Have you heard of Lois Lowry? It’s hard to imagine not coming across her work at least once during our time in school. Lois Lowry is a two-time Newbery Medalist winner, getting the awards for “Number the Stars” in 1990 and “The Giver” in 1994.
image via amazon
If you are a fan of Lois Lowry, then keep your eyes and ears peeled for this! Lowry has a new children’s book, “On the Horizon,” that will be published on April 7. The book is a collection of reflections on World War II, drawing from her experiences from her own childhood spent in Japan during the war. Lowry asks readers to empathize with people from both sides of the conflict by offering vignettes of those who lost their lives in the war.
After that, Lowry turns to herself and her guilt for living in Tokyo after the war ended. She felt isolation when she would watch Japanese kids play together, never receiving an invitation to play with them. She dared not ask to join them, either.
image via kreg franco on fatherly
The content in her new book is questionable in its suitability for kids, but I don’t think that kids should be shielded from darkness in the world. It unfortunately accompanies each and every one of us every day. It is a part of life, something that kids should be made aware of. However, Lowry’s core message in her book is this: we all benefit from a more peaceful world.
In an interview with Lois Lowry about her new book, Shay Maunz of TIME poses her questions like why she chose to write the book in poems instead of prose, or her experience of World War II as a kid. Lowry’s answers are really interesting. For her first question, she answered that her newest book took its form through what is essentially a process, something any kind of artist goes through with any medium. Her answer for the second question goes into depth about her worries over her father. The interview with TIME seems to include the full dialogue, so if you’re interested in reading about all the answers relating to her new book, you can check that out.
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On Thursday, April 2nd, Dolly Parton will air her first installment of Goodnight With Dolly, a video series that will feature Parton reading children’s stories through Imagination Library’s Youtube Page. Parton wants to read to children to ease them of their worries during the COVID-19 pandemic. On a video posted through her Facebook page, she states that ‘Goodnight with Dolly’ will give children “a welcomed distraction during a time of unrest.”
Parton did not mention a schedule for the days she would be reading stories, but she did provide a list of books selected from Imagination Library. Stories such as; The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney, and Partons own books I Am a Rainbow and Coat of Many Colors will be read during the ten week series.
For all my parents out there, take this time to snuggle up with your children and enjoy some hot cocoa. I know I’m in my twenty-somethings, but I wouldn’t want to miss a bedtime story, especially from Dolly Parton!
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Judy Ho, Ph. D., ABPP, ABPdN is a licensed and triple board-certified Clinical Neuropsychologist based in Los Angeles, a tenured Associate Professor at Pepperdine University,podcast host, and published author. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, she’s also a regular on the set of The Doctors. Inspirational both in her achievements, and her extensive resumé, she’s here with six amazing tips to help you adjust to the new normal!
image via DR JUDY HO
The COVID-19 pandemic has a lot of us grappling with fear, stress, anxiety, grief, and feelings of being overwhelmed. With the new directives to practice social distancing (maintaining > 6 feet of physical distance from other people, or avoiding direct contact with people or objects—no hugs or handshakes—in public places during the current coronavirus outbreak to minimize exposure and reduce the transition of infection), we are urged to work from home, avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, and do so to protect ourselves and the larger community.
These directives, while imperative and clearly necessary, have direct tolls on our mental and physical health in addition to our growing fears of the unknown and the fact that news updates seem to present an everchanging picture each day. With no specific end in sight, the unknowns of how long this new normal will last and what it will look like as the situation unfolds is bound to cause heightened anxiety. Unknowns are very stressful for the human mind. We want to feel in control of our lives, as the more we feel is in our control, the more our chances for survival increases. The social distancing directives isolate from others, and we know that loneliness and perceived dissatisfaction with social interactions can wreak havoc on our well-being. Being in one place most or all of the time will also lead us to experience symptoms of cabin fever, lethargy, sadness, problems concentrating, irritability, feelings of being stuck, claustrophobia, and difficulty dealing with minor stressors.
To help us cope, here are some evidence-based tips on how we can make the most of these times, attend to our mental and physical wellness, and stay productive and motivated.
1. Take deep breaths and combat defeatist thinking
In these unprecedented times, it is easy to lose hope or feel absolutely inefficacious about how you can improve the circumstances. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the challenges, take deep breaths. This resets your brain and body and tells it to chill out and veer away from a state of emergency or fight or flight. Then, manage any negative, catastrophic thinking. Thoughts are just mental events and not necessarily reflective of the truth, even when it feels that way! Try this evidence-based technique from the ACT literature called defusion. Whatever negative or catastrophic thought you are having, put the clause, “I am having the thought that …” in front of it. This takes the wind out of the sails of that negative thought just enough for you to feel more proactive and in charge of your life. So “I won’t be able to survive this” becomes “I am having the thought that I won’t be able to survive this.” This simple exercise of distancing from harmful thoughts without trying to change them is extremely helpful in helping to curb subsequent negative emotional or behavioral reactions.
2. Accept negative feelings and thoughts, and let them be
You are bound to have negative emotions right now, and one of them may be grief. Grief can be conjured not only be fears of death and dying (and this pandemic certainly has aroused that existential fear in many of us), but it can be about saying goodbye to a former type of lifestyle, the end of a job or career, the fracturing of relationships; all of which are possible outcomes many are dealing with during this uncertain time. Rather than grief processing occurring in stages, I actually think it’s a circle of grief. People don’t move linearly. When we grieve, we bounce back and forth between depression, denial, anger, acceptance, and bargaining. One day you might feel accepting of the situation, the next day when a news story hits, you are back to experiencing anger. And that emotional swing can be tough to manage, so we have to be kind to ourselves and allow these feelings to happen. Know that they are normal and that they won’t last forever. The more you struggle with feelings the longer they linger, but if you accept them as normal and fact, they tend to dissipate easier.
3. Find creative ways to socially engage
We are social animals and we need meaningful social engagement. We can do this by making sure we touch base with loved ones in real life by calls or video chat. This can be additionally bolstered by having a shared experience. For example, eat lunch or dinner with a loved one over video chat. Watch a movie together while on video chat and share commentary and opinions about the film during or after. Make sure you do this a few times a week.
4. Open the shades (and get outside)
Whenever possible, try to get outside, even for a few minutes a day, to take in the fresh air and the outdoors. Research shows this is especially effective in the morning hours to align with human beings’ circadian rhythm which can also help promote better quality sleep. If you are unable to get outside, open the shades. This can help ward off claustrophobia and boost your mood.
5. Avoid binge-watching anything (or binge video game-playing)
It would be so easy to pass the time with hours of Netflix or Call of Duty. But doing this can actually lead to feelings of depression and hopelessness, according to research. Limit yourself to two hours per day for video and media consumption. This would include leisure shows, the news, and social media.
6. Keep a routine
Routines are comforting to the human mind. Make sure you devise a daily routine that mimics what you did prior to social distancing directives. This means getting up at the same hour every day (set an alarm clock if you need to), showering and getting dressed as if you were going to work outside the home (and direct your children to do the same), and having “work hours” when you focus on industrious activities and “home hours” where you focus on family togetherness and relaxation.
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You might have read Dr. Judy Ho’s highly rated book Stop Self-Sabotage. Well, the Doctor will see you now – on your nearest podcast-playing device, that is. Plus, we’ve got a $300 Amazon gift card for a lucky listener and fan, too.
Ready to grab life with both hands and live it to the fullest? Then you need to check out the action-packed podcast full of tips to improve your life. Join Dr. Judy on her ‘SuperCharged Life’, produced by Stage29 Podcasts, where she dives deeply and fearlessly into guest’s issues in love, sex, friendships, work, career, bad habits, addiction, trauma, depression and anxiety.
Sometimes we get stuck in our old patterns. We want to change but we don’t know how. Uncover what’s holding you back and discover a new way to take on life, inspire love, and create happiness and fulfillment. Dr. Judy is passionate about helping you become the Superhero in your own life. Each podcast episode offers a tangible, scientific tool you can use to SuperCharge your life.
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ABOUT DR. JUDY AND SUPERCHARGED LIFE
Dr Judy Ho is a Los Angeles based triple board-certified Clinical Neuropsychologist, researcher, author, and tenured Associate Professor at Pepperdine University. Her thought provoking insight and analysis of the human psychological condition has established her as a go-to television host. She is a co-host of the Emmy Award winning syndicated daytime talk show The Doctors, and a recurring panelist and expert on numerous national broadcasts. She is the author of the best-selling book, “Stop Self-Sabotage,” a useful tool for anyone standing in their own way, who undermines their own interests and intentions and is looking for lasting change and meaningful success.
“SuperCharged Life with Dr. Judy” is where she will dive deeply and fearlessly into guests’ issues in love, sex, friendships, work-career, bad habits, addiction, trauma, depression and anxiety. Sometimes it’s painful to uncover what’s really holding them back, but with Dr. Judy’s help they can discover a new way to take on life, inspire love and create happiness and fulfillment. Whether she’s helping to navigate life with her patients, swinging from a flying trapeze, singing her favorite Broadway songs or taking on a new adventure; Dr. Judy walks her talk and invites others along for the journey. Each podcast will give a tangible tool they can do that will “SuperCharge” their lives!
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