While I’m an elder, I hadn’t given a lot of thought to dying, that is until my brother, who’s 20 months younger, announced in...
Coping with Coronavirus
What? A Second Lockdown!
Just when we were getting Covid under control, overnight the infection rates skyrocketed. With every state setting infection records, we all know what that means: another lockdown coming our way. Now that I’ve been through one lockdown, what have I learned to make the second one bearable? Experience has taught me to accept my erratic Covid [...]
Pat Taub
Living with Uncertainty
“We’re living with uncertainty layered on top of uncertainty.”–NPR host, Meghna Chakrabarti “I’m filled with anxiety like I’ve never experienced before.”–A close friend “Nothing feels normal anymore.”–A comment I overheard waiting for my take-out coffee The collective uncertainty brought on by Covid [...]
Pat Taub
What My Mask Hides
GUEST POST by CAROLE LESKIN One of my favorite songs is the 1954 Nat King Cole rendition of “Smile.” As a little girl, I remember my father playing it, smiling, and softly singing along. He was melancholy and rarely smiled. I had discovered his secret side! I inherited my father’s temperament with one distinct difference: [...]
Pat Taub
The Pleasures of Age
GUEST POST by EDWARD MOONEY Age is a time for looking back— on a life, on a family; on a vocation, a profession. It’s a time for pleasant memories from the past and also for present day by day enjoyments— enjoying a community orchestra, a choir, an invitation to lunch or dinner. It’s a time to phone family, to walk for a cappuccino, [...]
Pat Taub
Silver Linings From the Lockdown
In the beginning of my lockdown I was antsy: irritated at not being able to see friends, eat out, and plan a summer trip with my grandchildren. My days were endless and depressing. Once I settled into the lockdown, I began to re-examine my lifestyle choices. Why had I been making all those trips to the mall for clothes I didn’t need, or [...]
Pat Taub
Books and Videos for Your Hibernation
My mother’s spirit was whispering in my ear, “Lockdown is the perfect time to clean your closets, messy kitchen drawers and disorganized office.” I shooed her away insisting that I’ll get around to cleaning eventually. I explained that until I find my equilibrium I need pleasurable diversions like books and films. This week I’m [...]
Pat Taub
Good Medicine: Handwritten Letters in the Time of Covid-19
GUEST POST by ZOE FITZGERALD-BECKETT Texting, and tweeting, and all the social media posting apps are a part of life now and serving in their way to keep us informed and in touch. But as a prescription for healing and strengthening our spirits during COVID-19, I recommend picking up a pen and writing a letter. Two years ago, a health [...]
Pat Taub
Banishing the “I’m Not Being Productive” Guilt
“I feel guilty because I have all this time at home and I’m not being productive.” This is a common response I’ve been hearing from friends and seeing on Facebook postings. Enough! Let’s put an end to these harsh self-judgments. The “productive” path right now is to give yourself time to adjust to the coronavirus’ mandated [...]
Pat Taub
Coping with COVID Anxiety
Truth-telling time: I don’t always follow (some days barely at all) the COVID coping suggestions I’ve offered in recent WOW blogs. When this happens it’s because pandemic anxiety gets the upper hand, casting me into an irrational mind set. Here’s a sampling from this past weekend when I fell off the wagon, or when my anxiety had [...]
Pat Taub
WOW Readers’ Responses to COVID-19
Believing that many women have found creative and soulful ways of managing coronavirus that would benefit all of us, I posted a notice on the WOW Facebook page asking members how they’re coping with COVID-19. I was very moved by their resourcefulness, empathy and strivings to remain positive. I hope you will be similarly inspired. [...]
Pat Taub