It must be very difficult for people who are not used to staying at home like it is now required. It is not our choice, rather, it is the only way to break the chain of spreading the Coronavirus. I’ve received many messages and phone calls from friends and devotees from all over the world. They are saying that they are very bored, lonely, and isolated with the stay-at-home or lockdown orders. I am sure many others are in the same situation and have similar feelings. Not only are people bored, lonely and isolated, but also feeling fearful with the COVID-19 news and messages that are constantly being shown on social media, our phones, and our TVs.
How we can stay with peace of mind during this lockdown with isolation from work and social activities? It is possible for us to have peace of mind during this time. I would like to share with you, my Facebook friends, suggestions that I have shared with my friends and devotees. I hope they can bring you peace of mind during this time:
1). Now is the best time to have togetherness time with your family, which we can't have while we have our normal work and life schedules. We should cherish this togetherness time with loving family members.
2) Listen to news only once or twice about the Coronavirus per day, so you can keep yourself up to date. Do not be glued to social media or the TV with COVID-19 news 24/7, this will create more fear, depression, and anxiety in our mind.
3) Use this time as an opportunity to cook those recipes you have, do a spring cleaning of your house, practice yoga, and meditation; all of which we find difficult to make time to do during our daily normal working days. We also can teach our children housework like cleaning, cooking, etc., which can be very useful and important in our daily lives.
4) It is time to bring out your hidden skills like painting, music, singing, chanting, and meditation. I am sure everyone has skills and hobbies which you often do not have an opportunity and time to work on it. Doing so will bring lots of joy to you and everyone in the family. Try it and enjoy it.
5) It is time to play games with family members. Games like playing cards, carrom board, puzzles, dice, etc. It will help everyone in the family to have fun and make this time more enjoyable. Regardless if you want this lockdown or not, it’s going to happen. Since we have time to kill- have some fun and happy times with your loving family members! Make this a time that your children will look back at with not fear, or anxiety, but a time that they had the opportunity to enjoy spending with their parents- making the most of it and having fun and happy times with loving family members.
6) We know that we must protect ourselves on the outside- stand 6 feet away, wash your hands, cough into your elbow, etc., but it is also the time to protect ourselves on the inside- make sure you are eating healthy and getting enough sleep. We are so used to being busy and working hard for our family to maintain our lives. Now, we have the opportunity to rest and recharge our energy battery. Once this lockdown is over, we can work hard to recover from the economic crisis.
7) It is also a time to appreciate those real-life heroes who work on the frontlines to take care of the people affected by this virus-doctors, nurses, police, leaders and experts. May they be safe and healthy.
May everyone be safe, happy and healthy whether you are at work or home. Enjoy your life.
With Metta
Xianzhong Shi
With Metta
Xianzhong Shi
