The cartoonist, Lynda Barry, contends that most adults suffer from “play amnesia.” Living in these dark times, many overlook play...
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May Day, Tara Reade, Coping with Humor & More!
May Day, 2020 May Day is traditionally the holiday for Beltane, which celebrates earth’s fertility as trees and plants awaken from their winter slumber while farmers and gardeners plant new seedlings. Numerous rituals honor the Divine Mother with outdoor dances and prayers—although sadly this year most Beltane rituals will be online [...]
Pat Taub
Hibernation Crazies, Zoom, A Good Read & More!
Hibernation Update I’m now in week 5 of my isolation. I thought I had it down, but yesterday I hit a wall when it dawned on me that I could be facing months of isolation. Depression was looming. The Hibernation Crazies had come for me! Suddenly I realized I hadn’t taken a daily walk for two days. In spite of the overcast sky [...]
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
#Not Dying4Wall Street, A Surprise, A Good Read & More!
#NotDying4WallStreet This is a new popular hash tag, which sprung up after Trump suggested that the country’s social isolation end by Easter, noting that if some people (us older adults) have to die, it may be worth it to get the economy rolling again. Jeffrey St. Clair, writing in Counterpunch, referred to Trump’s sacrificial plan as [...]
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
When It Feels Like the World is Coming to An End . . .
Statements made by those for whom the coronavirus poses survival issues: “I can’t afford health insurance. How will I manage if I get the coronavirus?” “The restaurant where I work has closed. How will I pay my rent if I’m out of work for weeks or months?” Responses from those whose lifestyle choices have been affected: “I’m [...]
Pat Taub
What Gives My life Meaning
GUEST POST by SALLY BOWDEN-SCHAIBLE I look into the bright slate-blue eyes of Olivia and the dark brown eyes of Ruby, my little granddaughters, and I see looking back at me the eyes of Mervet, Kinda and Alma (our friend Yasser’s family) and the little children running up and down the wide stone stairs of Yasser’s apartment building [...]
Pat Taub
Depressing News, Christmas Holidays, A New Read & More
Bad News Week I hate to start my post sounding gloomy, but all I can think about at the moment are the epic fires in Australia which have generated the largest evacuations in the nation’s history, and a looming war with Iran, thanks to the Trump administration blatant assassination (without Congressional approval) of Iranian Gen. Suleimani. [...]
Pat Taub
A Nurse’s Lessons in Kindness
This holiday season where good will seems in short supply, we owe it to our loved ones and our communities to be agents of kindness. A wonderful guide for the practice of kindness is the book The Language of Kindness by Christie Watson. In the holiday rush your reading time is probably at a premium, so allow me to acquaint you with Watson’s [...]
Pat Taub
Christmas Images, A Xmas Appeal, Family & More!
Holiday Images Walking around a very cold Portland I captured these holiday images. The first is from a new boutique on upper Congress St. I love the colorful tress of different sizes gracing the window. The other image is of the entrance to a townhouse in the West End. A Holiday Appeal This appeal does not involve money. [...]
Pat Taub