I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to step back from 24 hour roller coaster of Corona Virus News. Not that I don’t understand the significance and the scale of this thing. But my brain and my emotions need a break. I need a distraction—Do you need a distraction too? Music? Learn? Read on. I’ve distractions a plenty.
Up Beat Sing-Along
Long time readers know I love music. It’s my go-to stress reliever. Here are four songs and lyrics that will lift your spirits. Belt it out. You’ll feel better.
Que Sera Sera—Doris Day
Uptown Funk—Bruno Mars
Bob Marley – Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Mary Poppins (1964) – “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”
Ear Worms
Your family won’t let you sing out loud? Sic these ear worms on them. You’ll all be singing.
Witch Doctor – Ooh Eeh Ooh Ah Aah Ting Tang Walla Walla Bing—David Seville
Call me Maybe—Carly Rae Jepsen
Living La Vida Loca—Ricky Martin
Shake It Off—Taylor Swift
Banana Boat Song–Harry Bellefonte
Parody
For those of you who want to laugh at the Corona virus, here are four parodies that I thought you might enjoy.
Do Not Go (“Let It Go” Corona Parody)
Hands washing Hands — Neil Diamond
Put a Mask On Your Face—Benny Benack III
My Corona—Chris Mann
Readings
Perhaps music is just noise to you. But you need a distraction still, don’t you? Try listening to these stories.
Shakespeare—Patrick Stewart
The Winds of Harmattan—LeVar Burton
Three Science Fiction Stories by Fritz Leiber—Librivox
Or check out my one of my story time reviews that link to stories read aloud. Try the one about a Japanese Fairy Tale or Operation Haystack.
Other Distractions
Check out my Pinterest Boards. Of course, I’m not the only one there. Search for your favorite author or artist or topic.
Here are some quotes that may help soothe anxiety and stress.
Don’t forget to check out TED Talks for topics you’re interested in.
And you don’t have to go online. What about that jigsaw puzzle in the bottom of your closet? Play a game of Old Maid or work a book of crossword puzzles.
The Need for Distraction
In uncertain times being frightened, anxious, or just plain emotional is normal. But it’s also exhausting. Take care of yourselves. Give yourself permission to do something fun or silly or creative. You need a distraction or two or three… I need some too. What have you found that helps you?
Getting outdoors and walking in our woods helps me – and yes, I know how very lucky we are to have that, especially now that it’s finally stopped raining. Enjoy your distractions and stay safe!
You are lucky, especially because of how beautiful your woods are! Thanks for reading, Jennette. You stay safe and well, too.
Unfortunately, I’m having difficulty finding time for diversions. I come up for air every once in a while to catch the news (I fast-forward through the Orange One and mostly want to know about the weather), but I’m simultaneously trying to manage family things from self-isolation, clean out the household storage room that used to be my library (there are still books in there, if I can get to them), post blog posts, catch up my 2019 bookkeeping so we can file taxes, help my cover artist wrap her head around toroidal space station interior perspective, and finish publishing my latest book. Oh, yes, and write. Whew! Now that I have no reasons to leave the house, I seem to have all kinds of reasons to tackle things I’ve been putting off . . . (Watch out! It’s a trap!).