1. Signs of Spring. The birds are returning and things are starting to bloom and turn green. It’s a nice reminder that the earth goes on without us and that things are always changing, coming back around, starting again. Winter happens, but so does Spring, and even when things are bad there is also joy.

2. Good food is still being made and eaten. Feeding ourselves as well as we can and enjoying what we are eating is suddenly the biggest of luxuries, the most essential self-care.

3. Texting and video conferencing. It is always hard to be separated from people you love, but that’s especially true right now. I’m so grateful that my mom has a smartphone now and we can text whenever we want, that I can check in with her more regularly, that it doesn’t have to be something important or interesting enough to warrant an email or phone call.

4. “Yard time.” This is what Eric and I have been calling it when it’s nice enough to sit outside, soak up the sunshine and fresh air, which we try to do for some hours of the day when we can. It snowed yesterday, so at one point we just stood at the sliding glass door, looking outside, as it was too cold to go out. The forecast for the next few days is sunny and climbing to the 70s, so there will be yard time again soon.

5. Normal things in an abnormal time. “Before” when we were away from each other, we’d text selfies to each other, just to check in and say “hi.” We are still doing it, even though we are both home. The other day, Eric was in the backyard and I was inside on the couch, and we sent each other selfies, to remind ourselves we are still here.

5. Time alone. As much as I love my dogs and my person, I still need time alone. Ever since I retired from my job at CSU in May, I spend part of almost every afternoon in my bedroom in the dark. My nervous system was/is fried and needs the time to reset, restore, rest. This ritual has become even more important recently.

6. Morning walks. Getting outside, moving around in the world with my favorites.

7. My tiny family. I am so grateful we are together, safe and healthy. I’m also so glad that as much as we love each other, we also like each other’s company. It’s an added bonus that when you have to be around someone ALL THE TIME, you mostly enjoy it.

Bonus joy: curbside grocery pick-up, a big salad, apples, a glass of clean cold water, good TV (Unorthodox on Netflix was so good, and all of the seasons of House Hunters on Hulu are saving me when I can’t handle anything more serious), good podcasts, good music, good books, meditating and writing in the morning, cuddling with the dogs, naps, having lots of pajamas so I can put a clean pair on every once in awhile, being able to take yoga classes with Jamie and Aramati on Zoom, doing HIIT workouts with Eric, Eric being able to work from home, clean sheets, reading in bed at night while Eric and the dogs sleep.

1. You, kind and gentle reader. I wish I could give every single one of you a hug right now, sit down together with a cup of tea and ask you how you are doing, cook you a meal, go for a walk. Since I can’t, this will have to do, and this is such a blessing. May you be safe, may you be well, may you find some ease, and my you be happy.

2. Technology. I know that it gets us in trouble sometimes, fails us in some ways, presents us with new complications, can be frustrating, but I can’t even imagine what this moment in time would be like if I didn’t have such easy access to information, news, music, podcasts, TV, movies, books, video conferencing, YouTube workouts, recipes, online shopping (especially for groceries), virtual therapy, online hangouts with friends, email, texting with the people I love, this blog, Facebook and Instagram. And that doesn’t even include technologies like indoor plumbing, water treatment, electricity, etc.

3. Practice. Even on a regular day when there’s no immediate threat of any kind, I depend on practice to survive, to stay sane, and that is only more true now.

4. Daily workouts with Eric. This was us after our workout today, sweaty and happy, (I swear, Eric has pants on). We are both so much happier when we move, and without the gym and yoga studio, we’ve had to get creative. The schedule I’m trying right now is every other day, I walk dogs with Eric and we do yoga together, and on the opposite days, we do a HIIT workout from YouTube (we’ve been enjoying Body Coach TV) and I do some yoga on my own. It really helps with my state of mind. And to be clear, that’s just me, what I need, and in no way is intended to imply that anyone else has to use this time to move in any sort of way that doesn’t make them feel good, calm and safe. You do you!

5. Morning walks. I’m going more often now, and it feels so good to get outside. I’m grateful we are used to walking early, before anyone else is really out. With the time change, it’s still pretty dark, with the sun only starting to rise as we are on our way back home.

6. My tiny family. I am so so so lucky that I love them so much, that they are my favorite way to spend my time, that everyone so far is safe and well and happy.

Bonus joy: fresh fruits and vegetables which seem so precious right now, sitting out on the patio in the sun, the sound of the birds in the morning, our irises and tulips and daffodils starting to come up, everything getting green, the people I know who’ve been sick getting better, hanging out with Chloe’ and Mikalina, texting with my brother and mom, pick up groceries (we wanted to try delivery but that service is overwhelmed), buying seeds for our garden (we are planting ALL THE THINGS this year), clean water, how well Sam did at his physical therapy appointment without me (they came out and got him out of the car, physical distancing from the humans to keep the vets and techs safe, doubly important to me because they not only take care of my dogs but they are my yoga students and I love them so much, want them all to be safe and well), that I live in a state where our leadership is being so careful, finally having a year where we’ll get a refund on our taxes (all due to the electric car we bought, the refund for which will pay off our other car), sunshine, reading in bed at night while Eric and the dogs sleep, napping with Sam, Ringo getting the zoomies in the backyard, a kitchen counter love note from Eric even though neither one of us are leaving the house much right now, all the plants that Eric had to bring home from his office, (I’d wanted more plants, just not like this).