Just Breathe a.k.a. Quarantine Survival Advice

Am I the only one who’s starting to really feel the cracks? I know, I know- that’s not a stupid question; it’s rhetorical. The shit is getting real deep in everyone’s household, everyone’s life. We’re collectively going through a situation that has drastically altered every facet of our lives, and I really don’t think that people quite grasp how much (and for how long) it’s going to affect things. I feel the “space madness” just like the rest of you do.

There are a few different ways you can handle this. If this had happened when I were in my 20’s or my 30’s, I would have been a mess. Now? I still feel the pressure. I still feel the uncertainty, the angst, the paranoia. Some people turn to religion; I’m not exactly the religious type. I’m grounded in what I’ve been through and focused on who and what’s been there for me. I believe in what I can see, and what’s proven to be there for me.

For a guy who came up hardscrabble, I’ve always had a pretty good support system. It’s a small circle, but it’s the most loyal circle anyone could ever ask for. I know a lot of people I’ve shared circumstances and drama with whose lives turned out very differently, and I know that the biggest difference between me and them is my best friend. My wife doesn’t like it when I talk about her, so I won’t violate her trust with so much as a name. If you know us, then you know what an unbelievable rock she is, a woman of unparalleled character and virtue. She’s my #1 fan, and I don’t need any more (though I don’t complain about having them).

We were sitting around the fire pit last night, having a few drinks and listening to some tunes. She’s a big Pearl Jam fan. Me? Not so much. I dig on a few of their songs (Jeremy, Evenflow, Do the Evolution), but I’ve just never cared for their sound all that much. She asked me to play a song for her that I’ve honestly never heard before. It’s called “Just Breathe”. I honestly couldn’t believe how much it affected me. While I was a few Jack & Cokes into the night, I can say with a straight face that it wasn’t the booze feeling it. The lyrics are just powerful. So, at the risk of being one of “those people” you see on social media and such that post song lyrics, I have to put some of them down here:

Yes, I understand that every life must end, uh-huh

As I sit alone, I know someday we must go, uh-huh

Oh, I’m a lucky man, to count on both hands the ones I love

Some folks just have one, yeah, others they’ve got none, uh-huh

Stay with me, let’s just breathe

Though the whole song is frankly great, that’s the passage that sticks in my head and my heart. This whole coronavirus/lockdown/quarantine/government fuckery situation has everyone operating at eleven and fucked up. The funny part is that if the goal of the ubiquitous “them” is to make people lose focus of the truly important things, then I dare say it is working smashingly well. And it’s understandable. It really is. This garbage isn’t fun for anyone.

Here’s the thing, though: it’s just like the song says. We all know our days are numbered, and all this is a stark reminder of the general fragility of our situation. But…but…stop and count up the ones you love and the ones who love you. Look around your household. Take out your phone and look through your contact list. Go to your social media of choice and see who YOUR circle is. Call a friend and see how ecstatic they are to hear from you. I bet you’ve got a lot more going for you than you might think, and a stupid fucking pandemic lockdown doesn’t change that one bit!

In other words, just breathe.