think about this

Yesterday I watched a short video posted by Dr. Craig Spencer, the director of Global Health & Emergency Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center in honor of National Doctor's Day.

His words about COVID-19 were simple and direct, a good reason to practice social distancing.

The virus cannot infect you if it never meets you.

If you are interested in listening to his words, click here.

words matter

I believe that the words Elizabeth Warren used during her campaign for president apply equally to the battle against COVID-19.

I choose hope over fear. I choose courage over cynicism.

I'm finding that it is easy to sink into depressing thoughts and that it is very important to find ways to lift myself back to optimism.

Getting outside helps. I plan to continue to feed my walking habit and to visit local parks as much as possible, always practicing social distancing.

I am staying in touch with the news but staying away from presentations by the current inhabitant of the White House. Hearing reality is good; listening to falsehoods and twisted facts is not. I am reading and sometimes participating in conversations on Cake with thoughtful people, sometimes talking about the current crisis, sometimes sharing photos and other fun things.

What helps you in these difficult times?

wetlands

Yesterday's exercise walk took me by this scene. I love the sense of quiet.

food for thought

I spent some time this afternoon reading the article "How the Pandemic Will End" in The Atlantic. The article is part of the magazine's free Coronavirus coverage and is well worth a read. I found it to be thought-provoking.

Click HERE to read the article.

snowdrops

I headed to Maudslay State Park this afternoon with a friend. We practiced social distancing as we walked through the park, stopping to enjoy the flowers.

Some snowdrops agreed to pose for my camera.

open

Crocus create a splash of color.

purple

I am delighted to see the early colors of dwarf iris.

It will be quite a while yet before the larger varieties of iris emerge. I just wandered through my galleries from last year to find that my first iris was captured on May 22nd.

on the wall

There was snow overnight but warming temperatures today helped it to start to disappear. It was a day to walk on pavement trying to avoid puddles.

My photo for today is a mural created by Ben Jundanian that lives on the side of a building in downtown Andover, MA.

social distancing

Yesterday a friend and I practiced social distancing as we walked on rail trail in Topsfield, MA. There were a fair number of people out walking, everyone careful to maintain their distance.

It was a pure blue sky day.

Even with the "stay-at-home" advisory issued in Massachusetts, walking outside continues to be encouraged:

"Residents can still go for a walk or go to the park, as long as people still adhere to social distancing."

calming

Warm air and an outbound tide created good walking conditions at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Smooth sand near the waters edge allowed for walking and for listening to the sound of the ocean.

My Friday afternoon visit provided a mental reset, a feeling of calm.