Project Goodness: Words to Brighten Your Day
Project Goodness: Words to Brighten Your Day
When I was a little girl, I frequented the local hospital’s intensive care unit. More often than not, my reason for being there was some sort of respiratory infection.
If a hospitalization isn’t something you’re familiar with, first I want to commend you for good health. You lucky dog, you.
But, you also may not be familiarized with what goes down on a daily basis. While a lot of hard work and effort poured out by the entire medical staff goes into caring for the patient, for the sake of this story, I want to talk about doctors’ rounds.
Every morning, a team of doctors visit each patient’s room on the floor they’ve been assigned. The team enters your room, a doctor presents your case, and together the team determines the goals and steps to take for the day.
Entangled in a web of tubes and wires hooked up to machines, every now and then I still find myself haunted by those memories.
There’s something about laying in a hospital bed with nothing to do but fester over not feeling well. It can be unsettling. And when you reside in a body whose weakness could easily succumb to an everyday illness, it’s easy to allow the fears and overwhelm to become paralyzing.
But, there’s also something about listening to your health concerns be voiced by a doctor. In the beginning stages of an illness— where so much of what could happen is unknown— life, in general, is anxiety-inducing. You’re being fed so much negative information. You're unsure if the tightness in your chest is the panic you’re experiencing or the respiratory infection you’re fighting. And, suddenly your world feels heavy.
As a little girl, I was deeply affected by this. And my mother began to notice the detrimental effects it was having on mental health. For the sadder I became, the slower my progress was made.
One day she decided to ask the doctors to have their morning rounds outside of my room. She believed that a large part in healing my body was also healing my mind.
And, just like all moms are, she was right.
Until I was old enough to understand the complexities of my illnesses, my mother always requested those rounds take place without me present. Instead, she’d fill my mind with hope and positivity. Rather than dwell on fear and the unknown, she’d remind me of the power of the human spirit. And if I continued fighting and kept my head up, good things would come.
Spoiler alert: they always did.
In light of recent events and the current state of our world, I find myself referring back to this story frequently. Never in my life did I imagine I’d experience a global pandemic as serious as Coronavirus.
I wish I could convey my thoughts to you but the truth is I’m not exactly sure what to think right now. My emotions are all over the spectrum. One minute, I feel optimistic and hopeful. And, in the next, my fear and uncertainties consume me— just like they do when I’m hospitalized.
As a high risk COVID-19 person, I know my feelings are valid. I’m very much aware of what’s going on in the world and have every right to be concerned. But I also know that fear isn’t going to solve any of these problems.
What will help, as I’ve learned from my mother, is how I choose to respond to it.
So, I decided to poll my community and asked for one simple favor: tell me something GOOD.
The goal was pretty straightforward. I wanted to bring light into people’s lives and remind them there’s still space to feel joy amid their pain. The responses I received were incredible, and I compiled it below to share some positivity with you.
We’re in this together, friend. And know that if you need anything, I’m always here for you. I hope these messages help.
Deborah
“I’ve been working hard all week trying to figure out how I am going to transition my school based OT [occupational therapy] practice to a virtual platform. It has been both challenging and rewarding! I’m overwhelmed and humbled by the amount of sharing peers from all over the country are providing! Free worksheets and activities that we can all use! Some are coming with fabulous ideas for how to present activities! I’m so proud to be an OT right now!”
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@stronglikestella on Instagram
“Stella [10 months] is developing a huge personality, and we’re trying to enjoy being home as a family as much as possible.”
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Yujia
”I started a 1500 piece puzzle because this isolation is driving me crazy! However, I’ve got my pups keeping me sane. <3”
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@dream_of_spirits on Instagram
”My community is pulling together so beautifully. My daughter couldn't find baby supplies, and a friend ordered her a month’s worth of formula and diapers. She accidentally bought 12 month baby food she couldn't use but chose to give it to another mom rather than get her money back. We split our canned goods with another family. Another friend gifted us a case of TP which we shared with our neighbors. Those neighbors gave extra dog food to the lady down the block. Everyone here, so far, is taking care of each other. There are multiple FB groups popping up to connect with community help with shopping, childcare...anything.”
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@sarahwmcdevitt on Instagram
”When I was walking my dog yesterday, a woman was trying to get her little dog who had gotten away to come back to her. The lady was so worried. She said she’s her little constant buddy for years, but the dog was just kinda freaking out. She said maybe it could sense her covid-19 anxiety. I had a breakfast burrito in hand (naturally..lol) and so we spent an hour enticing her back with trails of burrito. Finally when she was back safe in the lady’s arms, we just kind of cried relief tears.
I also run a meditation studio and we had to close it, so we flipped our instructors to guiding free, open meditations on our Instagram Live 3 times a day. One of them has never been on Instagram and he made an account and made his first post about it and just jumped right in to try something completely new and scary to help people out. It made me smile!”
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Alysha
”I immediately thought of our church‘s Live Streaming services. We didn’t have a Live Stream before, and when they went Live this past Wednesday, we were thrilled! Oh how we all miss each other. ☺️”
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@brave_strange_bird on Instagram
“I was recently approved to receive a service dog from a program called ECAD, and a new litter of puppies was born on March 14. There's a live cam of the adorable little babies and their mama that you can access through the ECAD website.“
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Deb
“You are right, my anxiety levels are high, and I've been doing my best to keep it covered.
That being said, I see "good" everyday: friends calling to ask if they can pick anything up for us., my BANK called yesterday to tell us they were praying for our family and wanted us to know they would help in any way. My son Isaac (type 1) had his birthday yesterday and had a big party planned since it was his golden birthday. It didn't happen. Instead he was showered with birthday greetings by email, facebook, snap chat, phone calls, FaceTime, etc. We even had 3 different groups of people stand outside our front door and sing happy birthday to him. HIGHLIGHT: One of Isaac's friends came and played a concert on his bagpipes in the front yard for us. :) Just what we needed to remember we are not alone ... and we'll be okay.”
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@letsdothisheather on Instagram
”I’m officially in a relationship and it’s the cutest thing in life.”
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Larry
“If you can dream it, you can do it. Or you’re still sleeping.“
Blake
”The power of slowing down! Taking in just a more simple life. No “have to be here then there, then make dinner etc.” Wow it’s so powerful as strange as that sounds. As I work in a school, we are on total shut down. It has been nice to be with immediate family and my puppy! So my good thing is as scary as this situation is, it’s made me slow down and actually eat dinner again as a family each night because no one has anywhere to go!”
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@veritas.fit on Instagram
”I picked up my guitar to relearn today. Figure rather than be upset my usual routine is thrown off, might as well embrace a different one.”
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@emmaishealing on Instagram
”I'm practicing knitting, and I'm making gifts for everyone I know! It's so fun and it makes me so happy that it also ends in something I can give to someone! My mom got me some fancy Norwegian yarn, and I'm going to attempt my first sweater.”
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Bethany
”So I was in the hunt for eggs today when my coworker came to my rescue. She has her own chickens and gave me 2 dozen eggs!!! It made my day!!”
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Anthony
”I think the good news is that Rhode Island is not experiencing the spread of the virus as other states are. Let’s continue to pray!”
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@patience_and_love on Instagram
”This too shall pass. I had to leave my home to get medicine and food. My anxiety was high and my mask was suffocating me. I felt like a scifi movie. Knowing I must be careful for me, my mom (79) and aunt (74). I was very tired when I returned home. The anxiety drained me.“
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@crandall_jessica on Instagram
”Such a weird time right now. We kind of cheated this day and watched a movie together. No school, no weekends really. It’s all melding together. Bizarre time without routine and balance. So we watched Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and laughed, and it felt good. :)”
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@realherobuddy on Instagram
“We created www.herobuddy.org to help #highriskcovid19 people connect with healthy individuals in their area that can help during this crisis. It’s a good example that the human spirit is powerful and won’t give up in times of hardship.”
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Niurka
”We must have to do something not to lose sight of what's most important in our lives! We have a series of events from my work where we have this amazing lady Nataly Kogan speak to us, virtually of course! She has a Youtube channel and her own company called Happier!
She was really great, if you have some time you might want to check her out! Everything she has been talking about has resonated with me!”
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@alakazamgiecoupons on Instagram
“I’m teaching my little man his ABC’s and numbers! It’s so fun to see his excitement with learning!”
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Melissa
”A co worker had her first grandchild yesterday!”
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Nancy
”I also believe in the power of the spirit and that everything happens for a reason. May this be a time where the division ends and we come together to take care of ourselves and each other with kindness, honor, love and respect."
Needing a little more encouragement? I gotchu. Come follow me on Instagram at @alyssaksilva or sign up below to get the free guide I’ve created to add a lil’ bit of joy to your life. Just as you are. Right where you are.
