Chris Croll

Studies have shown that expressing gratitude improves physical and mental health, reduces aggression, helps you sleep better, and fosters closer relationships with others. Robert Emmons, a leading gratitude researcher, has demonstrated through various studies that gratitude effectively increases happiness.

“A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.” This is the guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control related to trick-or-treating safety this year. The CDC goes on to label traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating as a “higher risk” activity for potential transmission of COVID-19.

When this period in history is over, future generations will ask us what it was like to live through quarantines, lockdown and social distancing. Most of us will quickly forget (in fact, many of us cannot wait to forget). Capturing our thoughts and feelings in a journal not only records rich details about what life is like during this historical time, but the mere act of writing could make us healthier in the process.

When we reflect back on our favorite teachers from childhood, few of us conjure images of physical education teachers. In fact, I cannot remember the name of any P.E. teacher I had in years K-12. Because it is an elective, phys ed class has always been considered secondary in importance to core school subjects. But that is changing now that we are in the middle of a pandemic. In fact, I would argue that P.E. is the most important class your child will take this year.

The word “boundary” has always had a negative connotation for me. I put “boundary” in the same category as “diet” or “budget”—a limit. I have never been a big fan of limits. Maybe it is because I grew up in New York where speed limits were considered optional. However, since quarantine began, I have developed a newfound appreciation for the concept of boundaries.

It has been said that human beings need four hugs a day for survival, eight hugs a day for maintenance and 12 hugs a day for growth. If that is true, one has to wonder what the social-emotional impact will be on tens of millions of people who have not hugged anyone for many months during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I never could have imagined two of the most horrific events in my lifetime—my father dying and a global pandemic—would happen simultaneously. My father’s slide downhill began this past Christmas Eve when he experienced shortness of breath while trying to wrap a gift. Several hospital stays and five months later, my dad now lives in an assisted living facility and last week we put him on hospice.

During this pandemic, we are all resorting to extraordinary measures to protect ourselves from getting sick. But the stress of worrying about getting sick may be enough to make us sick! When the body is managing stress for long periods of time, energy is diverted away from other systems, including those that fight off viruses.