KEEP IT SIMPLE SWEETIE (KISS)
Welcome to my blog: Keep it simple sweetie or KISS! You were expecting another word? If you know me you know I am not a Sweetie or Sweetheart-saying person, nor do I embrace usage of the word STUPID, which is the original “S” in the acronym. Check out this “KISS” definition:
“Keep it simple, stupid (KISS) is a design principle which states that designs and/or systems should be as simple as possible. Wherever possible, complexity should be avoided in a system—as simplicity guarantees the greatest levels of user acceptance and interaction.”
The blog title reflects my intention to share some thoughts, methods & reflections, and a number of resources, which I am hoping will help you find the greatest levels of user acceptance and interaction, starting with the primary user…YOU!. What stands in the way of your own user acceptance and beneficial interaction? The KISS Blog is starting up now, and will be offered twice a month, in the written form and video form.
WHY NOW? The wise-guy answer is why not, which is always a valid answer. I do have a more meaningful response for you. As we “come out of the pandemic lifestyle” and “bounce back”, many of us are clamoring for support during this transition. We don’t know how to be, what to expect, who to be with, where to go, and continue to be leery of making plans. Plans were untrustworthy for fourteen months and we need not invite any more heartbreak. There is fear.
We also may be a wee bit disappointed with our family, our friends, perhaps society at large, for whatever way they have shown up or failed to show up over the past year and a half and ourselves. It is striking how pretty much everyone I know has had a falling away from relationships. I am not talking about the big falling out, just a gentle disappointment in each other’s way of executing life. None of us were given an instruction manual on how to enter a pandemic, how to stay the course, and how to emerge into a post-pandemic way of living.
There might also be disappointment in ourselves. Remember last year when many were brave enough to ask the question “How do you want to be on the other side of this pandemic?” And they boldly purchased Peloton equipment and learned how to speak Farsi.? Then weeks turned to months, and months into a year; Intentions dropped away. And here we are. A year plus. Just barely speaking our native tongue (possibly no one to converse with) and no more fit than beginning of 2020. Remember when we were just grateful to still be alive?
We have languished. As Adam Grant wrote in New York Times April 2021. Adam reports that many are languishing as a result of the pandemic; showing up for life but living without purpose or aim. : It's almost like you put yourself on hold and you're waiting for something good to happen,” he says, “or you're even trying to distract yourself by jumpstarting a good old battery that I call emotion, which is to feel something.” Sound familiar?
THE WAY OUT: A LITTLE MINDFULNESS WOULD HELP
We were “All in this Together” but we sure did spend a lot of time alone. It’s hard to imagine returning to groups-large or small, public venues, airports. So many things that were normal before are like landing on another planet. It’s quite all right to be a little leery and perhaps downright afraid. We need to meet this transition by being in the present moment with kindness and self-compassion. We could easily return to a motus operendi of overdoing, saying yes to it all, or it’s near enemy, fear of missing out. For those who had the experience of working from home, there may be less convenience, more commuting whether to work, yoga, running kids around. There’s more traffic. We need to build our tolerance and give ourselves a break. How?
SOME MINDFULNESS TIPS
1. Set your intention for the transition. How do you want to feel? Excited, not anxious. Calm not frazzled. Happy to see people instead of overwhelmed? Your choice, but be intentional, and use that as your North Star.
2. Practice being in the present moment. Our minds like to time travel, to the future, and the next thing and the next thing. This creates anxiety and overwhelm. We might also ruminate with fondness over the simplicity of being home during pandemic. Neither is helpful. Be where your feet are. Right here. Right now.
3. Allow yourself a pause. Take a minute and just stop. Breathe. Look around. Stopping and breathing sounds too simple to be effective, but it is a powerful ally.
4. Move your body. Getting into our body gets us out of the head. Whatever moves you. Walk. Run. Bike. Yoga. Swim. Whatever. Move.
5. Offer yourself a little self-compassion How? Acknowledge that this is hard. It is a transition. As much as everything changed before in ways that were challenging and unfamiliar, we are again navigating new waters. Allow a little space to take that in.
6. Smile! You made it. This has been a rough road, worse for some than others. If you are reading this you are still in the game Trust that there is plenty of good stuff ahead.
I look forward to our continued conversations. Meanwhile, keep it simple, ok?
p.s. Don't for get to subscribe to see EVENT updates for upcoming mindfulness and mindful movement programs AND an upcoming anti-racism exploration"Out of the Box" (co-facilitated with Lauren E. Rubin https://www.dharmamumma.com/ starting June 8, an upcoming workshop on Re-Entry with Resilience...and more.
