[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.9.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title comments=”off” featured_placement=”above” image_max_height=”800px” _builder_version=”4.9.2″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”|800||on|||||” title_text_align=”left” title_text_color=”#1a2eaf” title_font_size=”29px” title_line_height=”1.4em” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||1px||false|false”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.1″ _module_preset=”default” parallax=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-26px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Without going into too much detail \u2013 causing us all more angst than necessary \u2013 things haven\u2019t been working so well for me these days. You know: computer, internet, software and platform stuff; trying to get my Real ID, a new social security card, even renewing my driver\u2019s license\u2026 and things I don\u2019t even know the words for. I would like to leave it all behind, but well, most of us are living in \u201cthis strange, often confusing world\u201d. On the same boat together but in rocky waters.<\/p>\n
I do the best I can with all of this because I feel a great sense of responsibility. In every aspect of my life. (Maybe ask my therapist about this). But what would I rather be doing? I ask myself this often. Working at a Farmer\u2019s Market or delivering flowers; designing dresses or decorating homes; cooking and organizing; connecting with friends and family; making spice blends and tending to my plants; loving my husband and my cat (without the current stressors of life rearing it\u2019s stubborn head). Comfort.<\/p>\n
We don\u2019t even have an Alexa and I am not that active on social media, yet Google AND Facebook seem to know what I said to someone the night before. [No, I don\u2019t need to buy this or that from you].<\/p>\n
It can be stressful and frustrating. Again, partially because I\u2019m not so tech savvy. And then we have Covid. And most of my friends and family don\u2019t want to see Tom and I right now. Anyway, I would really prefer, for now, just to sit by the fire with a cup of tea and write. Sleep, write, sleep, listen to music, cook a cozy dinner. Yet, there is money needing to be made and rent needing to be paid, and things needing to be \u201chandled\u201d (even if it takes months to get it done).<\/p>\n
While I\u2019ve never really been a \u201cphone\u201d person, I find myself reaching out to people at unexpected times and for unexpected reasons. Most of the time, I find a friendly voice on the other side of the phone \u2013 whether they need me or I need them, or both. Those connections made are heartwarming and comforting.<\/p>\n
If anything, these challenging times have changed me in some positive ways: I am learning how to reach out more, as well as learning that I really do believe in \u2013 and need – the comfort of others. But I am also learning that solitude \u2013 when necessary \u2013 can at times be the best medicine. Oh, and laughter, of course.<\/p>\n
My best advice to myself and others: Know what you feel you need and do it for yourself whenever you can! Self care is especially important right now; as well as compassion for others. But that doesn\u2019t mean you have to save the world. A lot of things that have been happening in the world break my heart, yet if I can\u2019t do anything about them I have to learn the art of letting go. It is a bitters pill to swallow\u2026 So maybe just do little things \u2013 and embrace your efforts. We could all use some more peace of mind. Let\u2019s give it to ourselves, and then each other.<\/p>\n
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things haven\u2019t been working so well for me these days. You know: computer, internet, software and platform stuff; trying to get my Real ID, a new social security card, even renewing my driver\u2019s license\u2026 and things I don\u2019t even know the words for<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2355,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[10],"class_list":["post-2352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-march-2021","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"authors":[{"term_id":10,"user_id":6,"is_guest":0,"slug":"melanie","display_name":"Melanie Noel Light, MS","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/32a567fd9428239348dea0a207d33b1de89bee5944d67194eb6ada8df8022cd0?s=96&d=blank&r=g","user_url":"","last_name":"Noel Light","first_name":"Melanie","description":"Visionary Consultant and Writing & Awareness Coach, Editor of La Dolce Vita Online Magazine dreamlifedesigning@gmail.com (916) 425.4478\r\nwww.dreamlifedesigning.com Author: Portals to the Soul, the Psyche & a More Enchanted Life Co-Author: Something So Obvious"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/middlewayhealth.com\/ladolcevita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2352","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/middlewayhealth.com\/ladolcevita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/middlewayhealth.com\/ladolcevita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/middlewayhealth.com\/ladolcevita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/middlewayhealth.com\/ladolcevita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2352"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/middlewayhealth.com\/ladolcevita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2352\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2365,"href":"https:\/\/middlewayhealth.com\/ladolcevita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2352\/revisions\/2365"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/middlewayhealth.com\/ladolcevita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/middlewayhealth.com\/ladolcevita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/middlewayhealth.com\/ladolcevita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2352"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/middlewayhealth.com\/ladolcevita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2352"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/middlewayhealth.com\/ladolcevita\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=2352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}