COVID Finally Hits My County | Masks and Magical Thinking

 

For most of the COVID pandemic, my northwest Ohio county has been a safe place to be, with low numbers of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. But the rural areas of the state are being hit hard now too, and tomorrow grades 7 through 12 of our local school will go to remote learning. There is concern that our hospitals will not have enough beds and health care staff, and the governor has imposed a statewide curfew, with businesses closed and citizens grounded at home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. 

So how do I feel now that we actually have reason to be especially cautious in my area? Not much different. I have always taken this seriously and will continue to do so. At the same time, I don't think lock downs, curfews, masks, etc. have had any positive effect, and the cure of draconian government protocols has certainly been worse than the disease. The toll on people's livelihoods and mental health and the loss of constitutional freedom that we may never get back are too high a price to pay for the illusion of "staying safe" and "slowing the spread." 

The CDC itself presented a study showing that the vast majority of people who got COVID always wore masks (over 70%), and that under 4% of those who got sick did not wear masks. Read about it here: https://thefederalist.com/2020/10/12/cdc-study-finds-overwhelming-majority-of-people-getting-coronavirus-wore-masks/?fbclid=IwAR3Zsbj39hbyxYjLU0HSJ2iEkZ-zkREkEe7w2FbemM-sNwYcNXN5pSLuN_c. 

Yet another distinguished doctor in the field came out recently saying that the masks and distancing are useless, and all that can effectively be done is to protect the most vulnerable (https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-youtube-censors-lifesite?fbclid=IwAR1w7WZTYFg0Lak7f4Nv0slGfofjp15By0tl7MoCbDrJIx73IjVXdSA6MOM).  The audio recording of his statements on YouTube was removed, with Life Site News, which had posted it, having their channel closed down for a week, with the threat of permanent deletion. 

So why are we still wearing masks? Why have we been robbed for the past 9 months of our 1st Ammendment rights and our ability to make the best decisions for ourselves, our families, and our local communities that we can? Why is big tech allowed such prevalent censorship? Perhaps our government leaders are simply power hungry. Some clearly are. I think others are in denial. They are being told by a very limited number of "experts" that these safety protocols work, and that the only reason we still have a problem is that citizens aren't being responsible. 

I suppose a small minority of folks have thrown caution to the wind, ironically, the most draconian government leaders being among the most personally irresponsible. But the great majority of folks have done their very best to follow the mandates, and if these measures were going to work, they would have done so long before now. 

My local school had all staff and students wearing masks even during gym and recess, which should have been exempt according to Gov. DeWine's own orders. So even with precautions above and beyond, we still had a significant breakout. Everywhere I have gone in the two largest towns in the county, I have seen very few people not wearing masks. I assumed that they, like myself, had health exemptions. 

As I suspected months ago and feel I have seen confirmed to be true, nothing can be done to stop this airborne virus, and the widespread use of masks and social distancing has likely lowered our immune responses and harmed our respiratory function. We have made it all that much worse for ourselves, and between disagreements over COVID and the election (which are no doubt connected issues), many have lost their support and connection with family and friends--an emotional loss on top of the physical separation. 

We have to stop this magical thinking, this grand illusion of control. Businesses and schools should stay open, most of us should toss the masks aside, and while being prudent and protecting our most vulnerable, we should control what we actually can and make steps forward to return to our normal lives and a free society. Going backward is not the answer and will result in nothing but increased devastation. If people don't start standing up and demanding their due sovereignty, we may never get to the point of being able to again. Especially if we are facing a Biden presidency, which I pray to God we are not, there is the very real and terrifying possibility of a Communist United States. 

How to Advocate for Your Own Health | Good-bye Wal-Mart

Early on in the coronavirus pandemic, God took my fear about getting sick entirely away. But more recently, I've suffered anxiety over the threat of mask mandates, amongst all the other horrors raging across the country. Last Tuesday, I had a terrible feeling that Ohio Governor Mike DeWine was going to mandate masks in public, for everyone across the state. His usual press conference  was postponed till the following day. By the time I got home on Wednesday and had access to the news, he had already made his emperor's mask decree. Not only was I not surprised, but I realized that my anxiety was gone. This should not have surprised me either, because I had been praying about it for some time. However, we have to allow God to work in our lives, and likely I had been holding on to the illusion of control.

I knew exactly what I had to do. His majesty had graciously given health exemptions to the mask wearing, but as usual, he had provided no guidance on how to ensure being allowed into stores and other service providers. Would I need a doctor's note? My research told me that under the Americans with Disabilities Act, businesses could not discriminate against those who are not able to wear masks due to health conditions. They would have to provide some sort of accomodation if they were going to refuse business to those without masks, such as curbside pick-up. 

Before the governor's mandate went into effect last Thursday at 6:00 p.m., I had already visited local businesses in person, and called ahead to my chiropractor's office to make sure I could come in without a mask. One store told me that it was up to the health department to enforce the mandate. Another told me that to protect employees from potentially angry, violent customers, they weren't going to question anyone about it! I've been in contact with three church pastors. So far, my family and I are going to have no trouble entering any of the public places that we usually frequent. I got curbside prescription pick-up today from my pharmacy. 

Advocating for oneself is extremely empowering. I didn't have to argue with anyone. In fact, I have received nothing but support for the protection of my health. My teenage daughter is not going to wear a mask either. She has health exemptions too, so I have advocated for her. My husband hasn't encountered any resistance, and he didn't even talk to anyone first. 

Here's how I look at it. I happen to be a person who can claim physical health exemptions from mask wearing. The governor also gave mental health exemptions, and in either case, one should not be required to divulge the nature of one's disabilities. As far as I'm concerned, if you believe that wearing a mask is a threat to your physical, mental/emotional, or spiritual health, you should not have any qualms about claiming an exemption. I'm not telling anyone that they should or should not wear a mask. I simply believe that our freedoms are being egregiously stripped away across the country, under false pretenses. People need to be courageous and make their own choices.

The one place that we shop that I can foresee having an issue with is Wal-Mart, especially since they mandated masks at all their stores before DeWine's pronouncement. So, I made one last trip there, and will not be returning until they lift their mask requirements. This means being more self-sufficient in regard to food, so I will be making weekly trips to the farmers market and cooking more from scratch. I'll wean my family away from the frozen and canned, packaged foods. Bake my own bread. Rely less on stores in general. In any case, we can get by just fine without Wal-Mart! 

My guess is that we'll see even more illness of all kinds in the fall, as a direct result of all the stress and "safety" measures being repeatedly recommended and forced over COVID-19. It behooves us all to get as healthy as possible and to form like-minded communities for support. There is no time for delay. Be proactive now. Make community connections now. Reach out and talk to people, because a lot of folks are not vocal and feel timid about standing up for their beliefs and advocating for their health and rights. It's time to get out from behind our screens and fully embrace life!

I wrote back in late April about moving on from the coronavirus; but the media and government officials have made that nearly impossible. Once we have advocated for ourselves and our families and are doing what we can to create fulfilling, free, normal, and even extraordinary lives, I believe that we can begin to move on. My feeling now is that I don't want to continue giving energy to the chaos, so I'll be calling less attention to it. I won't be mentioning the coronavirus or the mandates much anymore. In this way, I believe, if enough people detach themselves from the negativity, the wind will naturally die out of the COVID sails. What I will be sharing instead are the things I am refocusing my energy on, for the sake of my own health and that of my family, in the hope that it will be an encouragement to others. Your reality in great measure depends upon where you put your focus. Godspeed, Rita Michele

The Coronavirus Cult | 4 Tactics of Cult Recruiting We See Brainwashing America

As the debates over the coronavirus and the war of the masks rage on, as government officials continue to double down on measures to "slow the spread" which seriously threaten personal freedom, especially health autonomy, the idea continues to grow on me that what we're seeing is a veritable cult situation. I'm calling this the "coronavirus cult," or "coronacult" for short. 

Before continuing, please read this article on the four psychological techniques used by cults to recruit members. It's uncanny how our current American situation fits with them. 
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=4+psychological+techniques+cults+use+to+recruit+members

Step 1 is picking the right target. It's important to note that people who have been brainwashed are not by nature stupid or mentally unstable. They typically begin as normal, psychologically healthy human beings. Under the right circumstances and because people tend to be gullible, anyone can get sucked in. "The most susceptible to recruitment are stressed, emotionally vulnerable, have tenuous or no family connections, or are living in adverse socioeconomic conditions." That perfectly describes basically everyone during the coronavirus lock downs!  

The cult recruit is enticed with approval or the promise of some fulfilling understanding of the universe. This came with the promise in the beginning that the lock downs would be temporary, a mere few weeks, and were necessary in order for doctors and scientists to get a handle on the nature and origin of this novel coronavirus. This seemed like wisdom early on, but as the semi-quarantine of healthy people and the lock downs continued, the signs of a cult began to emerge. The promised understanding of COVID-19 did not occur. We received "scientific" information and recommendations that changed daily, and today there is more confusion than ever regarding the truth about the numbers of cases and deaths, treatments for the disease, and what does and doesn't work to help prevent the spread. Despite what the company line keeps insisting, there is no "scientific consensus"! So let's look at how the cult hooks you, and how these steps are revealed in "the new normal."

Step 2 is love-bombing. Examples of love-bombing which quickly came to mind were the "we're all in this together" type mantras; the high praise from some governors about how great a job their residents were doing to "flatten the curve"; and the media ego stroking regarding how self-sacrificing and caring were the folks doing all they could to keep from "killing grandma."

Step 3 is isolation. This one is so obvious as to not require commentary, but let's recap. We saw the end of mass gatherings for plays, graduations, weddings, funerals, movies, religious services, recreational activities, and just about anything else you can think of. In some states and cities even churches were forcibly closed. Schools and businesses, except for those deemed "essential," were shut down. Everyone was admonished not to visit with friends or family outside of their own household members. In the event that you had to go out, you must keep a distance of six feet from any other person. People in hospitals and nursing homes had very little to no access to loved ones, many dying alone (and without the sacraments). In cities such as Chicago, there were even mandates regarding how long an individual person could be driving in their car or walking alone outside! We were encouraged to live in absolute fear of one another.

"Newspapers, books, TV, and web access are all censured, ensuring that the only reality the recruit gets to experience is the one presented by the cult."  This fits our reality perfectly as well. We are isolated from any information or opinion that does not fit the party line. For example, hundreds of doctors and scientists all over the world, as well as personal protection equipment specialists in the field, disagree with universal mandates for face mask wearing in public places. The ones who manage to start to make a difference by presenting the truth are quickly labeled frauds and conspiracy theorists, their videos removed from public forums. The mainstream media is purposely complicit in keeping us under control by continuous repetition of the cult narrative, which leads us to the last step.  

Step 4 is keeping control. "By keeping cult members totally off balance..., cults increase their members' dependency on the leader, ensuring they retain control. The exhausting, frozen state of 'terror and avoidance' overwhelms cult members and their ability to think critically about the ideology they've suddenly committed themselves to... Broadly, cults retain control over their members by controlling the narrative. Dissenting voices offer a landmark to cult members that they can use to situate themselves and find their way back to objective reality."  The mantras I have quoted throughout this post are subtle control tactics used by the mainstream media and government leaders, ie., the new normal, flatten the curve, stop the spread, we're all in this together, wear a mask, killing grandma, social distancing, wash your hands, stay safe.

We are being kept under control by threats to shut down the economy again if people don't obey the Emperors' and Empress' recommendations and mandates. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has made it clear that if we don't "slow the spread" by each and every one of us following his protocol, especially the mask wearing, and even in counties where there is no epidemic, he may be forced to put us back into isolation. As I alluded in the previous post, his recent speech strongly suggested that we voluntarily self-isolate. 

And how about the shaming? I've seen videos of people screeching at and video recording others not wearing face masks in stores. There is similar shaming on social media, with a bullying tone and not-so-subtle suggestion that anyone not wearing a mask is an idiot. It reminds me of the pod people in the "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" movie. When a person is discovered who is not yet converted, the pod person points and screams at a high pitch, and all the other alien pod people come running to abduct the human.

In this article, Fr. Kevin M. Cusick also uses the term coronavirus cult: https://thewandererpress.com/catholic/news/our-catholic-faith/a-leaven-in-the-world-coronavirus-cult-vs-christianity/. 
He writes, "One would be forgiven for suspecting that the motive here is not health, but in some instances social control. When public safety rests upon shifting opinion rather than fact, there is the potential for a cult. When people’s fears are exploited for manipulation, and risk is enabled by irresponsible advice, superstitions can run rampant."

I think I've made a very strong case that the citizens of America have been sucked en masse into a dangerous cult. In future posts I hope to offer some solutions to getting back your ability to think critically and open your mind to alternative ideas, facts, and opinions, so that you will not be blown about by the changing winds of this coronacult narrative. We will discuss how you can take more responsibility for your personal health, how you can fight for health autonomy, how to strengthen your spiritual life, and how to grow a like-minded community of support.

Gov. DeWine Fails to Encourage Better Personal Health Habits

Yesterday, July 15, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine gave an impassioned speech to encourage the state's residents to double down on their efforts to "slow the spread" of COVID-19. Although he did concede that mask wearing alone would not be enough to battle the virus, the emphasis was undeniably on this one measure. 

I do believe that Gov. DeWine truly cares about Ohio, as do I. I've lived in this state for my entire life. He is making decisions based on the information and scientific "consensus" that he thinks is best. I admire all of his hard work and positive attitude throughout this entire ordeal. He took quick action in March and has held regular briefings to provide Ohioans with updates ever since. He has allowed protests and, until recently, did not mandate mask wearing in public places, except for employers and employees. (Masks are now mandated in public for everyone living in counties in the "red zone" of his color coding system.) Religious services have always been exempt from the mandates for mass gatherings.

DeWine's tone yesterday seemed to be an attempt at a fatherly approach, trying to be gentle while admonishing the children that they have dropped the ball and need to quit being slackers. The standard parental guilt trip was applied as well. He even played the "killing grandma" card! The pat on the back was given for how well Ohioans rose to the challenge at the start of the pandemic, but now we need to not only wear the masks in public and social distance, we should also go back to isolating ourselves from one another. You know, so we don't kill grandma. 

A neighborly barbeque is too much of a risk. Does he want to keep the economy recovering, and keep people from going insane, or not? We go to grocery stores, hardware stores, shopping malls, work places, fitness centers, and the list goes on. But don't have a family reunion? At least he didn't try to shame us out of going to church. 

The thing is, we were told by credible doctors with immunity expertise that a spike in cases would happen once the country opened back up. Remember California doctors Erickson and Massihi, the urgent care physicians on the front lines that the radical left and mainstream media dismissed as frauds, because they are conservatives? All over social media, their video was taken down, their professional opinion, as immunity experts, silenced.

The good doctors told us that because healthy people had been quarantined, isolated from one another, staying mostly indoors, social distancing, not being exposed to microbes necessary for our health, wearing masks, and all that jazz, people's immunity functioning would be very low, causing an increased vulnerability to pathogens. We would then see a dramatic rise in illnesses. These doctors have now been vindicated. Yet the blame is being squarely placed on people not wearing masks. 

Zach Bush, MD, one of the rare triple board certified doctors in the USA, has said that by wearing the masks, we are killing ourselves. He is not the only one. Doctors have come up with effective treatments for their patients and are saving lives, yet this information has been withheld from the general public. OSHA trained PPE specialists have warned that the widespread mask mandates among people who haven't had the proper health screening and training on mask use are dangerous and potentially deadly. Yet here again, important information the public has a right to is not provided by government officials or the mainstream media. 

And Governor DeWine failed, as have all the high profile doctors on the case, to encourage the one thing that would absolutely improve our situation. That is, to take responsibility for our personal health habits. The USA is a notoriously unhealthy country. We have an obesity epidemic, even among children. Our people smoke, overindulge in alcohol, suffer from alarming rates of drug addiction, are largely sedentary, don't get enough exercise, fresh air, sleep, or sunshine; eat too much junk food and are nutrition deprived, work too much and have high stress levels and crappy relationships. If we had taken better care of ourselves in the first place, and if we had quarantined only the high risk and sick people, we would not be in the royal mess we are in--although the whole question of increasing cases is subject to debate in regard to how much of the rise is due to exponentially more testing, and the death rate keeps going down. 

Why aren't we being told to slim down, quit eating so much sugar and junk, eat nourishing foods, get outside in the sun and fresh air, reduce our stress (the media encourages stress!), exercise, take a vitamin and mineral supplement, especially zinc and vitamins C and D, get enough sleep, and spend time--in person--with loved ones with whom we have healthy relationships??? The trinity of excellent health and a strong immune system is comprised of good sleep, food, and exercise habits. God designed us to be social creatures. Hugs are proven to promote good health. Happy relationships reduce stress. Contact with others and the microbes that are necessary for our health is key to managing this crisis. It seems all the wrong things are being promoted, and people are obeying the narrative like followers of a cult. (The "coronavirus cult" will be a future topic, so stay tuned!)

Since I can't control other people, places, or things, I am choosing to focus on my own personal health and that of my family as a whole. I'm doing the things proven to support good health. It's not too late for folks to develop better health habits and for it to make a difference in the number of hospitalizations and deaths. We should have been encouraged to do the right things back in March. We should have been told that this virus is a wake up call, that we need to live better. We need to change the way we grow food and produce meat and dairy products. We need to stop producing so much air pollution from both city industries and chemical farming (Roundup) in rural areas. We need to stop killing ourselves with our lifestyle so we will be strong enough to deal with an epidemic. We need to encourage herd immunity. 

Mask wearing is a psychological bandage at best, for most people in most cases, and is already causing injury and could lead to death. It hasn't been proven to help. What if it's significantly contributing to sickness? I encourage everyone to fight for health freedom and to take personal responsibility for the state of your own health!
 

The Spiritual Art of Detachment | Triggered by the Masks

I first learned about detachment as a member of the Al-Anon 12 Step groups for friends and family of alcoholics. I was an active member for 10 years, and the topic of detachment came up frequently. The principles and practices of Alcoholics Anonymous are based upon traditional Christianity, though the organization and its affiliates are autonomous groups with no religious affiliation. 

Detachment is difficult to both define and to practice. In the 12 Step groups, it's usually applied to emotionally distancing oneself from the problems and behaviors of another person. It isn't about not caring or going numb; we are supposed to feel our feelings and detach with love. 

Say, for example, that your spouse comes home drunk and passes out in the bathroom. You could lie awake for hours stewing in fear or anger, plotting the tongue lashing you're going to give him when he wakes up. Or, practicing detachment, you could check to make sure he's breathing okay, cover him up with a blanket, say a prayer, and go to sleep. You'll wait until he has sobered up to talk to him and will keep control of your own emotions and actions. 

Lately I've found that rather than needing to practice detachment with a particular person, it's the events of the outside world that are causing me anxiety, which could easily lead to obsession. Obsessive thinking, the desire for control, and an overly developed sense of responsibility are typical issues for the Al-Anon person.

I found myself worrying about people at Mass last evening, so many wearing masks, and knowing that it isn't healthy for them. I feel very disturbed with all the mask wearing, both forced and voluntary; loads of yellow caution tape in public places; and intense arguments and contradictory information in the news and on social media about COVID-19. Add to that the issues of civil unrest, murders, rapes, robbery, and destruction happening at the hands of Black Lives Matter and Antifa, and the debates surrounding all that. Top the bitter cake with the mismanagement of government officials in all of these areas, in many cases their blatant encouragement of mob rule, and we have a perfect storm of widespread insecurity and a desperate fight to preserve our safety, rights, and freedom. I will be shocked if it doesn't all rage to a volcanic explosion the likes of Pompei. 

The art of spiritual detachment seems nearly impossible to practice with the intense, prolonged, and multiple stresses we are all facing. Our own personal issues are quite enough to deal with. Adding so much extra baggage from the outside is too much of a burden for anyone. Sanity will not be possible without detachment. 

I will continue to explore detachment in subsequent posts, but for this one, I've gathered the memes to help define the concept, which is what one has to do before putting it into practice. Detachment really must begin with daily prayer and the Bible, or at least conscious contact with a "higher power." I highly recommend the Rosary. I have found that it not only calms me, but gives me clarity and stabilizes my thoughts and emotions. 

I hope you have found this helpful. Godspeed, Rita Michele

The False Narrative of "I'm Not Fearful, I'm Smart" | Please Stop the Virtue Signaling!

It would probably be smart to ignore this topic, but I grew up at a time when it was bad to call people stupid or retarded. We no longer have a polite society, yet there are those of us who still hold to a higher standard of manners. And it's just as bad to imply that someone is an uncaring, irresponsible, grandma killing idiot as it is to come out and say it directly. In fact, I'd argue that the passive-aggressive approach rampant on social media is worse.

I'm reminded of Dr. Seuss's story of The Sneetches. Some sneetches had stars on their bellies, and some did not. The ones with the "stars on thars" thought themselves superior and ostracized the sneetches without. I suspect that Dr. Seuss was drawing an analogy to racism, but I'm applying it here to the virtue signalers, those who spread messages implying that they are the "smart" ones for following all the coronavirus "safety" protocols--face masks, social distancing, staying home, etc. They are too aware of political correctness to use words like stupid in reference to the sneetches without masks, but the superior attitude is transparently clear. And let it be known that their virtue is so great as to care nothing for themselves, but only for people around them that they valiantly protect. They are not scared! They are not scared! They are not scared! Please.

Let me state emphatically that I don't make fun of anyone who is scared. It's obvious if you look around you, if you leave your home and go to the grocery store and listen to the conversations on the street and the results of polls, that people are very fearful. The person driving in his car by himself with the windows rolled up, wearing a mask on his face, is terrified. You could argue that he's just uninformed, but that's an image of fear if ever there was one. I have compassion for those who are extremely anxious and wish to be a voice of light and reassurance in the prevalent darkness.

I'm sure there are some folks who are simply doing what they think is right by wearing a mask and all that jazz, and minding their own business in the process. I have no problem with that. Yet I doubt the complete absence of fear and singular altruism being insisted upon by the virtue signalers. If it were true, they wouldn't feel the need to keep shouting it so loudly.

Why has the mask issue become such a hill to die on? It seems to me that it's being used as a status symbol, a silent way of bragging about how smart, responsible, and caring one is, and how anyone who makes a different choice is not. Most of the news media, certain government leaders, and some doctors and scientists are encouraging the division amongst people, whether purposely or not.

I suppose it's our fallen human nature that causes such cattiness, and I believe this is rooted in insecurity and fear. People often double down on their narrative not out of conviction, but rather from lack of true confidence and the desire to control. If they are wrong, then they have been duped and mislead, and that is an even greater basis for fear. How about if we just live and let live?

Any and all of the coronavirus safety protocols, in my opinion, should be subject to context and taken on a case-by-case basis. I don't judge anyone for either wearing or not wearing a mask, or any of the other protocols. I do, however, discern that the shaming, on whatever side it might be, is objectively wrong. As Christians, and for others as well, it's important what we let into our lives, either on or offline. We have to screen the input so it doesn't divert us from our path and frog boil us into panic and inaction, leading us into error, stealing our energy and time. Steer clear of near occasions for sin and those things that shatter your serenity. I reject the ugliness that I'm seeing. As such, I am unfriending or unfollowing those on social media who are engaging in spreading the shame and prideful virtue signaling.

Humility asks us to consider the other point of view, if it isn't inherently in opposition to Christian faith and morals. And even then, it can behoove us to understand where the wrong thinking, or what we perceive to be the errors, of others are coming from. Are you so sure that the persons who disagree with the mask-wearing, home-sheltering, social-distancing narrative are wrong? Instead of shouting, "What's wrong with people?!"--a sentiment I often see accompanied by profanity--consider that maybe, just maybe, they aren't necessarily wrong. And if you have to drop an F-bomb, perhaps your argument isn't so strong after all.

Let it suffice for me to argue that for the majority of people, and in most situations, these COVID-19 protocols are likely doing more harm than good, and are counterproductive both to personal health and the goal of herd immunity necessary for the protection of everyone. As far as I'm concerned, science is decidedly not on the side of virtue signaling sneetches. Whatever you believe, let's all of us extend a little grace.

Spirit of Wisdom | How to Enlighten the Mind

Last week I was planting flowers in my window boxes when a man on a motorcycle stopped to chat with a couple walking down the street. The motorcycle man spoke loudly and lively about our coronavirus times. He talked about how everyone is so afraid, and how both his daughter and granddaughter who are nurses think the whole thing is overblown. I heard him mention the New World Order, Bill Gates' name, and a quote from a Facebook meme that I had also seen. He declared that he would not wear a mask, because "I don't believe in it." This man's remarks reflected the preoccupation of everyone, everywhere with COVID-19. 

One thing stood out to me as definite truth in what the motorcycle man was saying. He speculated that the media is inundating us with nothing but coronavirus news in order to control our thoughts. There's no doubt in my mind, all conspiracy theories aside, that the constant flood of information on this one topic gives more potent weight to it than it deserves. And because feelings always flow from thoughts, we are left in a state of perennial confusion, panic, anxiety, deep suspicion, and even despair. 

To be sure, our minds and emotions are being thoroughly manipulated. We are being taken advantage of, kept in a state of high alert by opportunists bombarding us from many angles. Like small children being led from one distraction to another, we are largely unaware that we've lost our center, our bearings, and we wouldn't know sound doctrine if it bit us in the behind. Divide and conquer. It's a classic tactic, and we're falling for it hook, line, and sinker. 

Yet at the center of a cyclone is perfect calm. This phenomenon is known as the Eye of Peace. What if we could sit in that center and be completely undisturbed by the havoc around us? We can. Jesus is our Eye of Peace. He chastised his apostles for fearing the storm when God himself was in the boat with them. We think we need to know what's going on, so we must watch all-the-news and debate everyone on social media. This gives us a false semblance of control. We are not in control. 

A quick glance at headlines will tell us the general state of things, and if there really is any earth-shattering news, we will undoubtedly hear about it. Otherwise, why not go about your day as if dwelling in the tornado's core? No one could see the truth of the storm more clearly than one smack dab in the middle of its peace. Am I right? But of course. 

We return, once again, to the gift of Wisdom. Without it, we are lost at sea. We won't receive this precious gift unless we have faith. St. Augustine said that faith must come first; only then will understanding follow. We have it backwards. We want certainties, guarantees, absolute proof of the thing before we will believe. But even when presented with the truth, many people will turn a deaf ear, because it doesn't align with the narrative they've chosen to follow and hold onto with the tenacity of a pit bull. 

Instead, let us immerse ourselves in right things, giving our finite energy to the tasks directly before us, which are in fact only comprised of this one day, today, and are without doubt not to be found in the storms of news and the internet. Note than in biblical terms, the mind is centered in the heart. What you choose to fill your mind with will inform the workings of your heart. From what place do your intentions flow? Are the tasks you set for yourself ultimately an offering for the infinite Kingdom? 

I'll leave you with this, from St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians, 1: 15-19, Confraternity Version:

Wherefore I on my part, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and of your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in deep knowledge of him: the eyes of your mind being enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what the exceeding greatness of his power towards us who believe. 

Happy May! | How to Be Kind

Happy May! May has always been one of my favorite months of the year, the other being October. Both months typically feature glorious weather and a riot of color. In May I became a mother. And as a Catholic, I love the special honoring this month given to Mary, the Mother of God. To me, May is a month full of grace. 

Despite the suffering around the world at this time, May has arrived, and the simple pleasures of this month can gladden our hearts and lift our spirits. In Ohio, we can finally plant our gardens! With the states gradually opening back up, it's time to get out in the sunshine and boost our immune systems, which have likely been weakened during the extended period of quarantine and isolation. 

Unfortunately, in many areas around the USA, people are being deprived access to those very places and activities which would promote both mental and physical health. COVID-19 does not thrive outdoors, in bright sunlight, yet beaches and parks remain closed. Even in some cases where they are open, folks are being harrassed. I saw a video of a policeman on horseback insisting that an elderly couple (93 years old!) could not sit in chairs on the beach. There was no one in close proximity to them, and this is yet another case of absurd, draconian reactions to the health crisis. And it's simply not kind. I would go so far as to argue that it's immoral to force 93-year-olds to sit in the sand rather than on chairs. It's disrespectful of our elders, those very people most at risk, who we have taken all these precautions to protect. It's disgusting.

During these challenging times, we must not forget kindness. In the face of fear, do not become selfish. What I mean by that is, do not become so anxious and panicked that you attack others with judgement, harsh words, profanity, and shame, just because they disagree with you, or because they are doing things differently than you would. Keep an open heart. Listen to others' experiences and perspectives. We are not in a black-and-white situation, with easy, definitive answers. There is an overwhelmingly numerous number of considerations that must be balanced. Prayerfully consider whether any one element of the equation is really a hill you want to die on. Assume the best of others. Do not consider them stupid or in error simply because they make different choices. This is arrogance and pride. Choose compassion and lovingkindness instead. With so much more communication happening on social media than ever before, it's incumbent upon us to be honorable in our words. 

If we cease to be kind, nothing we think we are doing to "protect" ourselves and other people will matter. We will have destroyed what matters most. 

Moving on from Coronavirus | Choosing Freedom, Not Fear

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Perhaps you are wondering, how can we move on from the coronavirus when it's still here? Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has emphasized that though the state's economy will begin to open back up this Friday, May 1, the danger of contracting the Wuhan virus is no less great. We must continue to use good, common sense, practice social distancing, and wear face masks. (One caveat to that, though. If you wear eyeglasses, they will fog up when wearing a face mask. I am personally not going around blind.)

As a person who has pre-existing health conditions that put me at higher risk, and for the good of others, I'm certainly not going to throw caution to the wind. At the same time, I want my life back, and a return to some semblance of normalcy is imperative to the health and well-being of all concerned. 

Everywhere around the USA, we've seen examples of purely arbitrary and often tyrannical mandates from government officials; responses from law enforcement personnel that are abusive and unnecessary in the extreme; purely subjective declarations of what are "essential" businesses, products, and activities, and which are not; and a host of violations of constitutional rights. The cure shouldn't be worse than the disease, and it ought not result in suffering and death that is out of proportion to the threat of the virus. But that's exactly where we are at.

Most of us were willing, at first, to obey shelter-at-home mandates and to take COVID-19 seriously, and I believe it's still incumbent upon us to make the best decisions we can with the information we have, and to proceed with due caution. Yet I think it's time for each person, each family, and each business and institution to make their own decisions, to seize back our rights and liberty, even at the expense of legal or personal retribution. 

As far as I'm concerned, no one has the right to tell you, for example, how many people you can have visiting in your own home, or how long you are allowed to be out-of-doors; or to be able to arrest you for taking your kids to the park, or for having church services or any other gatherings, as long as common sense precautions are taken. The draconian times must end. One step I'm personally going to take is to write the bishop of my diocese and implore him to reinstate public Masses and the reception of the sacraments. 

People feel powerless right now, and fearful, and we are being taken advantage of by those who would wish to reshape the country as a socialist regime, and one which is specifically hostile to those of the Christian Faith. It's really NOT about your health. 

In any situation, the place where we do have power is over ourselves. We can choose to not live in fear. We can choose to be brave. We can choose freedom. We can keep up high standards for hygiene and cleanliness, which we all should have had in the first place. We can decide what to let into our lives--what we read and listen to. If we have access to safe drinking water and healthy foods (which some do not, as a direct result of the poverty induced by the government shutdowns); if we go outside, mandates be damned, and get sunshine, fresh air, and exercise; if we begin to think for ourselves and act accordingly--then we will have made a good start to taking our lives back. This country was founded on a rebellion against tyrrany. Where there is injustice, by God, rebel! The virus may be here for a long time to come, but I, for one, am moving on. 

Seeking Beauty | The Voice Bible

4Most of all, friends, always rejoice in the Lord! I never tire of saying it: Rejoice! 5Keep your gentle nature so that all people will know what it looks like to walk in His footsteps. The Lord is ever present with us. 6Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come. 7And know that the peace of God (a peace that is beyond any and all of our human understanding) will stand watch over your hearts and minds in Jesus, the Anointed One. 8Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy. 9Keep to the script: whatever you learned and received and heard and saw in me— do it— and the God of peace will walk with you. 
Philippians 4: 4-9 (The Voice Bible)

Today I was searching for Bible verses about beauty. I discovered The Voice, a dynamic equivalence Bible translation that included poets, artists, and musicians, in addition to the usual Bible scholars, as part of its development team. I think the notes are great, and the language is lovely. The drawback is that it isn't a Catholic Bible, so it's missing 7 Old Testament books. However, it's presented in the context of traditional (viz. liturgical) Christianity. I've found nothing objectionable in it so far. I had intended to view a sample but accidentally bought the ebook on my Kindle, so I've been exploring several passages.

I thought the passage quoted above to be particularly encouraging in the context of our COVID-19 distress. I'm setting an intention to seek Beauty and to avoid all those things which are the opposite of what Sacred Scripture is telling us to focus our minds and meditate upon in these verses. I implore you to do the same.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in his wonderful face. And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace. 

What to Do When the Laundry Is Caught Up | Taking Stock

I could see the light at the end of the laundry tunnel, so yesterday, after having a rare good night's sleep and feeling very energetic, I blew the laundry out, washing every last item. My theory has been that as long as I am behind on regular housework, like laundry and dishes, I can't in good conscience delve into other projects. Maybe this is a subconscious ploy of procrastination, even if logically sound. 

I had big dreams for today, no longer shackled by a mountain of unwashed garments and linens; but alas, I slept poorly and feel the sinus gunk bringing me down again. I think the brief snow we got tamped down the spring pollen, but then it melted. One possibility that we may not have considered during this coronavirus semi-quarantine is that maybe God wants us to rest. Maybe he wants us to pause, to reflect. Not only to muddle through, to bide our time until the crisis has passed, but to just plain stop whatever we've been doing and take stock. 

What do we most value but have habitually taken for granted? How many times, for instance, did I choose to stay home from church and not receive the Eucharist, and now am heartbroken to be deprived of Jesus' Real Presence in the way that only the Blessed Sacrament can provide? There were people I had planned to visit during Lent, like my great-aunts in nursing homes, and now I can't go see them. I look at my calendar and see future plans that will not come to pass. We all had looked forward to events that we assumed were unchangeable. The idea of not going to Mass on Easter Sunday, because there won't be one, seems like something out of the Twilight Zone. 

Now let's see where we're at on the FlyLady path. So far we have established a few things for our morning and evening routines. We shine our sinks and put out tomorrow's outfit in the evening, and go to bed at a decent hour, turning off screens an hour prior. In the morning we put away the clean dishes, start the laundry (one load per day at least, washed, dried, folded, and put away), and get dressed to shoes. At some point in the day we do a 15-minute, whole house (or main level) declutter. We set our timers to manage our time. I should note that Diane in Denmark admitted that she doesn't necessarily do everything in her routines every single day. It's okay to miss, say, a day of shining your sink, but try not to miss more than two, or you may fall out of the habit. But even if that happens, you just jump back in from wherever you are.

I'm only going to add one more thing at this time, and that is self-care. Every day we must take time, if only 15 minutes, for our personal well-being. My husband told me that for our mental health, the WHO has recommended that we only read about or watch news of COVID-19 for ten minutes, twice a day. Yes, it's important to stay current with the mandates and developments, but we must not immerse ourselves. We must not obsess. 

Today I didn't have the energy to take a shower, so I just soaked in the tub while I read a book and treated myself to a clarifying clay facial mask.  I read today's Mass readings and the meditation for this date in Simple Abundance. But I've been watching myself sneak onto the internet beyond the allowance of checking email that I had planned for Lent. 

Basically I only wanted to go online to use the library services, do whatever was necessary for homeschooling, to blog and to receive the communications from our homeschool co-op. Co-op is of course cancelled for the time being, so I don't even really need to check email very often. Following the coronavirus progress got me on YouTube, and it's so easy to fall back into old habits once we open the door. I felt I was being of service to post this blog to Facebook, though that was the main internet usage that I had intended to give up.

So I will share this post on FB, and then that will be it for the remainder of Lent, and likely for longer.  I've encouraged my friends to sign up for email notification of new blog articles. I will go back to strict avoidance of the internet. I'm sure my husband will keep me abreast of anything I need to know about the pandemic.  Things on the internet can surely be inspiring, but I believe increasingly that we are being guided to a new and better way of living, if only we will stop and listen.  There is no reason to go full speed ahead. I think I can use these bare bones of the FlyLady system to keep things humming along nicely, to have a solid framework for my days. If I can add more, great. If not, no big deal. 

We're experiencing the reality, right this moment, of what can happen to our best laid plans. There must be something more. 
A secret garden. A buried key.

FlyLady Toolbox | Using a Timer | 15 Minute Whole House Declutter

One of the best things I learned from FlyLady Diane in Denmark's  31 Baby Steps YouTube series was to religiously use a timer. This can be an oven timer, timer app on your phone, or a good, old-fashioned kitchen timer that dings when your set minutes are up. I've used a timer for completing projects in the past, but for whatever reason, Diane's way of doing it was most effective and convincing. 

The benefit to using a timer is that you are limiting the time you spend on any one task, making it more likely that you will not only make a start, but finish it. It will also keep you from wasting precious time doing things like surfing the internet. When you sit down to use your computer or phone for checking email, social media, the weather, etc., set that timer for 15 minutes. When it goes off, you stop, even if you are mid-sentence in a Facebook comment. 

This practice actually has Judeo-Christian roots. Think of the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, which teaches that there is a time for every purpose under Heaven. Imagine a monastic life of prayer, sleep, eating, work, and recreation, where one moves on to the next task when the bells ring, simply because it is time to do so. Especially during our current COVID-19 semi-quarantine, we can adopt a monastic mindset for our home life.

What I want you to add to your daily routine today is a 15-minute, whole house declutter. Now, I have a large home, and I primarily use this only for the downstairs. All you do is walk from room to room, throwing away trash, straightening the sofa covers and cushions, taking dishes from other rooms to the kitchen, and anything else that will put your home quickly back in order. 

Once you do this regularly, it will often not take the full 15 minutes. You can use the remaining time to wash up a few dishes, wipe crumbs off the counters, or make yourself a cup of tea! This is a good task for evening, so that in the morning you are facing a relatively clean house. But any time during the day works. 

Do not underestimate this tool for managing your time. If used diligently, you will find that setting a timer will quickly make a difference in accomplishing all of those tasks you've been procrastinating. More timer tips will follow, so stayed tuned! 

FlyLady Evening Routine | Work and School at Home | Getting the Discipline Act Together During COVID-19

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Your spouse is home. Your kids are home. You are home. All day, every day. Welcome to my world! But even those of us used to homeschooling and working from home are struggling. It's the responsibility of each and every one of us to do everything we can to halt the spread of COVID-19. Yes, we are being called on to sacrifice, to be uncomfortable, to be inconvenienced, to do the thing we think we cannot do. It is Lent, after all, and Christians are actually expected to carry our crosses! We give up things at Lent in order to rely more upon Jesus, to have more time for prayer, for thinking of others over ourselves. This year it's Lent on steroids!

Those who are lucky enough to have jobs that allow them to work from home should be at home during this pandemic. Nonessential businesses and all schools should be closed. Everyone ought to be hunkering down at home, only going out for necessary food, medicine and personal items--as infrequently as possible. Sadly, the option even to go to church is closed for many right now.

Making these drastic life changes requires self-discipline. Those not old enough to discipline themselves need to be disciplined by their parents. Let's see this crisis as an opportunity to finally get our ducks in a row. As I've been writing about, establishing good habits and regular routines is mandatory for survival right now; and one indispensable key to maintaining good health is enough sleep, and sleep of good quality. 

Let us add our next FlyLady tool to the collection. Being home means that you can be a bit more flexible with your time, and the temptation might be to stay up later than usual. Previously, I had made my bedtime 11:00, and I was to have screens turned off and be in bed by 10:00. However, I've been staying up too late during these strange times. 

So for your evening routine, make sure you are going to bed at a decent hour. Turn off the screens an hour before bedtime. Also take your children's phones and other gadgets away at a certain time. It's miraculous how much better my teenage daughter does her school work and chores when she knows she won't get her ipod back until those priorities have been accomplished!  

Take your Sunday as the day of rest it is commanded by God to be, and then have your plan in place to start your week off right on Monday. Determine your children's school schedule. Create a plan with your spouse so that you both shoulder the burdens of childcare, homeschooling, and work. If you're a single parent, ask for whatever help you need. Write it all down. 

Remember that you are the adult. You are the parent. You are responsible for what happens in your home--no excuses. We all have our unique burdens and situations, but no one has it easy right now, and likely many people have it far worse than you do. Put first things first. Do the next right thing. Have faith.  

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
--Eleanor Roosevelt 

Surviving Coronavirus at Home | FlyLady Dishes and Laundry | Building a Routine

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No, this is not my laundry room. I wish! I do my laundry in the basement, and it isn't a pretty place. But while we are stuck inside during the COVID-19 crisis, this is the kind of thing we now have time to do--get our homes clean and in order! Three days ago I wrote that all we have to do this week is get back to FlyLady's top three tools, or begin them if you never have. But desperate times call for desperate measures, so let's put this program on the fast track. 

Hopefully you are now shining your sink and choosing your next day's outfit in the evenings, and dressing to shoes each morning. Shining the sink is the last step after you either put your dishes in the dishwasher or hand wash them. The first time you shine your sink, FlyLady recommends using bleach, and during this time of hyper health vigilance, that might be a good idea. However, I don't like to use toxic chemicals in my home. Breathing them in would only make my allergies, asthma, and chronic sinus condition worse, leaving my immune system more compromised. 

Instead, I use a solution of vinegar, Mrs. Meyer's dish soap, and water for a general household cleaner. Since the novel coronavirus, I've added tea tree oil for additional disinfecting benefits. I have a spray bottle for the upstairs, and one for the downstairs. After your initial disinfecting of the kitchen sink, you simply wash it down each night and wipe it dry, which gets rid of any bits left behind. To shining the sink, we'll now add putting away those clean dishes as part of our morning routine. While I heat up my kettle and prepare my coffee in the French press, I put the clean dishes away.

When you spend the majority of your time at home, you must develop routines. Once good habits are established, they help to carry us through the difficult times. Keeping up with the dishes is at the very top of household maintenance. The second task is laundry. Generally speaking, you want to do one load per day, washed, dried, and put away. If you can't do more than this without it accumulating in baskets, then don't. But many families are large enough that one load is not enough, and many of us are likely perpetually behind on laundry. 

To get caught up, bump it up to two loads per day. The children who are now home all day should be helping with all chores. I throw the first load into the washing machine as part of my morning routine, after putting away the dishes. Clothes are easiest to fold when they are still warm, so doing this as soon as you take them out of the dryer is best. You can do smaller loads so the task is not so overwhelming. Fill the machine only 3/4 full, and do not stuff your garments in. Think of it like measuring a cup of flour. You do not pack it.

Go ahead and start writing down your morning and evening routines. There are lots of videos on this on YouTube, but as I've said before, Diane in Denmark is your gal pal. She'll get you started with your control journal. The importance of keeping our hands and homes clean at this crazy moment in history cannot be over-emphasized. Come together at home as a team and actually take advantage of the opportunity that this crisis presents. This too shall pass. And all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well...  (Blessed Julian of Norwich)

COVID-19 Survival at Home | FlyLady's Top Three

Well, here we are living the new normal, which literally changes every day. My great state of Ohio seems to be leading the way through this novel coronavirus pandemic, a.k.a, COVID-19. As Ohio goes, so goes the rest of the country, and this is true in many ways, not just in regard to political elections. A part of me, the me on days when the sun doesn't shine, had been thinking that no one wants a Pollyanna pep talk right now. And I agree with myself to some degree even when the sun is shining. But being a lifelong Ohioan, let's just assume that I have something of help to offer, the type of good common sense that this state is renowned for. 

What we need right now are basic survival tools, because lots of folks not used to working at home, or not working at all, and/or dealing with their kids doing school-at-home--quite possibly for the rest of the school year--are already feeling like they just can't. But the hard, cold truth is that we must, so suck it up, buttercup!

I had mastered the FlyLady Baby Steps that I wrote about previously, and nailed my daily routines. But I realized that I busted my behind all day just to get those things done, leaving no time for anything else. I hadn't even gotten to weekly cleaning schedules and the like. I felt satisfied that I had accomplished a great deal and had the tools on hand when I needed them, so I could just let up on checking off boxes and only do FlyLady when I wanted to. But it's very clear to me at this point that things are going to get very ugly very fast if I don't get back on the wagon. Time to sober up, sisters! 

I was right in that I still had too many items on my morning, afternoon, and evening routines, even after paring them all down. I am used to working from home and homeschooling. But things have gotten extreme and will get worse before they get better, so I'm taking a cue from the 12-Step programs and doing First Things First. I'm starting again with FlyLady's Top Three: 

1) Put out tomorrow's outfit tonight. Iron anything that needs it, and choose the entire ensemble, down to underwear, socks, and jewelry.

2) After dinner each night, get the dishes out of the sink and shine it. (Lots of videos and other online sources can explain to you about shining your sink.)

3) In the morning, get dressed to shoes. Your outfit is already ready! Do something with your hair and put on a little makeup, if you usually wear it.

Just start with that this week. We do not want to let ourselves go, staying in our bathrobes until 2:00 in the afternoon, thinking who cares, no one will see us. We will see us. Our families will see us. And we will feel like serious crap. Look presentable, and you will have more energy and get more done. It's all psychological, yes, but you will be more productive wearing a bra. You will be happier if you keep up with your dishes. It doesn't matter why this is true. Truth is Truth. 

I gave up Facebook for Lent, but I'm going to post my blog, because I think it's important. However, I will not be having conversations there. I will not be receiving any email notifications. I just want to be of service in my own small way. So comment here at the blog if you want to dialogue! We can do this. We have to.