With seats ominously well spaced, the virus was in our minds if not our lungs at Sunrise today - however two Icebreakers kicked any feelings of The End Of Days from the building.
Jane gave us a well structured rundown of her life from student days and cheffing in Christchurch, through travels to Aus and Holland, returning, being cast out of her and husband’s business by the earthquakes and a change of career into Childhood Education.
Eric began with a reference to Robert Frost before leading us down roads less traveled and adventures beginning in South Africa, through New Zealand to family life in Christchurch.
Aaron gave us a rundown on the government's tax and incentive proposals regarding the coronavirus situation.
Victor came in with a creative variety of Table Topic subjects spurring some to heights of accomplished creative storytelling whilst leaving others flailing in dire straits of advertising hyperbole.
Jordan’s evaluation was probably the most succinct on the day for analysis and well considered recommendations.
President Carol finished it off with news that the Toastmasters National Conference in Christchurch has been cancelled and asked for our thoughts about whether we continue having our meetings during the time of coronavirus.
She will send out emails for member’s responses.
Here is an article that may help in getting through these difficult times.
7 Strategies for Coping With Coronavirus
1. Your reactions are contagious.
Coronavirus may never come to your place but your reactions are already there — and anxiety is so easily passed on. So think about the people around you, especially if you are a parent. You don’t want to train your kids to be easily scared, led by their feelings and have an every-person-for-themselves attitude. You’re allowed to have, and express, feelings but base your words on facts and truth, and model how you want those around you to be — even if you have to put on an act for a while.
2. Be curious — not paranoid.
It’s an interesting time to be alive. Yes, it’s enormously stressful for some, and lives will (and have been) lost — which is the reality of a pandemic. Stress aside, this is an unprecedented opportunity to learn how a pandemic works, preparations for such an event, health hygiene and limiting the spread of infectious diseases. So (1) educate yourself through sound, trusted sources. And (2) keep up with the latest news — but don’t drip-feed yourself on all things pandemic. Keep boundaries around your exposure to news, social media and especially fear mongering.
3. Don’t buy all the toilet paper.
It’s human nature to want what others have got — especially when there’s a shortage. But this is self-serving behaviour at its worst: other people have bladders and bowels too. And if you do get the last pack in your supermarket, don’t brag about it, don’t go home like you’ve won the Olympic 100m. Seriously, that’s a bit weird.
4. Be right here, right now.
In psychology, one of the most common styles of dysfunctional thinking is catastrophising — when you take whatever’s happening, imagine the very worst case scenario, then worry yourself into a frenzy about it BEFORE it has happened.
If you have a tendency to do this, give yourself a break: it’s super-common. But it’s also extremely unhelpful and can be a trigger or maintaining factor for depression and anxiety — not to mention a waste of mental energy.
This is an uncertain time for everyone, and it will be for a while, so we need to manage ourselves through it — with patience. When you feel your thoughts running away on you, distract yourself with other activities. And use meditation or mindfulness techniques to bring yourself back to where you are and what you have to do — right now.
5. Connect with your people.
There’s a reason we rush to call loved ones and family when disaster strikes. Of course we want to know they’re okay — or for them to know we are. But we are also psychologically driven to attach to familiar figures in uncertain or scary times. So if you can’t be with those who matter to you, use technology to stay close.
6. Structure your days — one at a time.
If you have a tendency to get anxious, and especially if your routine has been shaken up (like you’re now working from home), it’s critical to structure your time. Before you go to bed, write a list of five things you are going to do the next day — it will give you a framework to hang your day on, a way to keep moving forward and a sense of achievement at the end of each day.
7. Show compassion.
Okay, you can’t show compassion to the whole world. So do what you can for the people around you. And if there’s no-one around you, reach out. Send a thoughtful or upbeat text or snapchat to someone who might need one — or who might be on their own. Don’t just pass on Coronavirus updates. Connect in positive and loving ways. Hopefully, the goodwill you spread will last longer than the pandemic.
from https://medium.com/
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