<aside> 💭 Prompt: A few weeks into this crapshow, and it’s looking like living this way is going to be normal for awhile. As this realization sets in, it’s showing up in folks as depression and low mood. One of the more effective ways to inoculate yourself against these gloomy buggers is leaning into gratitude.
Write about some of the things you’re grateful for, big or small. These can be as fundamental as having most of your limbs and a solid pair of lungs or as simple as being able to spend quality time in a sunbeam with a cup of coffee.
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By Dan Kricke
Gratitude! So, so, so important in these times. In the Before, we would curse our home for the way it did the stupid shit that homes do, calling out to us Alice in Wonderland style, "Replace Me," "Tighten Me," "Don't Forget to Check on Me!" Seemingly scrawled on imaginary cards on all of the various things that can and do break or wear down in a home.
But now? So grateful. Grateful for being able to completely social distance with my partner and my dog and not feel trapped or cramped because the too-big-by-accident house is quite perfectly sized when nobody can actually leave the damn place.
Grateful for a temperament that has kept my tweaking to very short intervals where I imagine I am basically going to be Matt Damon's character in The Martian, just left to twiddle my thumbs for years inside my house because someone soon is going to decide it's easier to less a large percentage of the population die than to deny some suits their quarterly dividends.
And on the smaller scale, grateful for the fun 30 minute concert that I watched Phoebe Bridgers perform on on the Pitchfork instagram this afternoon. I think she's a great lyricist and she looks a little like a witch and both of those things are cool with me.
By Kristen Pavle
My Baba (Macedonian for grandma, dad's side of the family) is 92 years old. She's a tough-as-nails lady who worked her ass off to live the American dream: house, cars, sending her kids to college... has many grand and great-grand children... loves to laugh at stupid jokes... thinks food is the best way to share love...
Currently, Baba is in palliative care at a hospital in Michigan. It's looking like these are her last days, or perhaps even hours, or minutes. Interestingly, I'm not overcome with sadness (I cry periodically but I'm not swimming in grief) - probably because we've rehearsed this moment a few times over the last couple of years. Baba's health hasn't been great, and with each of the handful of hospital stays, the family has rallied together to support Baba, and each other - as we slowly say goodbye.
My sister and her husband are doctors and they regularly talk with the nurses and doctors at the hospital. Sometimes the nurses even send a picture of Baba to my dad. Or FaceTime with my doctor sister to let her and Baba see each other. These little acts of kindness go a long ways.
I've got two group chats going: one with my siblings (I'm one of four), and the other with siblings + dad. It's been non-stop chatter about Baba. Yesterday, doctor sister urged the siblings to call Baba, that it may be the last time we get to talk to her. Her lucidity was going, her strength waning. One after the other, we spoke to Baba - brief calls to basically say: "I love you". What more is there to say? I love you is more than enough.
None of us are with Baba right now because of COVID. And even if we could be there, we wouldn't be allowed to visit regularly or stay with Baba for any length of time, again b/c of COVID. I find comfort in knowing that Baba isn't all too aware right now. Sleeping more often than not. And knowing that the hospital staff have been amazing at staying in touch with us.
I know, I know. This is heavy stuff. But my heart is bursting with gratitude.