2020-October-12

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How to Cope with 2020? Ask a Redwood Tree.

BY MAJKA KLEMMER · EMPLOYEE NEWSROOM COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER · UNITED STATES

A few weekends ago, I never saw the sun.

My town of Campbell, California, along with practically the entire Bay Area, was enveloped in thick, smoky, ashy air from wildfires burning to the north, east, and west, for days on end.

I worried about coworkers and friends near the evacuation zones. I watched with horror as the local TV news showed a favorite hiking spot, Big Basin State Park, severely burned.

I gratefully high-fived my husband for scoring KN-95 masks on Amazon, which we wore to walk our dog quickly around the block so she could at least sniff a few lawns.

It was one of the gloomiest weekends I’d experienced in a long time.

How to Be Resilient Like a Redwood Tree

Bad news feels like it’s outweighing the good right now. We started the year with wildfires in Australia, and it’s only continued with more natural disasters, COVID-19, explosions, social unrest — add your experience here.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the resiliency of the coastal redwood trees at Big Basin — many are expected to survive due to their thick, fire-resistant bark.

We have some things in common with the redwoods. We know how to overcome challenges, help each other during times of adversity, and continue to grow and adapt through all of our collective experiences.

Through it all, sometimes we need a few words of encouragement along the way.

I’ve done a little research, polled some coworkers, and came up with some tips on how to deal with, well, 2020.

• You actually don’t have to be positive all the time.

  Let yourself feel all the feels. Don’t feel pressured to always find a silver lining.

  It can be hard to do because we try to keep our chins up no matter how hard things get.

  “Learning how to identify what you're feeling, experience your feelings, and to self-soothe is the foundation of emotional wellbeing,” says Bianca L. Rodriguez, a nationally syndicated columnist on the topic of mental health and wellness.

  Go ahead. Feel sad, angry, frustrated, scared, (insert emotion here) … it’s validation you are human.

• Call your family and friends. Use Webex if you can.

  Talking to others, laughing, and simply connecting is essential right now.

  I just FaceTimed a close friend. We talked — even laughed — about the trials of sheltering in place.

  When her 4-year-old daughter came in the room, we quickly changed topics to what snickerdoodle cookies are.

  That conversation lifted me up more than anything else that day.

• Move around at your own pace.

  To quote Elle Woods in the movie, Legally Blonde, "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't.”

  Endorphins really do boost your mood. How many of you dread starting a workout but, by the time you’re done, you have a whole different mindset? (Raising my hand now.)

  If your gym is still closed, chances are you’re doing workouts at home. (Check out YouTube and Amazon Prime for lots of fun and healthy classes.)

  In any case, try to get out for a bit and walk around your neighborhood. The physical and mental benefits are worth it.

• Small acts of kindness go a long way.

  Kindness also produces endorphins. Think about who might benefit from your thoughtfulness and act, no matter how small the gesture.

  While I was stuck inside during the wildfires, I baked cookies for our neighbors. It was a win-win — I got to eat chocolate chip cookies and put a smile on our neighbor’s faces while they were stuck inside, too.

  When the air finally cleared, one of the first things I did was go to downtown Campbell and support some local businesses. Another win-win — a new succulent for my patio and another paying customer for the store.

  And at work, it makes me feel good when I can send teammates a Connection Recognition to show my gratitude.

My 2020 Inner Mantra

Back to that dark, smoky weekend. In a bout of frustration, I said to my husband, “I’m having a really hard time staying positive right now.”

His reply, “Keep repeating what you are grateful for.”

Ok, here goes. “My house is not in a fire evacuation area. My husband and I enjoy the work we do. My dad is healthy. Our dog and cat are healthy. We have a nice little patio where we can sit outside and relax.”

One other phrase I keep repeating is, “This too shall pass.”

It is a reminder that certain things are temporary. We won’t be living with COVID-19 forever. Nor will the Bay Area always have an entire month when it isn’t safe to breathe the air.

Between the tips I’ve discovered and my inner mantra, I’m learning some lessons of resiliency.

Let’s all help each other stand strong in 2020 and beyond like the beautiful redwoods.

Tell me, what tips do you have on staying resilient?

Mental Health Awareness Week is October 4-10. Watch for more stories on this topic throughout October.

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