In the first week of January 2020 I got seriously ill from “something”. My symptoms, which were mainly evident between my chin and my waist, were very unusual and I did not think I had experienced anything so horrible in my life. It was weird because I had been faithful in taking my vitamins, had gotten the flu shot, and made sure I always had my dental, physical, and vision checkups.

My first response when I got sick was to follow past health practices that I had used for years to fight disease. I went to bed, drank a lot of fluids, and took fever medication. However, on the sixth day, without any relief or concern that I had lost my voice, I went to see the family doctor I had trusted for years. He immediately had me do a lung X-ray to determine if I had pneumonia and provided me with a prescription to reduce coughing. Two days later, he told my son and me that he had never seen me so sick. He said this could last another two weeks and it could take much longer to get back to full health. He was correct!

Soon after, the world began receiving warnings about COVID-19 for the citizens of the world. I definitely fit into the higher risk category due to my age and the fact that I have had pneumonia three times and a pulmonary embolism. I had not been tested for this new virus, but I was very suspicious that it might have been the cause of my January illness.

I got better and now when people ask, “How are you?” I reply “Tickety boo!” while offering my biggest smile.

This has been an extremely unusual year for every country in the world and I am definitely not the only one who has been affected. We have all been inundated with confusing statistics, mixed messages, and no timetable for recovery. I don’t get caught up in chaos. I know I need to protect my physical and mental health, and doing so begins by turning off the television. You see, twenty-four hours of “opinion” can generate anxiety.

Every day I make sure to eat nutritiously, get enough rest, and keep doing interesting activities. I buy the things I need through online and in-person purchases. I am thankful for a wise City Council that recognizes that the number of infected people in our city is low and therefore we do NOT need to have mandatory mask laws.

My work schedule is full of helping clients via video conference or over the phone deal with the issues they face. My goal is to help you use common sense and healthy choices to focus on today, reduce fear, and stay calm.

Although I am a little more diligent than in the past when it comes to washing my hands and keeping a safe distance from other people, I do not allow this to prevent me from interacting with friends and family on a regular basis.

I pay my bills on time (luckily I don’t need to postpone anything), I keep trying to improve my French through mentoring and international membership in a group of like-minded people. I use the Internet for research and entertainment.

As a psychologist, I understand the importance of having good mental health, knowing that mind and body affect each other.

I don’t have a clear diagnosis of what attacked me in January, but that doesn’t really matter. I know this is not the first or the last time I have been sick. Time and rest led me to a full recovery despite my vulnerability to risk.

Yes, the world has changed and there are so many chaotic changes and situations that we have not experienced previously. We definitely can’t change the whole world, but the good news is that we can make some good decisions on a personal level to maintain our health.

What do you do every day to keep your mind and body working well?