Mask in Place; Neurosis in Check?

I walked a brisk two miles on Tuesday; who needs a treadmill when you can just run thru your condo- a workout obstacle circuit. While my cardio was complete, my mental state was questionable. There was nothing prohibitive about going outside; my behavior was neurotic with a hint of agoraphobia. COVID19 has stressed out the most blissful states of mind. Standard advice is learn a new skill, get close to the family, catch up on reading, binge tv, embrace podcasts…blah, blah, blah. Here’s one to add, do what ever you need to do, but please, distinguish between adaptive behavior and damaging neurosis. Today, I took a 6 mile walk. Once outside and strolling along the bay, I thought of things I have done and beliefs I have developed in the last 6 weeks are not grounded in reality.¹  What about you? This week, pause a few times and ask yourself “am I adapting to shelter in place or am I indulging in a behavior that does not serve me?” This is a crazy, once in lifetime experience, we will all have an emotional roller coaster. Find the balance and be nice, be community, be love.

¹Last Sunday, I was cleaning my balcony and got into with a mosquito. Well, I thought it was mosquito, I’d done fierce battled a hair ball. I am nearsighted. In my mind, I made up the great 2020 contact shortage. Therefore, I need to hang on to my 90 day supply. Walking today, the obvious solution was to order another 90 day supply. Doing this I found there is no contact lens shortage.