinking clearly themselves.
Sending big hugs to all of you who are having a rough day.
Susan Fox
Founder, Park Slope Parents
