How to stay sane...

when the world is heading to hell in a hand basket.

1. Spend time with family and friends. You need actual in-person interactions. Texting a friend is good, but meeting for coffee is better. 

2. Spend time in nature. Science has shown being in nature, even for a short time, lowers cortisol levels. 



3. Spend time with animals. But truly, horses are the optimal choice because their regulatory system is so large that it is easy for our bodies to co-regulate with theirs. And they can't read the news so they aren't living in a perpetual state of stress.


3. Get physical exercise or do manual labor. It's even better if it takes place outside.


4. Find ways to laugh. Laughter does wonderful things to your immune system. J. was watching clips from The Carol Burnett show this afternoon. Harvey Korman and Tim Conway are gold.

5. Make things. Using your hands, being creative, and working with physical things (as opposed to doing something online) can help keep you regulated. 


6. Take action. The feeling of being trapped or helpless is what leads to trauma. Even deciding to do a small thing is better than sitting and worrying. For instance, participating in a protest.



There is something extremely hopeful about gathering with people who care about our democracy. It can help you feel not so alone. 

At our local protest I saw families with young children, elderly adults who needed wheelchairs and everyone in between. Everyone was friendly. Everyone was peaceful. Everyone was supportive of everyone else. I had almost forgotten that this was our normal once upon a time. I also found it interesting that swearing on signs was far more likely to be a sign held by someone a couple of decades older than me. And my sign? It read, "If you aren't Anti-fascist then you aren't American". 

G. and L. took the train to B. and HC's, then all went into Chicago where they met D. Once again, peaceful and hopeful. 




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