Island Senior: Coping With Coronavirus II, Staying Home, Staying Healthy

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae…

Qigong at home with Stephanie Prima – Peggy Sue McRae photo

How is everybody doing? As an introvert who already works at home having to stay home has not changed my lifestyle very much. Yet, it is different. I am aware now that I touch my face way too much and the daily news can be downright scary.

We islanders generally know that we are lucky in the best of times. We live in a beautiful place and belong to a caring, creative, and talented community. In challenging times these assets come into sharper focus. If we are spending more time alone that we’d like to right now, if we’ve had to cancel cherished plans, we can take comfort in the beauty that surrounds us and put our faith in our friends and neighbors.

In the best of times we are reassured by our excellent health and safety personnel who when put to the test rise to the occasion with dedication, foresight, and creativity. Our grocery store employees and other essential workers deserve our deepest gratitude and respect for making sure that our most basic needs are met.

It may not seem like you are doing much by staying home but in fact staying home is the most critically important thing most of us can do right now. By slowing down the spread of the virus you are protecting your own health as well as the health of others including our healthcare professionals and hopefully we can prevent our medical facilities from being overwhelmed.

As we move into April squestered in our homes I’m setting a few modest goals for myself. 1)  Figure out how to use Zoom before the Mullis Center bookclub meets via Zoom on April 13. Zoom is the technology for these times. We are reading The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch if you would like to join us with Zoom. 2) Take a Qigong class from Stephanie Prima who generously offered self-care tips to keep our stress levels down and immune systems fortified including a free 50 minute Qigong class on Youtube. She says, “Move your body every day. Movement acts as the pump for the lymphatic system, which flushes toxins out of the body.” And 3) Keep up my weekly email check-ins with my sisters.

Stay home. Stay healthy. Reach out to your friends and family. If you need help do not be afraid to ask. We may be hunkered down in separate houses but we are all in this together.

Link to: Free Mindfulness and Qigong Training for COVID-19

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