Erin's Journals

Just a thought… I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious. [The Office character Michael Scott]

You can watch a video version of this journal on my Facebook page, or here on YouTube.

Well, hello – welcome to a new week and, yes, that new month smell is still in the air. May brings with it so much hope, including in our home: my vaccine is booked for a week today – Rob’s gotten his first dose – and my dad’s residence, after 25 cases and, tragically, one death, is now officially out of “outbreak” mode. So, yes, hope. Measured out in daily doses and press releases.

In our lives, we’re in that sort of purga-territory too. Waiting, watching, wondering what it’s going to take to get the people, who are counting on the rest of us to take precautions, to understand that you can’t spell “herd” without either He or Her. I’m not up to arguing anymore and you’ve heard enough from me on that.

So I’m getting really excited about that shot; it’ll likely be Pfizer, as that’s what Rob got last week and, except for a little shoulder soreness the next day, was just fine. I’m taking extra precautions so I’m not like Danny Glover or some character in a movie who is just like a week from retirement and then gets knocked off. I’m being super careful not to add to the Covid numbers and just lying low and waiting. Which, if you know me, gives me time to think – while I’m writing, while I’m editing, while I’m getting ready for my sleep stories podcast to launch in the next month or so.

But in the wee hours of yesterday morning, I had an idea. Okay – remember how I was looking at the upside of masks, such as hiding chin hairs, saving money on lip colour and makeup in general (’cause who wants to leave it all on the inside of a mask)? Well, I think I’ve come up with the next million dollar idea. You know those, right? That’s where you put in two million dollars and end up with half.

But bear with me: A Wax Mask.

You buy these masks with wax already in them, wear them for a bit so the wax is nice and warm and then when you get home from wherever you were, just before you take that bra off…you press it down, then RIP off the mask and voilà! No hairs, no cares!

(Side effects may include not being able to actually breathe while the mask is on. Please consult your doctor and dermatologist before buying.)

Okay – so you know I’m kidding, right? Seriously, what a rip-off!

Yeah, my mind wanders a bit these days. Reading the comments from anti-vaxxers yesterday on a post from Jann Arden, who proudly got her vaccine, I wanted to gouge my eyes out, but instead, stilled my fingers and prevented myself from commenting – taking some of that advice from last week’s journal to “disengage” – and went on with my life.

But to those who say “my body, my choice”: your right to punch ends at my face. You get the virus and one of my grandkids gets it, how did that choice work out for your body when it affected two little people or their classmates, or grandparents or…ah, you see? I’m just going to put this mask back on and wait until I get my shot.

“My journal, my opinion.” That sounds so obnoxious, doesn’t it? But just remember these actual words of wisdom: “If the world didn’t suck, we’d all fall off.”

You have a great week and I’ll be back with you here on Thursday, waxing poetic as always.

Just a thought… The last of the human freedoms: to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. [Viktor Frankl]

As usual, you can watch a video version of this journal on my Facebook page, or here on YouTube.

So I’m going to give myself a little spiritual pep talk today, and I’m hoping that if this is a message you need to hear, too, you get out of it what I’m putting in.

Earlier this week, as part of a Canadian Real Estate Association podcast I do called Real Time, I had a long talk about psychological and personal well-being with Dr. Winny Shen.  She’s an Associate Professor at York University, an expert on worker health and well-being and many other issues, but while I’m listening to her, I’m also thinking about you. About me. About how we’re getting through this together – apart.

Burnout was something she talked about – and I think (actually, I know) that a lot of us are suffering from this where Covid is concerned. I mean, whoever thought we’d be into this now 14 months in – the loneliness, the anxiety, the grief over what we’ve lost this past year. And you’re allowed to feel burned out, which is described as physical, mental and emotional fallout from a prolonged period of stress, which we have most definitely been in.

Many people feel that they are running on empty: tired, worn out and depleted. Some people can also feel cynical like, “What’s the point in all of these precautions when some people are just ignoring them?” It’s easy to feel cynical, angry and helpless when we can’t see a finish line; we don’t know what this crawl over glass is for, when some people are skipping along on pogo sticks and treating it like a big summer carnival.

So what do we do? Some of the messages from Dr. Shen that were most valuable to me were about self-care. Detaching. Which I took to mean from negative conversations, especially where you’re not possibly going to enlighten anyone or change their minds. I mean, why not just hit your head against a wall? You’re the one who ends up with the headache, while the wall is just fine and ready for you the next time you open Facebook.

But on the positive side, detaching also means taking time to do something kind for yourself. For many people in lockdown, the simple pleasures like visits with family or a trip to the hairdresser or even taking in a movie in a theatre or going to the mall just aren’t a possibility. So find something that will make you feel good. Soak your feet and put on a fresh coat of polish. You’ll see those coral piggies, and so what if no one else does – it’s a reminder you did something kind for yourself.

And finally, if you’re feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day – as people who are working through this pandemic are – try to make a time diary for a few days and keep track of how you spend your time. And then, in INK, make sure you carve out time for you.

For me, that means taking that long bath or a Netflix binge or whatever makes me feel like I’ve had a break. And please, try to get as much sleep as you can, while balancing it with whatever exercise your restrictions allow. You’ll sleep better, your body will thank you for it and you’ll come out of this actually ready to sprint to that finish line.

On that note, thank you for coming by and always giving me something on the horizon, not just to put on makeup for, but to look forward to. (I’ll spend the weekend picking up those inverted prepositions, but for now…I’ll be gentle and leave them there.) Take good care of yourself. A lot of people need you to be healthy and to see setbacks as chances for better outcomes. Be the kid digging in the manure pile, searching for the pony. It has always worked for me…that’s all I know for sure.

Just a thought… God bless that potential that we all have for making anything possible if we think we deserve it. I deserve this. [Shirley MacLaine, Best Actress, Terms of Endearment]

If you’d like to watch a video version of this journal, you can see it on my Facebook page, or here on YouTube.

I didn’t dress up for the Oscars last night and host a party with a few good friends (as Rob and I did two years ago) so I’m dressing up for you today. Because why the heck not, right?

Didn’t even watch the Oscars, for the first time in my adult life. Even when we were on trips, I’d set the VCR or PVR and catch up later. The year I had Lauren, I made sure I caught some of the Oscars the next night from our hospital room. Not this year.

I don’t think I saw one single movie that was nominated. Usually in the weeks between the nominations and the actual awards night, we’d binge like crazy so that we could have favourites and see how they fared. Not this year.

Yes, there are ways to pay to see the nominees in the comfort of our own home (where the snacks are way cheaper but the popcorn just ain’t the same) but we’re so weighted down – no, there’s got to be another way to say that so it doesn’t sound like a burden – with podcast and speech projects plus, of course, family time, that if we’re lucky, we stop working (editing mostly, each on our computers with headphones on) at about 9 pm and watch an hour of something we’ve recorded and then go to bed. That’s unless there’s a hockey game, in which case Rob watches and I edit, jumping when he yelps over something the Leafs have done.

Don’t get me wrong; this is all a labour of love, as I truly find fulfillment in what I’m doing. Speaking of which, don’t forget to join me, if you’re interested, for Tuesday’s Facebook live (www.facebook.com/erindavispage) with Yvonne from Home Equity Bank talking about CHIP mortgages – the ones you see Kurt Browning doing the ads for. Mmmmm…chips.

Now, where was I? Yes. Not watching movies. I know there’s some great stuff out there and one day I’ll catch it – or not. I am not feeling in the mood for anyone’s angst; I have enough of it going on behind the scenes here. There’s a reason I got sucked into a wonderful rabbit hole of Karen Carpenter drumming videos yesterday – do look them up – and Gene Kelly dancing on roller skates. Momma needs her happy place.

To a very unhappy place, thanks for asking: Dad is getting a walker and seems to be recovering well after the fall and the unconscious spell that led up to and followed it last week. But the worst news is that after dodging a bullet for well over a year, his residence in Kelowna now has its first Covid-19 death, and there are some 11 cases, including one staff member. So there’s a lot of worry. He’s had his first shot, but not everyone did.

But please, keep marching and telling me about your civil rights. Of course, these same people expect to march into the ICU when they get Covid and take a bed that should have been held for someone who actually adulted their way through a pandemic. Nothing is fair about this.

Oops, I got sidetracked again. Well, my friend, I shall go for now and we’ll see you perhaps tomorrow night. Think positive, test negative and we’ll talk to you then.

Just a thought… You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. [Jane Goodall]

You can watch a video version of this journal on my Facebook page, or here on YouTube.

It’s been easy to miss that today is Earth Day. There’s been so much going on this week: the Derek Chauvin conviction, the sadness and elation that accompanied what should have been an obvious outcome, the disappearance and then possible Covid exposure of Doug Ford in Ontario, a snowstorm affecting so many there. And then, there’s what’s going on in our lives.

My dad has taken two falls and was found on the floor, unconscious, by a staff member in his residence in Kelowna. He’s not in long term care; he happened to be discovered when staff was delivering meals to him. He’s okay, fortunately, but he’s in lockdown, because now there are five cases of Covid in the place.

95% of people there have been vaccinated (why not 100% I don’t know) so the disease will present more like a cold, but again, there’s the isolation, the loneliness and, of course, the inherent danger when someone like Dad falls, and then no one finds him. It’s been a very stressful and worrisome week here in our family: tears, anxiety and more sleepless nights. Last night, I awoke to find myself dreaming of really stale Twizzlers as I chomped on my drugstore night guard. When I next go to the dentist, a real one is on the To-Do list, I think.

Of course, there are a lot of positives, too, and I always try to focus on them – especially here. You’ve got your own worries and heartaches. So, hopefully you saw the beautiful sunrise I posted at my Facebook page on Tuesday.

Okay, so tonight I’ve got something else for you – and that is a chat, just with you. About everything, about nothing. Why? I’m practising my tech skills (or lack thereof) for an event next Tuesday, but it’s not about that. What we’re going to do is meet up on Facebook Live (link above) and have a chat together.

My friend Taylor (who’s doing it long distance from Toronto) will bring up your questions and nothing’s off limits. So it’ll be 100% live and I’ll be here with you tonight. Why? Aw, hell, why not? If you have a show you like to watch at 8pm EDT (or even hockey) just run the PVR and that way you’ll miss commercials when you fast forward through your show later – right?

Set an alarm now and we’ll see you later. It’ll just be me on screen, so come as you are and Taylor will be typing in your questions to me, or comments – whatever you want.

If you were in my head or saw my calendar, you’d probably be thinking, Jeez, Davis, you’ve done a live virtual keynote this week (a 6am alarm), you’ve got a whole new podcast you’re scrambling to assemble content for before it launches in the next month or two, you’re posting these journals, you aren’t getting enough sleep and you’ve just joined TikTok (erindawndavis). What the heck is wrong with you?

Congratulations! Those are the questions I’m asking, too! But the answer is, we’re all just getting through these times one day at a time. Right now, April is very busy. So adding one more item to our Apple calendar really isn’t a thing. Besides, it’ll be nice to connect. See you tonight and let the tech gods be kind to us. ‘Cause if you’re in Ontario, I know the weather gods definitely have not!

Whether or not I see you tonight, I’ll wish you a gentle weekend with lots of sleep and a very peaceful Earth Day.

Just a thought… People who wonder if the glass is half full or half empty miss the point. It is refillable. [Author Unknown]

You can watch a video version of this journal on my Facebook page, or here on YouTube.

I’m sharing your feelings of frustration and sadness if you’re reading this in Ontario, where all it takes is a lot of anger to get playgrounds reopened, and yet Queen’s Park won’t reconsider on paid sick leave or reinstating the hero pay from early in the pandemic )(when essential workers are no less heroic now than they were then). None of it makes sense, except that it points out that loud enough voices from the right people seem to be heard. Something to think about.

And here’s something else. I want to thank Kathy Burns for always sending uplifting, inspiring and funny messages to me. This one came from her and I’m going to share it with you today because I think we all need this, okay? Here we go.

A young lady confidently walked around the room with a raised glass of water while leading a seminar and explaining stress management to her audience.

Everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, ‘Half empty or half full?’ She fooled them all.

“How heavy is this glass of water?” she inquired with a smile.

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance. In each case it’s the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.” 

She continued, “And that’s the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won’t be able to carry on.”

“As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we’re refreshed, we can carry on with the burden – holding stress longer and better each time practiced. So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night. Pick them up again tomorrow if you must.”

Now some tips for you on this day and heading into this week. Here we go:

1 * Accept the fact that some days you’re the pigeon, and some days you’re the statue!

2 * Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

3 * Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

4 * Drive carefully. It’s not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker.

5 * If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

6 * If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

7 * It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

8 * Never buy a car you can’t push.

9 * Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won’t have a leg to stand on.

10 * Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance.

11 * Since it’s the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

12 * The second mouse gets the cheese.

13 * When everything’s coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane.

14 * Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

15 * Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

16 * We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names and all are different colours, but they all have to live in the same box.

17 * A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

18 * Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY

19 *Save the earth. It’s the only planet with chocolate!*

You know, 19 is a strange place to end a list, so feel free to add to it at my Facebook page and thank you. Again, I’ll add with a sigh: room in the glass doesn’t mean it’s okay to fill it with vodka (my own take) and finally, we can do this. Stay safe and stay sane. And remember, your voice can be heard. If you can move playgrounds (to reopen) you can move mountains.