Find balance in an
unsteady world.

Being a psychologist in the middle of a global pandemic has been full of interesting experiences. One surprise has been how many people have been asking, "You're okay, right?". I suppose they assume that if my coping skills are well-honed enough to get me through this nightmare of an experience, then maybe there’s hope for them, too. I may be a psychologist, but I am also human - and yes, I believe we’re all going to be ok.

Here are the facts: I'm horrified that there is a virus that is causing so much death and suffering. I'm afraid for friends of mine who work in hospitals and are putting themselves at risk to take care of others. I'm concerned about older or ill friends and family who are at increased risk. I'm a bit overworked and trying to adjust to a new workflow. But - I'm sleeping well, I’m generally calm, and I’m able to focus on what I need to get done. Sometimes, I'm even a little optimistic about the future.

There's not much to say about this cartoon, except that the events depicted in the cartoon did happen.

I was also really surprised when I cared more about my coffee than I did about spilling it on myself (the coffee wasn't too hot at the time thankfully). I knew I had been powering through trying to get more stuff done than was humanly possible - but even I hadn't realized that I had reached that level of fatigue.

I woke up before everyone else this morning and snuck down to my office to try and think of a Mother's Day cartoon. No matter what I sketched, nothing seemed to really come to me. I was totally blank.

Then the kids woke up.