The news has changed. Sure, we are overwhelmed by statistics, infection rates, death counts, and updated stay-at-home orders. And there are still the non-rush hour, rush hour traffic reports followed by the weather forecast. But the tone and focus of the remaining newscasts have a subtle difference. There is more banter between the on-set anchors and those working from their home offices. The viewers have been granted glimpses of children’s toys strewn under their desks, camera stealing felines and the unexpected normal interruptions of home life.

Broadcasts have featured Rockhopper penguins touring the shuttered Shedd Aquarium to visit the exhibits and sharing their explorations on Facebook. They have treated us to Batesburg-Leesville S.C. police officers live-streaming as they read books to kids. At the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, orthopedic Drs. Elvis L. Francois and William Robinson sing and play piano, respectively, after the completion of their shifts. Their most recent rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” has gone viral.

Meanwhile, Patrick Stewart, who has logged over 60 appearances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, is performing a daily recital of Shakespeare’s sonnets on his Twitter account. DJs, singers, bands, and others are hosting live-streaming “virtual parties” and “virtual concerts” on various platforms. Inspired by Italians singing from balconies and open windows, similar serenades have happened in Edmonton, Chicago, Dallas, and other cities.

Every one of these events, each modest gesture, is a shining beacon of hope. For every light that gains national and world attention, countless others are touching one person or a small group of total strangers. Even when we defeat the virus, my hope is we remember these acts and continue to connect with each other. Maybe, finally, the world will be as one.

How will you let your light shine today?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I have a set schedule. I write at nine every day.  Rain, shine, I commit to two hours of writing and deliver a finished piece. From sourcing and creating an image to the first draft, through multiple edits, a title, proof-reading, and scheduling a post, my timeline does not change. I find working with a rigid outline forces me into preconceived conclusions. But working without direction or a destination is a recipe for disaster. There is a delicate balance to writing without limits and writing with purpose.

Given too many choices, and no expectations, I can’t decide, and my story goes nowhere. I need rules, constraints, guidelines, a theme, and a challenge. Restrictions like word counts, time limits, and themes, create a puzzle to occupy my critical mind. Specific benchmarks quiet my inner censor which allows my subconscious brain room to play.

The hardest part is getting started. I stutter and fumble with the first sentence as I sift through possibilities and eliminate the pieces that don’t belong to the story I am telling. As my fingers type, I settle into a rhythm. Words sing, my thoughts coalesce, and surprises happen. I relax, I let go of self-consciousness, and the tale emerges.

The finished piece needn’t be “good,” whatever that is. Sometimes I get lucky, and readers connect with the concepts. Those two sacred hours are the best part of my day. My practice keeps me sane and makes me happy. I won’t be giving it up anytime soon.

What is your writing process?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The novelty of being home is wearing thin. I know, because I’m hearing complaints of “I’m bored.” Nothing annoys me more. I have zero patience with boredom, even when I have nothing to do. Boredom is a sign you lack a good idea. At the first hint of trouble, I strap on my thinking cap and get creative. If you’re bored, you aren’t trying. There are plenty of options, many of which don’t require shopping. Besides, it’s more fun to do what you can, with the supplies you have, where you are. There are no excuses.

Some ideas include virtual check-ins with friends or relatives you’ve not seen in a while. Give yourself a manicure, a pedicure, and treat yourself to an in-home spa day complete with bubbles. Get active, try yoga or any of the new YouTube at-home exercise videos. Embrace deep spring cleaning and organize a full-blown closet purge.

Start a garden. A tiny kitchen nursery can provide entertainment with tasty results. Speaking of food, bake, explore different recipes, plan home-cooked meals, followed by your favorite cocktail. Make kiddie-cocktails for the wee ones. Doodle, color, or draw, write a poem, or journal to record your coronavirus quarantine. Produce a movie. Update your resume, you might be needing it. Clean up your emails.

In the last week, I joined four online classes with twice-weekly assignments and discovered interesting podcasts. And I am writing.

How will you fill your day?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Today is Monday. The start of another crazy, precarious week. While you might not be heading into the office, your stress level has, most likely, not abated. Yesterday’s position is not the same situation greeting you today. Many confront the challenges of working from home, furloughs, layoffs, and uncertainty of what tomorrow brings. We have granted kids their wish for a never-ending spring break while insisting they adapt to at home eLearning options. Social expectations have changed overnight, and your daily routines are in a state of flux.

Doubts and insecurities rule the day and cause sleepless nights. You can deny the changes, bury your head deep in the sand, and refuse to deal with reality. Or you can acknowledge facts, accept an altered life, and create an alternate plan. Dare to assess your starting point. Dream and dream big. Then plot your next steps.  Be proactive. Change is transformation, and to move forward implies you must grow. Growth requires action and courage. Expect to feel uncomfortable, expect life to seem unfamiliar.

Your actions will determine your future. Your choices always dictate your route, that much hasn’t changed. You can worry, wring your hands, and wait to see what happens. Or you can push past the aches and pains, embrace what the day offers, show up and play the best game of your life.

Is today your day to shine?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I spend many hours alone. I write alone. I drink my coffee alone, dine alone, and shop alone. My life is perfectly normal when I am alone.

Friends ask if I wouldn’t have more fun with company. They worry I might be lonely.

I enjoy meeting friends, and they provide plenty of entertainment, distractions, and interesting conversations, but the loneliest I have ever felt was in a crowded room. I love hosting house parties, connecting with strangers, and cultivating new friendships. Those interactions, while enjoyable, tax my psyche, and I schedule time to rebalance my life after major events.

The virus has turned our world upside down. American culture values and venerates extroverts. Suddenly, we are experiencing an interest in introverted qualities. Working in groups with endless team meetings are stressors for solitary types. Many writers find productivity in group write-ins. For me, those experiences elicit the opposite effect.

Self-isolation may be the order of the day, yet my daily world remains unchanged. While we do what we must to contain the virus’s spread, I believe those who identify as introverts should offer helpful tips to our extroverted friends. Consider treating this as an opportunity to connect with your inner voice. Learning to talk to yourself can be very revealing. Introspection is easier when without the crush of noise and constant motion.

Busy schedules, and social commitments provide easy excuses for not creating. But when you remove those obstacles, the only one stopping you is you. Cherish this interlude and create, create, create.

Where will you find Joy today?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Panic wraps cold claws around my heart each morning when I wake. I try to breathe, and thoughts of the dreaded virus rattle my brain. I am wide awake and running through my checklist. Did someone whack me between the eyes with a baseball bat? A heavy hammer pounds on my temples, echoing in my ears. My eyes itch. Red, watery, and caked with sleep, I struggle to keep them open. Nasal congestion and a runny nose produce a series of sneezes, and I relax. I don’t have Covid-19, it is only my seasonal allergies.

Each spring I depend on tree pollen, grass pollen, mold, and dust mites to piss off my immune system. Then just like Patrick Swayze in Roadhouse, my histamines get busy and bounce those nasty allergens, triggering my symptoms. I know this. I have experienced this since I was a little kid. Yet every morning, I am obsessed, worried, and annoyed. I check the day’s pollen count to find the level is medium-high. My nose could have told me that.

Fanatical cleaning, and my medication, makes me feel better. Banishing the dust and keeping the pollen at bay is my daily mission. I sweep the double doormats. One on each side of the door. I use my duster to scrub the ceiling, the walls, and all four corners. I work from top to bottom, moving and dusting every item on every shelf. The bedsheets I strip and subject the linens to hot water and plenty of soap. I beat, fluff, vacuum, and sanitize curtains, chairs, sofas, and tables. No surface is untouched. Scrubbing the floor is my final task. Exhausted, I collapse in a chair and wonder if I should sleep.

What are you battling?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

This week I struggled to find my desk, and I struggled to write. Life had different ideas regarding my plans. The challenges the world presented wouldn’t deter me. I had to write. I found a pocketful of minutes, an unoccupied chair, and realized my unscheduled writing session was now or never. Laptop balanced on my knees, ignoring distractions, my fingers tap keys, words appear, and a story materializes. My surroundings fade from my field of vision, I focus, and the story sings in my ear. I write until my pocket of precious minutes expire.

This week waiting for my muse to arrive was a luxury I couldn’t afford. Undeterred, I found inspiration. I dug for the discipline to write no matter the circumstances. It didn’t matter if my writing was good.  I’ve done my best to meet my daily obligations and the promises I made to myself.

How have you overcome your writing obstacles this week?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I look forward to Spring. This year has been no exception. Here we are, the day has arrived. We made it. Why do I feel like someone stole my last roll of toilet paper? Why am I feeling let down? I considered it might be due to the perpetual rain and lack of sunshine. But that answer didn’t ring true. I dug a little deeper. There is a possibility today’s Vernal Equinox gained more importance than I should have attributed to it.

I realized the global pandemic, and mass uncertainty triggered a mindset fixated on Spring’s arrival. Scientists say our brains release dopamine, the happiness hormone, in anticipation of a reward. As we work toward a target, the shot of dopamine helps us feel good. But when you attain the goal, your dopamine levels drop. On a biochemical level, it is harder to find joy. Coupled with the realities we face, turning the calendar, felt hollow. I had been putting all my eggs in one basket.

The revelation reminded me to celebrate the journey, notice the budding trees, the emerging tulips, and the cheerful birdsongs. We are surrounded by generous, supportive, and loving people. While we mourn the upheaval and loss, this virus has unleased, we also focus on the endgame. We are blessed with the ability to create new objectives, erect fresh miles markers, and dream different, bigger dreams. Active imaginations, housed in brilliant minds, devise ingenious plans to help humanity navigate a world turned upside down.

I intend to embark on more grand adventures, diversifying my goals into multiple baskets. My first quest? More toilet paper.

Have your goals changed?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

COVID-19 has created a massive disturbance in the Force our lives. Feeling anxious, depressed, uncertain, angry, or lost are 100% normal responses. More challenges lie ahead as many confront the realities of self-isolation for the next several weeks (or maybe longer) with husbands, wives, kids, or roommates. While we love them, the prospect of spending 24/7 with them for the foreseeable future, presents a challenge. Especially if employers have tasked us with working from home.

Attitude is everything. Remaining positive, while easier said than done, helps everybody adapt. With input from every member of your household, establish a detailed schedule with specific expectations. The temptation is to treat this as an unscheduled vacation, but during chaotic times, everyone responds better with the consistency of a known agenda. We can’t control what happens, but we do choose our response. It’s an excellent idea to fact check your thoughts. If you are worried, address the concern directly, assess how likely your fear is to manifest, and explore the actions you would pursue if it happened. Talk about your concerns with your friends, family, and as appropriate, your children.

Be prepared to be overwhelmed, and be willing to do something, no matter how crazy it might seem. Stand up, go for a walk, empty the garbage, or play hide and seek. Build a blanket fort, plant seeds, bake bread, learn a new skill, and reach out to neighbors, and extended family. Take part in activities that make your soul smile and delights your loved ones. Organize a game of finding the funniest coronavirus memes, tell jokes, and have fun. You may discover being with your family is a pleasure. May the Force be with you.

What strategies are you adopting?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

This year St. Patrick’s Day will be like none ever before or any yet to be. No Chicago River dyed green. No parades. No beer glasses lifted high to toast assembled friends and family. But a mere virus cannot squelch one tradition. There will be plenty of beer and jokes, and we will wish each other well. May the love and protection of St Patrick be yours in abundance.

To start your day, here is a wee bit of Irish wit:

Alcohol! Because no great story starts with a salad.

An Irish Pub Joke – An Irish man has been at a pub all night drinking. The bartender finally says that the bar is closed. So, he stands up to leave and falls flat on his face. He figures he’ll crawl outside, get some fresh air, and maybe that will sober him up. Once outside, he stands up but again falls flat on his face. He crawls home. Reaching the door, he tries to stand up, and yet again, falls flat on his face. He crawls through the door and up the stairs. When he reaches his bed, he summons the last of his strength and tries one last time to stand. It’s no use. He tumbles into bed and is soon sound asleep, only to awaken the next morning to the sound of his wife standing over him shouting. ‘So, you’ve been out drinking again!’ ‘How did you know?’ he asks, his head hung in shame. ‘The pub called — you left your damn wheelchair down there again!’

The average human walks 100 miles per year and drinks 22 gallons of beer. That means the average human gets 41 miles per gallon.

Soup of the day: Whiskey with H2O croutons.

Today’s Special: Buy one beer for the price of two and receive a second beer absolutely free.

Pubs: The official sunblock of Ireland.

What’s an Irish 7-course meal?  A six-pack and a potato.

What is Irish diplomacy? It’s the ability to tell a man to go to hell, so he will look forward to making the trip,

Knock. Knock.

Who’s there?

Irish!

Irish who?

Irish you a happy St Patrick’s Day!

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer