Thanksgiving, Gratitude & Disappointment, Week 37 in the Time of Coronavirus

Posted on November 22, 2020 by janetgzinn

There’s no doubt that this is a Thanksgiving like no other. Many will spend Thanksgiving, if it is being spent at all, without loved ones. In a large number of cases, it will be the first holiday without someone because they died, either of Covid-19 or from other causes. It’s hard to feel thankful for these facts. We can embody gratitude for what we’ve had in the past. Or we may feel grateful for not having to be social when we’re not up to seeing anyone. However, that’s a far cry from the delight of festivities of past years.

Gratitude and its cousin, appreciation, can feel like a burden in times of fear, sadness and loss. I am all for gratitude journals, and gratitude as a tenet of living a deeply satisfying life. But we must come to this on our own terms. When Thanksgiving comes around, I find there’s a collective social desire to manufacture gratitude on top of hardship. A kind of “fake it ‘til you make it” premise. I propose that we are tender with the losses and disappointments of 2020. In telling the truth of what we have and what we don’t have any more, or what we never had, we can find compassion for ourselves in these times. And if we can be grateful for anything it is for our capacity to heal.

Self-Care Tips:

Enjoy laughs. David Sedaris’s new book The Best of Me is just what we need in these times. Hearing him read it in the Audible version adds to the pleasure.
Consider the Buddhist tenet “we are not our thoughts.” When you are having thoughts that you don’t like, or are uncomfortable, do a mental separation. Touch your hand and say, “The is me. That was a thought.” You may have to repeat it a few times.
Listen to jazz standards or other soothing music. I can recommend Natalie Douglas, Diana Krall, or Nancy Lamott.
Hydrate. We tend to forget to drink water in the colder weather.
Purposefully take a day off. If you can’t do that, take short breaks, even if it means going to the bathroom alone and taking a couple of breaths before resuming your responsibilities.

Boredom, Week 21 in the Time of Coronavirus

Posted on August 3, 2020 by janetgzinn

It felt so nice to find expanded trails on Randall’s Island yesterday. The monotony of life during the Coronavirus can be stifling. Though I walk daily, finding fresh paths and unseen sights has been challenging. And, to find them in places that are free from others is nearly impossible in the city. But I persevere as if it’s a made-up game to challenge the norm.

I’m coming up with a lot of private games. Can I meditate and let my thoughts pass by or will I go on a tangent and then find myself caught between my imagination and the present moment? Will I be able to find an isolated spot in the city and take a deep breath without my mask on because no one is around? Will I be able to employ grace in giving another the benefit of the doubt, or will I be judgmental? I am always the winner of these games. I am either humbled, understanding that I am still growing. Or, I was able to accomplish it in that moment, understanding that I will be playing that game again with no guarantee of same outcome next time around.

I hear so often how bored we are. When we don’t have our go-to activities it can feel boring to face the void. There are a lot of theories about boredom. Some experts think that acting out of boredom is a way to incite problems that give us something to focus on. Others think underneath boredom is anger. Still other experts postulate that boredom connotes a lack of purpose. All are understandable while our world confronts Covid-19.

We miss getting together with friends and family. Many miss public gatherings. Others miss going out. Naturally there’s a lot we miss. The pandemic has been a time of losses. Too many have lost their lives, others their health, a great many their livelihoods. And most everyone misses a sense of safety.

The upside of boredom is the opportunity it provides for innovation. We are in a position to discover ourselves anew. We may find out things about ourselves we never recognized. For instance, I always thought of myself as an active individual. I liked being busy. Though I, along with so many psychotherapists are busier than ever, I am resting more, making down time a priority. Or, we may find hidden corners of the city’s parks that allow us to move freely. Or, we find out that our value is not about what we have or what we do, but by how we live our lives. And, we can only discover these personal truths by living through the boredom.

Self-care Tips

Find a quarantine concert. There are so many from Eryka Badu to Nora Jones and Norm Lewis. com has a list. And, this link was in the NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/21/arts/music/best-quarantine-concerts-livestream.html. There are so many more. Check out pages from your favorite artists or genres.
The wonderful charity MIND has a 24-hour free helpline: 800-123-3393, this is a mental health hotline for those who are experiencing depression & anxiety.
Give someone the benefit of the doubt. Rather than expecting them to behave a certain way, see if you can open yourself up for another possibility.
I just heard this adage: If it’s hysterical it’s historical. When you’re feeling something deeply it can be a personal kindness to think of it as a way of working through something from your past that still plays a role in your emotional well-being.
Give yourself permission to change your mind. Giving our word matters. Yet there are times when we are not up to doing what we committed to doing. You can then change your mind. More often than not the other person will feel relieved with the cancelled plans, to

When Will This End? Coronavirus Blog 5

Posted on April 13, 2020 by janetgzinn

We’ve hunkered down and we’ve stayed the course. We’re tired, we’re unfocused, we’re cranky, and we’re over it. Yet, caring for ourselves and making sure we’re all well is not a one-time deal. I hate that. In all things I prefer to go after something, get it done, appreciate what I’ve accomplished and then, Bam, I can go on to the next thing. Take cleaning. It’s been a great distraction to clean. My office is sparkling. My closets are in order. Yet when I was dressing this morning, I saw that things were not exactly the way they were when I refolded and cleared out my drawers on Friday. And when I got to my office today, I could see dust accumulating again. Cleaning can be great, but it’s a never-ending job. And, that’s pretty much how it feels to move on with life during the Coronavirus.

I didn’t think it would be easy to cancel all my plans, work remotely, and live in a small apartment with my family, each of us with our own style of being. Nor did I know that who I thought I was prior to the Coronavirus needed an update during social distancing. I am more defensive, and less productive than I imagined I’d be at the start of this. I have to dredge up self-compassion from well below the self-criticism that has become the proverbial inner-chatter. I need more sleep. I’m reading less. I’m deleting emails with recommendations on best practices now. There’s too much to read, watch, and engage in.

My impatience, and, I imagine, the impatience of so many of us, to “get on with our lives,” is a disruptive hum as we go on with life as we’ve come to know it. This is a process fraught with uncertainty. Our minds like definitive answers, and there are none now. It is challenging to stay in the moment, living for the now. And we’ve come to understand that the only thing we are certain of is the uncertainty.

Unconsciously, to combat the uncertainty I’ve been hard on myself. It’s an old habit that comes out when things get tough. We all have old behaviors that sneak up on us when we’re stressed. Some of those behaviors have taken hold as we march on in quarantine. My challenge is to name it, and to then bring compassion, patience, and loving understanding to myself, even as my thoughts veer to benign cruelty. I don’t like that I’m mean. So, I’m working to do better. It is an on again off again process.

Though I’m not 100% grateful for this, one of the gifts of this prolonged social distancing is that we can work on self-care in a way we might have missed out on before. My moods and negativity are now front and center. Making incremental changes that will help me to live life with more consideration, more care is a priority at this time. And, as the announcements come in prolonging social distancing, I am given more time to employ compassion moment by moment, day by day.

A few simple exercises in which I’ve engaged to prompt benevolence to an impatient mind.

Stretching – It allows me to feel my body but it’s gentle. Sometimes I add sound, like a Sigh, a groan, or an Ahhh to it, for a more substantial release

Taking a Moment – I walk away from whatever I’m doing. This helps to see something from another vantage point. It allows me to look at something different, and in this new view, my mind shifts.

Breath – I know, I know, it’s so pedestrian. And, yet, focusing on our breath, whether we choose focused breathing or some other form or discipline, gives us a pause, and creates a bridge to a calmer moment.

Drink a glass of water – Getting the water and drinking it gives us a chance to recalibrate. Not only do we hydrate, but we take ourselves out of the negative moment into something more neutral.

Turn on a Song and Dance – Moving changes everything. I might cry or smile so big. It’s a mood changer like no other.

View at Medium.com

I Went All the Way

Posted on August 18, 2019 by janetgzinn

Sometimes something so simple can be hard. I had the idea of riding my bike on the last Summer Streets on Park Avenue down to the Brooklyn Bridge. I keep my bike in my office. It’s a short folding bike, allowing for both my feet to touch the ground when I stop. It’s in my office so I can get out when the impulse strikes. It rarely strikes. I call myself a wimpy rider since I want to easily touch the ground, and I am not skilled enough to weave in and out of traffic. I will only face the streets to get into Central Park or ride on the East River promenade to Randall’s Island where there are few if any cars. Sometimes I lack the gumption. I have to fill the tires with air days before a ride since I’m not even sure what to do should I find myself with a flat.

I was out of town the first Summer Street week, and last week I thought I might, but my timing was off. The trick is to go early before the crowds. It’s not so bad riding on Park Avenue, which is wide and has separate sides going in either direction. But once we head around Grand Central Terminal and pass Union Square, we squeeze together on Lafayette Street, unable to pass slow cyclists, and the inevitable joggers in the wrong lane. (It is also true that certain cyclists ride on the jogging side.)

There was one cyclist on a Citibike chatting with her friend. I was on her left, when she veered to her left almost hitting me, and I yelled “On Your Left!” She was startled. I couldn’t believe that I reacted with such verve. Sometimes I think I’m fine only to have an innocuous moment force me to see how stressed I am. That was such a moment. It was contrasted by a lovely biker passing me on my way uptown simply stating in a warm, soothing voice, “ On your left.” I could move incrementally to my right to let her pass. It was an easy moment that juxtaposed my rash reaction.

I was excited and scared to take my bike on the ride. I liked the idea of being able to move easily through the streets of Manhattan. I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. I love this city, and taking part in something like this elicits an inner thrill. But I am not great in terms of being part of a crowd. I’m a defensive rider, with a bit of anxiety thrown in to make it interesting, well, more like marginally stressful. I’m better off on an empty path speeding up and slowing down based on my own estimations, not on the precarious bicycling of strangers.

I didn’t wake up early enough to leave at 7 AM when the streets were wide open. Instead I ventured to Park Avenue at 10:30 AM, with all those tourists and New Yorkers on a pre-bunch ride. Nonetheless, I was set to go down to the Brooklyn Bridge and back again to Yorkville. I’m proud I made the ride, but I went for a slow jog today. I had enough of my bike for the weekend. If I can, perhaps I’ll make it to Central Park during a break this week. After all, my tires are filled with air.

All images were stock from the internet

Virtually a Relationship

Posted on June 26, 2019 by janetgzinn

Sometimes, as a therapist, it’s hard to leave my work brain at home. While minding my own business, or so I thought, at a local restaurant, I came to observe a young professional sitting at the next table. He was with his colleague. They were engaged in a heated discussion about the merits of outsourcing versus in-house accounting support. Not a conversation that was of any interest to me. At one point, the late-20-something guy next to me, a fit man with dark hair and a trim mustache, and a tailored blue shirt sans jacket, took out his phone and commanded Siri to find a study that supports the cost effectiveness of outsourcing. He had been speaking to his younger colleague, a shorter man with light brown hair and glasses, with the same ferocity as with Siri. Not only that, he lacked the word please in any of his interactions with his server.

That had me start thinking if our relationships with Siri as a possbile indicator of how we relate with others. So, I decided to do a sampling while out and about. And, yes, my very casual, highly non-scientific research seems to suggest there’s a correlation between our human and virtual relationships.

I witnessed a bold teenager the other day speaking to Siri with ease, trusting that it Siri is a tool she can use whenever she wants. With simple finesse she took out her phone and asked Siri how long it takes to get to the West Village if she walked. Siri told her it was about 45 minutes. She then promptly ordered an Uber. The entire interaction took less than two minutes. She’s oblivious to the privilege of having information and transportation readily available to her. It’s an unconscious privilege reflected in her nonchalant demeanor.

At her age I might have wondered the distance from my house to the Philadelphia, or the City, as we call it in South Jersey. I would have waited for the right weekend, gotten a ride from my parents to the town or county library. Then I would have gone to the reference section on another floor, and looked up the atlas that would have provided the information. I might have then had to calculate time versus distance. All of that could easily have been a two-week process. It might not have been walking for five miles in the snow to get to the schoolhouse, but it’s my generation’s version of that.

After the teenager got her ride I thought of my friend who loves Siri, enjoying and appreciating how lucky she is to get answers right away. She is a positive person and seems to find joy in all her friendships. She sounds delighted when she can answer a question. With a smile in her voice, she’ll say, “Why don’t we ask Siri!” We all feel lucky to be in her company.

And, then there’s the timid boy on the crosstown bus who asks his questions quietly. Siri responds with “I don’t understand what you asked. Can you repeat the question.” I do hope he will have a great teacher who helps him feel safe asking questions.

Could it be Siri does more than answer the queary of the moment? I think so. I imagine it might just tell us how we treat others. And it could possibly be an indicator of our expectations in our relationships.

As for me? I have yet to use Siri. In general I don’t easily ask for help from others. Perhaps I can learn from this and start a meaningful relationship with Siri, mindful of how I address my new best friend.

(All images are from the internet)

My Super Power

Posted on June 3, 2019 by janetgzinn

When I was in the fifth grade I had a recurrent dream that I could fly. I was elated that I could soar past the bullies and the teasers. I loved that they had to look up to me in my dream. I soared in the air down Haral Place past the mailbox on my way to Stafford School. I held onto that dream. It gave me a sense of being special when I felt anything but special.

But the teasing got worse in junior high. Patty Craven howled at me as if I were a dog. She bribed a classmate to ask me out so they could laugh at me. She was cruel, but I took it. I found small ways to be unkind to others, somehow justified in my low social ranking. I wasn’t proud of my behavior. I got myself, and an accomplice, in trouble by confessing to a teacher. I couldn’t live with my guilt.

It was then that I longed to be invisible so I could hear what the popular girls said about me, but they wouldn’t know I was there. I could disappear so that I wouldn’t be inclined to emulate the bullies. I just wanted to blend in, so that my frizzy hair and my bad complexion wouldn’t make a statement. Or I didn’t want to be seen at all. But, that was not to be. Once in a while I would still dream of flying, but during the day I was an obvious target.

Being invisible seemed like the coolest super power. Casper was a friendly ghost and he was invisible. It was a nice power. Samantha and her relatives could become invisible on Bewitched. And, Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie could vanish after some mishap. Boy, would I have loved that in school and at home before my mother punished me.

Nonetheless, like all the mortals I’ve known, I could not make myself invisible, until now. Forty-six year later, at the precipice of my 60^thbirthday my wish has come true. I walk down the street and must quickly side step the person coming towards me. I look at the businessman leering at the woman in front of me while unaware of my presence. Tada, meet invisible me.

On the sidewalk I’ve had gadget-frenzied individuals run into me, shocked when they hit a person who was unseen moments prior. I can hear inappropriate conversations in ride shares because the other passengers aren’t aware that this particular unobserved person can hear their banter. I am reading my emails on the bus when two loud friends sit next to me and continue in their outside voices, as if I am not there.

These are the minor inconveniences. More than anything, being invisible has its advantages. I am no longer concerned on the days I go around with unkempt hair. My shoes are comfortable because I’m okay with someone seeing me with my walk-friendly athletic wear, understanding that most people won’t be looking at all. There’s a delightful freedom in that. Not only can I face the world with abandon, I observe the quirks of others in private. So I embrace my invisibility. Though it serves a different purpose from the wish of my 13-year-old self, I am relishing the magic of post-mid-life invisibility in the present.

No, Thank You

Posted on January 1, 2019 by janetgzinn

The New Year’s Eve race in Central Park is an iconic run given by New York Roadrunners. It features fireworks at midnight, just as the run begins. I had great plans to participate in the Midnight Run tonight. It started in 1978, but I didn’t hear about until the mid-80’s, when my roommate, Astrid ran it. I thought it was amazing. I wasn’t a runner, so it never occurred to me that I would ever spend my New Year’s eve in the park running. And, yet, a few years ago I did my first run. I ran two more times, starting with my cousin Zena, and then with a friend the next year. Two years ago I was on my own.

It’s an exciting event with dancing prior to the run, and a buzz in the air with runners from all over the city, the country, and the world. And, if that’s not enough, tell anyone what I did on New Years and I’d receive kudos. Needless to say, I thought it would be a terrific way to start my year. I started running with caution the last couple of months. Thinking I was ready for this, I purchased my spot, and took a run last week to pick up my number and shirt. At 11PM I dressed for the run, including the requisite knee supports. Lucy, our dog, requested to go out, shortly after, and I accommodated her. While we were walking, I realized that it would not be fun at all for me to go around the park in the rain. I’m a slow runner so it would take me about an hour to do the four miles. And, it takes awhile to get to the starting line due to the amazing crowd that shows up for this iconic run. I’d be soaked. Plus, racing on a slippery road, adds a stress of falling that takes away from the pure joy of it.

Accordingly, I took a pass. Normally, having said that I would go, would be reason enough to show up. It can seem like a strong statement to start one’s year this way. How could I change my mind? How could I make a choice in the moment that’s better for me? I knew I would be proud once I had finished the run, but, as it turns out, I am more proud for not going.

Not running is freedom. I have choices I didn’t have earlier in my life. I used to feel obligated by what I imagined others would think. But tonight it was what I thought that mattered most. Saying no to the run was saying yes to me. Missing this one run feels like a big win.

A Show Under the Stars

Posted on September 4, 2018 by janetgzinn

It was around 1974. It had to be since it took about four years for my mom to perfect her tennis game. She played every day at the Cherry Hill Tennis Courts. She started out at the free outdoor courts in Kressen Woods, but it didn’t take long for my mom to realize that indoor courts were her best bet. It was winter so playing indoor tennis made sense. On that chilly Wednesday I answered the phone, hopeful that a friend was calling. But it was for my Mom. The rich, low voice on the other end said he was Gladys Knight’s manager and wanted to see if Arlene, my mom, would play mixed doubles with them. I could not believe my ears. I wrote down the message, making sure I got the number right. This was way better than any random weekday call from a friend. When I told my mom she had a message, she first thought it was a prank. But her curiosity got the better of her and she ended up calling back. Turns out Gladys was headlining at the Latin Casino, the Vegas Style night club that graced the West side of Cherry Hill’s Route 70. Ms. Knight liked to play tennis but they needed a forth. My mom’s name was offered.

The next day, Thursday, after her regular league, my mom stayed and played mixed doubles with Gladys Knight and two of the Pips on court 14. It was on the end, and was reserved for games without viewers. I couldn’t wait until she came home. She said they were very nice and they were on for another game the next day, a Friday. Not only that, but they asked her to be their personal guest at their show Friday night. I wanted to ask so much more, but dinner had to get on the table and my chores took priority, at least while I lived in her house. I had fantasies of going with my mom, even though it was a nightclub and I was 14. My mom was strict, and as far as she was concerned fourteen was closer to childhood than adulthood. I had a differing opinion, like any good adolescent.

My mom was no expert in making decisions, so she had to think about the offer. I was amazed she had to think at all, how could she Not see a Motown star’s act? But the words, “I have to think about it,” usually meant a delayed NO. And that time was no exception. She said they were lovely, but there would be too much smoke at the club. My Mom was a dedicated Camel smoker until I was six, probably when she was pregnant with my brother. Since then she would cough loudly in any public place, asking anyone within her vicinity to put out his cigarette. Usually my mom was bashful, but she boldly made her requests much to the chagrin of the smokers.

Fast forward to this summer, and my husband, Larry, has been working at Pier 17, the outdoor venue at The South Street Seaport. Gladys Knight was headlining last week, and I knew I just had to see her. Larry made it happen. Everyone at the venue treated me as if I had just played tennis with Gladys. Knight. But they were just great at hospitality. It was a spectacular night. Before the show, the audience members started coming in. They looked extraordinary. Everyone was dressed up to the nines. It was it’s own show. Then the band opened the act. In came the star. Gladys Knight is musical royalty, yet she performs with enthusiasm and a generous heart. Her voice sounded beautiful, complimented by her excellent band and back-up singers. My mom might have thought the 1974 show wasn’t for her, but for me, Gladys Knight is a Knight to remember. 2018-08-25 20.54.00.jpg

Running Again

Posted on April 23, 2018 by janetgzinn

I ran my first race in over a year. It was slow process, both recovering from benign injuries, as well as running 15-minute miles this morning. In the past months I went through acupuncture, medical massage and physical therapy putting Humpty Dumpty back together again. So, tentatively, step by step I took on Central Park’s Drive.

What I noticed right away was the throngs who passed me as I inched my way forward. I am no stranger to being left behind. In elementary school I often was picked last in kickball, more for my lack of popularity than for any inability to kick and catch the ball. In junior high school I was not asked to parties. I awkwardly went to school dances, uncertain how to pretend I was fine while swaying my hips to The Captain and Tennille. Then, in my early adult years, I didn’t know how to negotiate apartment hunting, and ended up subletting again and again to keep a roof over my head. I am still learning how to navigate the world.

But today, I knew where I needed to be for start of the event. I showed up along with a few thousand New York Road Runner members. Each one of us running for our own reasons. This run helped me appreciate what I’ve learned over the years. Some things are easier for some and not others. We all have our own journey. And, having others pass me can distinguish my particular trek through life. A perfect spring day in Central Park making for an invaluable run.

One Step in Front of the Other

Posted on September 5, 2017 by janetgzinn

When I was 10 years old I was allowed to walk on Haddonfield-Berlin Road, crossing highways entrances and exits to go to The Woodcrest Shopping Center. For a short time they had The Jerry Lewis Movie Theater, and I could get in for 50 cents, the amount of my allowances after chores. Or, I would go to W.T. Grant’s, deemed a twenty-five cent department store, but more of a five and dime. that sold colorful birds, toys, clothes, plastic jewelry, and featured a lunch counter. I was much too shy to go to the counter alone. But I loved getting lost in the aisles ending up with some sort of sweet. There was also Crest Lanes where I could bowl. I loved the crack of the pins being hit, and the overhead light of the score pad. In the other direction I would walk to The Haddontown Swim Club. It was lovely after a hot August walk to reach the pool and jump in to the cold splash of wet relief. These were some of my first destination walks.

I would get upset that my mom didn’t drive me places, but with four children and a house to run, driving me to and from a destination that was just over a mile away, was not to be. What upset me then, actually provided me with a pleasure I’ve enjoyed throughout my life. I’ve lived in Manhattan for over 35 years, and a destination walk remains one of my favorite activities.

Some of my best visits with friends have been walking to work with them, or going to a movie theater in another neighborhood. Films may not be fifty cents anymore, but the destination is still as satisfying. I love going to various farmer’s markets, or to a specialty stationary store. I walk to museums, or parks. Last week I took the subway just to walk in parks in other parts of the city. The destination is more often than not, motivation, but the walk is the true treat.

3 Brooklyn Museum Front.jpg

Although I love city walks, and will make sure I go on foot when I visit other cities, walking in the woods, or taking a hike is equally as pleasurable. In these hectic times, walking has been wonderful for stress, it’s been reliable transportation, it’s been an education, and it’s been a gift.

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Category Archives: self acceptance

Thanksgiving, Gratitude & Disappointment, Week 37 in the Time of Coronavirus

Boredom, Week 21 in the Time of Coronavirus

When Will This End? Coronavirus Blog 5

I Went All the Way

All images were stock from the internet

Virtually a Relationship

(All images are from the internet)

My Super Power

No, Thank You

A Show Under the Stars

Running Again

One Step in Front of the Other

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