We have all been through a lot this past year. Some have lost jobs, had difficulty getting enough food, and lost social outlets. We have missed family celebrations, holidays, and weddings. While in quarantine we have not been able to hug loved ones, greet fellow church attendees, or shake hands with strangers. In some cases, the solitude has been mind numbing.

To improve my own feelings of isolation, it has been important to keep up with friends and relatives virtually through FaceTime calls and regular text messages. Facebook is also much more valuable than ever before, as I keep up to date with newly posted photos to see how a niece is faring at a strange place called “college”. My granddaughter’s photo catching a fish in the pond spreads a new smile on my face. Another younger granddaughter is learning to walk, and her toddling legs stop and start to catch her balance. My young grandson in California is mesmerized by the water falling from the sky, laughing with glee and watching in awe as the raindrops slowly descend down his little fingers. Oh, what precious pictures they are! I long to hold them and cuddle their precious little bodies.

To maintain friendships when we cannot go to the movies or out to lunch, my buddies and I play games on our cell phones. “Words with Friends” is a favorite, with just the name reaffirming companionship. I may not be sipping tea with a friend at Chelo’s, but we have the give and take of a social relationship one word at a time, even if she plays her word at midnight and I reciprocate at two in the afternoon.

Taking care of oneself during this time is super important. Although one to prefer to overeat and stuff myself with goodies to counteract the solitude inside, I have consciously chosen to take this time to diet. It has been difficult, but Hubby has managed to use his culinary skills to prepare healthy, tasty meals. I am so lucky to have him! I have only managed to lose a few pounds, but each pound is a triumph over gaining weight.

I had greatly enjoyed organizational meetings at local restaurants where we socialized and enjoyed the local cuisine. Zoom meetings are not the same, just a teasing glimpse into what meetings used to be. They keep me abreast of what is going on, but do not satisfy my social needs. How I long to be able to meet together in person!

Helping others has been a stronghold for me. Doing so is purely selfish for my own well-being, but it is nice that others can benefit from my own neediness. Whether is it providing food for the homeless, calling a person who is homebound, or mentoring a parishioner who is having a difficult time, it gets me beyond myself into the needs of others, and is very rewarding. (Just a note: anyone can provide food for the homeless. Simply purchase non-perishable food items such as cans of pasta or soup with a flip top, and deliver them to your local food bank or Crossroads Rhode Island, calling them first at 521-2255.)

Now it is time to spring forward into a new mental state! The weather is warmer and the sun is (sometimes) shining. Take advantage of the new season to recharge depression into contentment. Take a walk in the neighborhood. Sit outside on the front step, savoring a cup of tea, nodding at the neighbors who walk by with their pooches. Drive to the seashore and bring out the beach chair on which to sit calmly, taking in deep breaths of the salt air replacing the stagnant winter air. Watch and listen as the waves gently roll in and as the squawking seagulls play chicken with each other on the sand. The sun warms arms that have been covered up all winter and happiness warms the body. There is a significant awareness that things have changed for the better and that there IS a light at the end of the tunnel.