An update
Hi loves,
While I’ve heard from many of you personally, I’ve waited to say anything to a broader audience because, well everything is a lot right now. There is not a whole lot I can say that you haven’t heard a million times about the state of the world right now. There are many voices—some better than others—in the conversation, and I’ll just let them carry on with it. But I’m concerned with how you, as an individual, are doing, and I figured I’d share a personal update as well.
A lot of people reached out to me because I’m in New York City, and we are actually doing pretty okay. As far as I know, we are healthy. Despite climbing death tallies, I’m grateful to report that I personally don’t know anyone in New York City who is sick, and I know I’m lucky in this. M and I are both employed and able to work from home, another blessing. Many of our friends have lost their jobs or are freelancers struggling to find work. Our grocery stores and bodegas are stocked because our neighborhood hasn’t gone into full-blown panic. If anything, people are a little lax, which is concerning, but we are staying indoors except for exercise. Oh, and we found an apartment and signed a lease last week. We are planning to move in a couple weeks, which should give the two of us more space and isolation together. We’re still ironing out how to do this as safely, efficiently, and as cost-effectively as possible. Thankfully, we are staying in the neighborhood.
For my friends who have lost jobs, have been suffering symptoms of the virus, tested positive, or are separated from love ones with or without COVID, I see you and I hear you. I feel your pain. I am grieving alongside you. Things are bad right now, and nothing will be the same again. It is okay to grieve lost jobs and opportunities in the midst of all this. It’s okay that you miss your mom and dad. I miss my parents too.
For my friends on the front-lines: thank you. A million times, thank you.
For my friends who are finding themselves with peace, grace, and abundance during this period: me too! It’s okay to carry a little guilt that things are going well in your own dwelling while chaos swirls around outside, but you can share that peace, grace, and abundance. Continue practicing gratitude for your blessings, but go a step further and share some of those blessings. Give your money away. You probably don’t need it all, anyway. Check on your friends often. Check on your family even more.
In that spirit, I’m partnering with Pop In Here and the NYC-Metro chapter of NAMI for a compassionate, accessible yoga and meditation class that will allow us to calm the body and still the mind in community with one another. We’ll start with a gentle flow (Mom, even you can do it!) that should take 20–30 minutes, followed by pranayama (controlled breathing) and meditation. It will be next Sunday, April 5, 11AM EST. Please message me for more info, and I’ll send you the sign-up link.
I genuinely want to know how each of you are doing. I’ve enjoyed having more time and space to call and FaceTime friends, and I invite you to reach out to me at any time. It seems that this will be our new normal for awhile, and all we can do is keep each other close, figuratively.
Love always,
Kara
P.S. Below are some links to a couple of my past letters, which I think take on new meaning in our current situation. I invite you to revisit them or read them for the first time.
What the Tao Te Ching Says About Doing Nothing for those who want a more philosophical or theological bent
The Importance of Rest because that’s what you should be doing now, if you can
Recommended Reading if you’ve been looking to read more during this time