Reading these posts has really touched my heart, and helped me feel a bit less alone. I have been mostly off the forum for a while due to a massive lack of energy, and feeling like I have nothing to contribute right now. Basically my husband and I are okay, but like others struggling with some health issues and stress. Like others too, there is a situation where my frail and elderly parents are far away and under lockdown. They are at a facility that fought mightily against the virus all this time but recently had a slew of infections. I cannot travel right now, but even if I could go there, I wouldn't be allowed to see them.

My routine is my coping mechanism. I walk every day, and cook, sew and crochet, all of which are very calming. Crafting has kept me sane, as it has a quite meditative effect. I feel too, like all the upheaval in the world must necessarily lead to some positive changes along the way. My aim is to stay flexible, and look for opportunities to be part of those good things.

Carla, we had special swim protocols set up too. The number of people permitted into the facility depended on the shape and size of the pool area and locker/shower facilities. Generally, 25 meter pools were set up with two lanes made into one super-wide lane, with people insteucted to circle swim. The most I ever saw in one of those was 8 people, but more often 5 or 6, so a low load. No hair dryers, every other shower blocked off. Swim sessions started every 2.5 hours, lasted 1:45, then the pool was cleaned. After 15 min the shower and locker areas were cleaned.

Suntiger, a sort of odd question for you, because I know you’ve been enjoying archery: what’s it like? Is it calming because of the steadiness required to line up your shot? Invigorating when you hit the target? What muscles does it use besides arm and maybe rhombus on one side? I’m not trying to put it down. I just don’t know enough about it to understand your devotion to it.

Suntiger, I remember loving archery when I did a summer sports camp as a kid. I was/am about as unathletic as it gets. I’m not and have never been fast so I hated sports that rely on speed. Even when I started running, I’m slow at best. But I always liked activities where I could take my time and focus to aim, and I was good at that. I even impressed my husband on the firing range when I learned how to shoot a gun (not something I particularly like, but I’m glad I know how). So I can definitely appreciate the focus and steadiness that archery requires.

I’m also feeling the stress. I have had some issues with my health the whole year and it also has had an influence on my mental health, in addition to everything that comes with the pandemic. It’s very up and down... What has made it so complicated for me is that I moved and started a new job last year, so I don’t have many personal contacts here yet besides my neighbours which are admittedly very nice. Staying at home isn’t always easy when you’re living on your own. I’ve also had to go to work all these months (no home office for me), with a lot of exposure to the public, both at work and on public transport. At work every visitor has to wear a mask and I’m so so tired of asking people to please put on their mask correctly... My siblings are staying with my parents right now (the universities went completely online) and I’ve been visiting whenever I could, but it’s definitely not enough. I also worry about my Dad - he has some health issues and as a school teacher he is exposed to a lot of people every day.

So nice to not feel alone in this crazy time. I have been very thankful that my spouse and I and our adult kids all kept our health and jobs through this pandemic but now rates are rising again so stress is also. The holidays will be very strange with little to no gatherings. I'm just hoping that my daughter who lives in Utah will feel safe enough to come home for a short time.

We have been socializing with a small group of friends (two other couples) and actually cut loose a few that were toxic anyway - not worth it. But it has been nice to have a group to gather with, otherwise hubby and I would be getting really sick of each other - hah!

Health wise, I have gone back to Weight Watchers and lost a little weight. Not a lot but enough to feel tons better. I do this every few years - get the the point where my weight has crept up enough that I am very unhappy with it and then join WW to try to get rid of it - it works better some times than others (or I should say I follow it better some times than others) and I am determined to get down to my goal this time regardless of how long it takes. It is very slow but part of that is because I still have my almost-daily glass of wine. I also do some weight lifting zoom classes and try to walk but don't manage as often as I should.

Here's hoping 2021 turns the corner and we can get back to some sort of "normal". I miss traveling and concerts and festivals. I miss my family who are out of state and shopping with my mom. Maybe this whole situation will make us all re-evaluate our priorities going forward.

Wow...it’s somewhat therapeutic to read all of your COVID-related woes. Makes me feel less alone. I seem to gravitate to the “look at all the free time we have and so let’s exercise, bake, and learn a foreign language” articles online. And other than baking, I haven’t managed to do any of those things. If anything, I am busier than ever before since my kids (20-somethings) are all hunkering down with us, working remotely, and my elderly mother needs my help, too. I’ve gained weight and my blood pressure is way up. If I don’t bring it down, I will end up on medication and that feels like a failure to me. Like Shevia, I also cracked a tooth and may lose it, which horrifies me. Luckily it’s in the back, but still. My dentist says so many people are coming in with cracked teeth and other damage from clenching and grinding while sleeping...a unique pandemic issue. (I’m getting fitted for a mouthguard to sleep in to prevent more issues.)

But the vaccine news is GREAT news and I remain hopeful for a better 2021.

Robin, my dentist custom-fitted mouth guards for me a few times. I got tired of grinding through them, so I just started chewing sugarless gum at night. I’ve been doing it for over 25 years with no problems, other than that I can’t sleep without it.

I hear you on all the “let’s be lroductive during this gifted time” articles. I have two friends who have both been amazing at plowing through new projects during lockdowns. One of them has long had periods of down days and the other periodically is angry too. So it’s not like they’re those Teflon/Golden people who sail through life. They both got off to tough starts, living in well-known ghettos. I think they’re using what they learned there to thrive now. Sometimes I find them inspirational; others times I feel like a schlub by comparison.

Thank you for starting this thread, Carla. I have been doing Vinyassa Yoga about 4 or 5 times a week, thanks to Zoom. I go for a fairly long hike daily. Mr. SF is a great motivator. He does Yoga daily.
My diet is the same as always. That never changes. I was eating less because of stress, but I think that has passed.
My health is a roller coaster. Up and down. I have realized that it might always be this way. I am grateful that I have excellent health care.
My family's awful news is that my younger sister was diagnosed with Stage 3 metastasized breast cancer about 6 weeks ago. She is receiving chemotherapy weekly, and we are hoping for the best. She will have surgery after the chemo.
All the family meets via Zoom once a week. I am extremely grateful that we can support her even though we live so far apart.

Style Fan, sending positive thoughts and prayers to you and your sister, never a good time for a cancer diagnosis, but now when its so much harder for family to be there for in person support, it seems even crueler.

@Aquamarine, Shevia - I can relate to the cracked tooth. Cracked a back molar 3 weeks before the actual relocation/move in 2014. There wasn’t enough time to go the root canal/reconstruction/cap route, so I had it drawn. Quick recovery, but some slight nerve damage that took a few years to resolve. I quite like my bite plane and can’t sleep without it now.

That’s good to hear, Carla.

It is lovely to read the replies and see how different people are managing.

I’m slightly removed from my emotions as I am concerned to really properly engage with them fully I think.

My work head only seems to work when I have the routine of the commute to the office, which I am okay with and take huge care. I continue to commute inspite of the second UK lockdown. I work in construction so I am able to do this and comply with the guidelines.

I think work is getting me through the pandemic because it gives structure and purpose.

DS left for university and I’m worried about him although there isn’t anything to indicate that he’s not okay - he’s had a few moments of anxiety but he is very open with DH and I and talks things through. Mum is okay and I see her weekly but the evenings are horrid for her. It gets dark at about 5pm here and that for her in her cottage alone makes it a long slow day. DH is coming out of a period of grieving and sorting out family things following the death of his father. He’s been having counselling for the last 18 months or so, which has made an amazing difference to him, as he feels able to properly articulate and express his feelings. I love him more and more.

Thank you for the space to write about this.

SF, I’m sending good vibes to your sister.

We are back in TX now for a few days before heading home. COVID cases are exploding in parts of TX (we sped through El Paso for this reason). My husband’s cousin just got out of the ICU after two weeks and is still recovering. Our ranch manager and one of his sons have mild cases (we are staying far away from them!).

We are very fortunate and plan to keep doing what we’ve been doing, keeping our distance from others, staying “home” as much as possible, and wearing masks when out around people.

I feel some signs of stress ramping back up (they were better on the road), and plan on taking better care of myself when we are back home. More exercise, more cooking healthy meals, more meditation.

I had been doing very well through the summer and spending a great deal of time outside walking or otherwise. The time change to getting dark early throws me off every year. 

I've had my daughter home with me doing zoom university classes since March, and she will graduate from NYU in January, still remotely. I feel bad about how isolating this has all been for her. However, I read yesterday in the news that 1 of every 325 people in NYC died in the pandemic, so I cannot be sorry that she is home in the countryside.

So far as my own exercise routines are concerned, I have been all-in on exercise through the pandemic. I have basically discovered that the ramping-down metabolism of my age means that if I want to eat even (mostly) healthy, vegetarian food, drink wine, and not feel like I'm dieting, I need something like 2 hours of peloton/walking/yoga/weights/pilates every day. (It's going to be boring to transition most of that indoors in the winter, though.) But I do that, and I think keeping the body worn out does keep stress away.

I like hearing how others are coping. For those of you finding it hard, keep hanging in there.

I just want to send out a bit of virtual support to those who are having a tough time. This winter looks like it’s going to be challenging for many people. Please stay safe and take care.

I’ve decided that when we get back home I’m going to pick up running yet again. Last winter my husband and I did a mile a day challenge for about a month. He slacked off but I kept it up long enough to get back to where I could run (albeit at my snails pace) three miles without stopping. And then I fell off the wagon too, although I was walking a LOT earlier this year.

UmmLila, that’s interesting you talk about two hours of activity, because I’ve found the same. It doesn’t have to be super vigorous exercise, but some kind of definite, intentional movement.

Janet, good for restarting your running, FYI, I just today finished my October (haha) goal of running 66 miles because I turned 66 last month. I had to take a rest week early because of a sore hip, but new shoes made me better, and I kept recording my totals. Five miles, three days a week is my usual schedule. Much harder in winter, but this year - NO excuses. Keep up your spirits and chin.

Carla, thank you for starting this thread, and I'm so glad you and yours are doing well (all things considered). Your calm and practical approach must really help in these times, plus you have a beautiful home in a fairly safe area.

Thanks also to all who have shared their struggles and small joys and successes. This has been such a difficult year.

In terms of fitness, I'm doing well. Or at least I was doing well until I injured my hamstring last week! LOL. Anyway, twice a week kettlebells classes (on Zoom), plus lots and lots of walking and hiking, and the occasional short run have helped me lose the extra stress weight I'd been carrying for the past couple of years -- even though I am still quite stressed. No doubt the lack of restaurant meals also helped with weight loss.

I don't sleep well, but that's nothing new. I have cut way back on caffeine, but I'm still drinking wine and eating dark chocolate and I don't plan to stop. There's only so much deprivation I can bear at one time.

Moving during a pandemic was difficult -- as Astrid noted, it is hard to make friends. I was quite depressed in the first 6 weeks of restrictions, as it sunk in how much I had lost. (Visits with distant family and friends, social life, important professional opportunities, travel). Meanwhile, like a few others here, I found myself extra busy with work -- and that continues, which is one reason I'm not here as often as I used to be. I wish I could say the work has been lucrative but that is not the case -- however, I took these contracts on, and need to complete them, so there it is.

We've lost loved ones during this time (to cancers, heart disease, suspected COVID). So like everyone here, I've needed to work hard to maintain a positive attitude.

I am fortunate to live in a relatively safe pocket (on an island -- it really helps -- high five, Kiwis!) -- but even here, cases are rising exponentially. On the mainland, tighter restrictions have just been imposed and I'm sure they are coming here as well. It's hard. I do enjoy my walks but I miss socializing in restaurants, coffee shops, galleries, at readings and performances. I'm a social introvert (does that make sense?) I love my friends and rely on my relationships with them. I speak to several regularly by phone and others by text or Facetime -- but it's not the same.

Still -- I love my garden. I've almost finished renovations on my new office -- it's amazing!! Garden walkout with a ton of light. I love it.

Back to add that in the last 2 weeks I’d gotten lazy about meal planning and therefore actual meal cooking, and so take out and un healthy dinners had increased (does minestrone soup, cottage cheese & coffee cake actually quality as dinner?). Any way, I’ve resolved to get back on track, and already feel better, or at least feel more like if taken back some control, instead of just taking whatever comes.

THanks Carla, and everyone. I've not been around YLF much of late, and it was a good experience to catch up on such a lot of your news at once, and be reminded of how difficult life us in so much of the world. You'll all be in my thoughts.