“If you can spend a perfectly useless afternoon in a perfectly useless manner, you have learned how to live.”

– Lin Yutang

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/lazy-afternoon.jpg?w=150&h=60 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/lazy-afternoon.jpg?w=300&h=121 300w" alt="" width="640" height="258" data-attachment-id="23249" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/31/lazy-afternoon/lazy-afternoon/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/lazy-afternoon.jpg" data-orig-size="640,258" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="lazy-afternoon" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/lazy-afternoon.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/lazy-afternoon.jpg?w=640" />

Editorial Note : In the past, this would be true. But I don’t view them as useless today, as they are really needed necessity.

“We all want to do something to mitigate the pain of loss or to turn grief into something positive, to find a silver lining in the clouds. But I believe there is real value in just standing there, being still, being sad.”

~ John Green

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/grief.jpg?w=150&h=79 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/grief.jpg?w=300&h=157 300w" alt="" width="640" height="335" data-attachment-id="23237" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/grief-10/grief-2/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/grief.jpg" data-orig-size="640,335" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Grief" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/grief.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/grief.jpg?w=640" />

“Distance means so little when someone means so much.”

~ Tom McNeal

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/distance.jpg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/distance.jpg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="23535" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/29/distance-2/distance-2/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/distance.jpg" data-orig-size="500,500" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Distance" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/distance.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/distance.jpg?w=500" />

Monday, March 16th marked the 25th anniversary of Valerie becoming a paranoid transplant mom. With Coronavirus causing shortages in sanitizer and paper towels, I shared some thoughts with the rest of the world what it’s like for my wife as a paranoid transplant mom.

STILL THANKFUL

“Have you ever typed ” I’m fine” with eyes full of tears??”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/im-fine-1.jpg?w=128 128w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/im-fine-1.jpg?w=256 256w" alt="" data-attachment-id="23557" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/28/im-fine-2/im-fine-3/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/im-fine-1.jpg" data-orig-size="427,500" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Im Fine" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/im-fine-1.jpg?w=256" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/im-fine-1.jpg?w=427" />

“When there is no peril in the fight, there is no glory in the triumph.”

~ Pierre Corneille

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/peril-glory.jpg?w=150&h=105 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/peril-glory.jpg?w=300&h=210 300w" alt="" width="640" height="448" data-attachment-id="23245" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/27/peril-glory/peril-glory/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/peril-glory.jpg" data-orig-size="640,448" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Peril – Glory" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/peril-glory.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/peril-glory.jpg?w=640" />

“Dream your dreams with your eyes closed, but live your dreams with your eyes open.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/dreams-2.jpeg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/dreams-2.jpeg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="23228" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/26/dreams-7/dreams-9/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/dreams-2.jpeg" data-orig-size="500,335" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Dreams" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/dreams-2.jpeg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/dreams-2.jpeg?w=500" />

“I know of only one duty, and that is to love.”

~ Albert Camus

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/one-duty.png?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/one-duty.png?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="23222" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/25/one-duty/one-duty/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/one-duty.png" data-orig-size="500,500" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="One Duty" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/one-duty.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/one-duty.png?w=500" />

“If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.”

~ Fred Rogers

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/important.jpg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/important.jpg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="23217" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/24/important/you-are-important-reminder-note/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/important.jpg" data-orig-size="600,400" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"19","credit":"Marek Uliasz","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark III","caption":"You are important reminder note - self assurance or positive confirmation concept","created_timestamp":"1434725805","copyright":"Marek Uliasz","focal_length":"100","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.008","title":"You are important reminder note","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="You are important reminder note" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/important.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/important.jpg?w=600" />

“Love lives not only in our hearts …… embrace it radiates out into our actions towards others.”

~ Lee Hiller London

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/love-lives.jpg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/love-lives.jpg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="23207" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/23/love-lives/love-lives/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/love-lives.jpg" data-orig-size="350,350" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Love Lives" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/love-lives.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/love-lives.jpg?w=350" />

“If you’ve got the guts to stick it out, you’re going to make it.”

~ Brian Hays

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/stick-it-out.jpg?w=150&h=90 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/stick-it-out.jpg?w=300&h=181 300w" alt="" width="640" height="386" data-attachment-id="23202" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/22/stick-it-out/stick-it-out/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/stick-it-out.jpg" data-orig-size="640,386" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1387468802","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Stick It Out" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/stick-it-out.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/stick-it-out.jpg?w=640" />

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.”

~ Heraclitus

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/not-the-same.jpg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/not-the-same.jpg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="23198" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/21/not-the-same/not-the-same/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/not-the-same.jpg" data-orig-size="600,338" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Not The Same" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/not-the-same.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/not-the-same.jpg?w=600" />

We’ve got to hold on to what we’ve got
It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not
We’ve got each other and that’s a lot for love
We’ll give it a shot

Woah, we’re half way there
Woah, livin’ on a prayer
Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear
Woah, livin’ on a prayer
Livin’ on a prayer

~ Bon Jovi, Livin’ On A Prayer

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/livin-on-a-prayer.jpg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/livin-on-a-prayer.jpg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="23449" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/20/livin-on-a-prayer-2/livin-on-a-prayer-2/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/livin-on-a-prayer.jpg" data-orig-size="600,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Livin On A Prayer" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/livin-on-a-prayer.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/livin-on-a-prayer.jpg?w=600" />

This truly resonated with me!

“Anxiety is God-forgetting. It is the result of thinking that life is on your shoulders, that it is your job to figure it all out and keep things in order.”

~ Paul David Tripp

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety5.jpg?w=150&h=106 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety5.jpg?w=300&h=212 300w" alt="" width="640" height="452" data-attachment-id="23453" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/19/anxiety-6/anxiety5/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety5.jpg" data-orig-size="640,452" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Anxiety5" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety5.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety5.jpg?w=640" />

“The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional.”

~ Max Lucado

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety6.jpg?w=150&h=113 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety6.jpg?w=300&h=225 300w" alt="" width="640" height="480" data-attachment-id="23441" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/18/anxiety-5/anxiety6/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety6.jpg" data-orig-size="640,480" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Anxiety6" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety6.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety6.jpg?w=640" />

“No amount of anxiety makes any difference to anything that is going to happen.”

~ Alan Watts

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety-4.jpeg?w=150&h=75 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety-4.jpeg?w=300&h=150 300w" alt="" width="640" height="320" data-attachment-id="23408" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/17/anxiety-4/anxiety-4/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety-4.jpeg" data-orig-size="640,320" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Anxiety-4" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety-4.jpeg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety-4.jpeg?w=640" />

“Avoidance grows anxiety“

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety.jpeg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety.jpeg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="23403" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/16/anxiety-3/anxiety-3/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety.jpeg" data-orig-size="500,282" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Anxiety" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety.jpeg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety.jpeg?w=500" />

“Wrap it, before you tap it.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/wrap-it.jpg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/wrap-it.jpg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="23421" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/15/virus-humor/wrap-it/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/wrap-it.jpg" data-orig-size="500,395" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Wrap It" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/wrap-it.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/wrap-it.jpg?w=500" />

In today’s world ……. it takes on a whole new meaning, I guess?

“Anxiety suffocates life.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety-2.png?w=150&h=86 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety-2.png?w=300&h=173 300w" alt="" width="640" height="369" data-attachment-id="23399" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/15/anxiety-2/anxiety-2/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety-2.png" data-orig-size="640,369" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Anxiety-2" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety-2.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety-2.png?w=640" />

“Your anxiety is lying to you. You are LOVED and you are going to be OK.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety.jpg?w=150&h=80 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety.jpg?w=300&h=161 300w" alt="" width="640" height="343" data-attachment-id="23394" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/03/14/anxiety/anxiety/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety.jpg" data-orig-size="640,343" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Anxiety" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/anxiety.jpg?w=640" />