The Way I See It
Fall is here and with it comes busier schedules, colder weather, and shorter days. In the blink of an eye, the holidays will arrive, and we’ll be busy shopping, decorating, and making plans. And for me, it means another unavoidable trip to And That! for more decorations! With everything going on, the season brings a fair amount of stress in a typical year, but this is no typical year.
We are living through a pandemic and figuring out how to navigate our holiday traditions in the COVID era. And if your house is anything like mine, you are probably following every detail of the upcoming election, which could well be the most important in our lifetime. If you are feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone. On more than one occasion I’ve felt the need to turn the news off and take a break from it all. One in three Americans is dealing with symptoms of stress or anxiety, according to data from the US Census Bureau and the National Center for Health Statistics.
So what better time to take care of yourself?
While we’re busy planning for the months ahead, it’s a great time to plan some self-care as well. And we’ve got lots of options for you. It can be as simple as joining your CAMP Rehoboth friends for a morning mindfulness or chair yoga class via zoom. As Marj Shannon suggests in her column, you could simply plan a nice long walk or bike ride in the open air. Fall is such a beautiful time here in Delaware.
For Michael Gilles, taking care of himself means taking control of Type 2 diabetes. Michael talks candidly about his struggle with this disease. For Stanton Weiner, it means staying on PrEP to prevent HIV. Stanton shares the challenges and barriers he’s faced in accessing PrEP here in Sussex County. I’m grateful to both of these individuals for sharing their personal stories in this issue. We are all better for it.
And of course, we cannot say enough, practice social distancing and please wear a mask to try and keep yourself and others safe.
For others, taking care of yourself may mean scheduling some time for fun. I’m looking forward to the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival! Taking place November 5-15, there will be a combination of in-person films at the Cinema Arts Theater and films you can purchase and stream at home during the festival. There’s also our latest art exhibit, Balance and Harmony, to enjoy, along with many great arts exhibits featured in Doug Yetter’s latest column.
Of course, in this important election year, the ultimate act of self-care is to vote! There is a lot happening in the world which we can’t control and is causing all of us a little stress and anxiety. But your vote is one thing you have control of. Whether you vote in person on election day or vote by absentee ballot, make sure your voice is heard.
Enjoy this issue and I hope you discover some ways to take care of yourself, relax, and enjoy all there is to do and see in Delaware!