I'm new here, live alone in Emsworth and self-isolating due to a severe lung condition. No family but a number of good friends.I live in a ground floor flat and am so appreciative of my little patio garden. It's been a godsend particularly over the last three days as I've been able to pot up some herbs into larger pots. Exhausting work but I succeeded! Exercise is critical for me so aside from walking round the block, I am doing some exercises in my living room. It's difficult to get motivated to do it though as it can be quite uncomfortable due to difficulty with breathing. I'm doing a bit of 'messing about' with acrylic painting as there are some great tutorials online and would love to hear from folks out there as to how you are keeping yourselves sane and occupied. Any tips would be most welcome. Christina
Connecting with others: I'm new here... - Positive Wellbein...
Positive Wellbeing During Self-Isolation
Connecting with others
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Hi Christina,
Lovely to hear from you and you aren't a million miles away from me. I know Emsworth quite well, and my late stepdad lived there for many years.
I know how difficult it is to fill the time sometimes. I envy you your patio which brings you the ability to get exercise through gardening. And I know how hard the motivation is to exercise indoors.
One kind member gave me a link to some really good tai chi videos on YouTube, so I'm trying to self teach myself, and I'm enjoying the challenge. (That might not be for you though, if you have breathing difficulty).
I see that you've already found some really good tutorials for your painting online. Are you a fan of YouTube? I pass quite a lot of time investigating all sorts of things there, and some have really caught my attention. I've now got an interest in mudlarking, different types of world cookery, travel and account of daily life in Russia, lots of different crafts and other videos too numerous to mention. It's all quite supportive there too, as those who post the many videos are also experiencing the same as we are, and are generally very supportive. Most are amateur contributors so some things are much more interesting and better presented than others. So it's trial and error, always, as to which you will enjoy. But you might find something there that will help pass some time.
Of course I'm also spending a lot of time on this forum trying to keep spirits up in one way and another.
I quite like singing along to favourite songs. It's uplifting and there's no-one to hear my warbling, so long as the windows aren't open.
I do hope you manage to find some new interests to help you fill your day. Time can stretch and seem so long, when we can't keep our minds and hands occupied. But above all, do stay safe and keep well. All the best!
Callendersgal, thanks so much for your reply. I certainly enjoy Tai Chi and a friend has been sending me some video links from a chap in Emsworth who would normally run classes at The Community Centre just across the road. You're right, there's a lot to look at online and yes, I am a fan of YouTube. I'm really into Eckhard Tolle's work and enjoying listening to his talks. Are you familiar with his work?
Although I'm well into retirement age, I do work part-time as copy-editor for budding authors but at the moment I'm in between projects. Hopefully, in a couple of weeks I'll have some more work coming in from regulars. That too, keeps me sane! Trying to write my own book right now - an autobiography but I find copy-editing far easier than copy-writing! As I say to people who ask me what I do, I simply tell them that I do my best to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!
Just been speaking to a very close friend who has lived on Corfu for quite some years - my fault she's there as I introduced her to the island many moons ago when I also lived there! She has recently lost her partner to cancer and as you can imagine is heartbroken. The island is currently Covid-19 free but goodness knows what will happen in the months to come as the island depends on tourism in the summer months. Even now, they are in lock down even though there are no reported virus cases. Just what the Greek government will do in the months to come because poverty there is already apparent. Catch up again soon. Go well. Christina
Hi Christina,
I was so interested that you like Eckhard Tolle. I'm a huge fan and have been for quite a long time.
It seems that you have lots in the pipe-line to keep you occupied. As much as practical suggestions as to what to use to keep occupied, it's important to know that we just have to do it, and the more we find to do, the better we'll come through at the end of this.
What a tragedy for your friend. No matter where we happen to be at the time, the loss of a soul-mate, family member or close friend is a horrible thing. How dreadful on emotional and practical grounds for her, in Corfu at the moment.
It just goes to show that a wonderful situation can suddenly become an awful one: a personal metaphor for the situation we all suddenly find ourselves in.
From the sounds of it though, you are going to do very well!
Having some actual work to do will be really beneficial to you too.
Take care, enjoy your pursuits and please stay safe and well.
Excellent call Zoonie, as with street view you can really explore anywhere. Hope you are managing your pain OK. Take care.
Hi Zoonie, reading through your message above reminded me of the Reader's Digest Illustrated Atlas of the World which is just amazing. World of Books, a seller on Amazon is selling them for a pittance - a few pounds and that includes postage. It's a hard back and very large and heavy, A3 in size methinks. My 85-year-old neighbour next door initially wanted 2 copies and then I ended up getting 4 for her grandchildren. She's not online so I got them for her and at the same time purchased a copy for myself. They're not brand new, little scuffs on the edges but brilliant. I think they're normally something like £30 plus to buy new. If you're interested it might be worth looking on Amazon - that's if they haven't sold out cos I noticed the price had dropped to £2.99. Full of information about our planet, energy, population, people, forests etc. Leave that one with you. Go well. You will be in my prayers. Christina
Sorry to hear Zoonie. Long term pain is literally... a pain!
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