A classmate from high school and fellow New Yorker, Bill Tew posted this article from The New York Times on Facebook yesterday. As a Medical Oncologist here in Manhattan, he knows some things! It speaks about the end of the pandemic and really our way forward to create what we're all calling a new normal.

One of the most powerful things I learned while working with couples in premarital counseling is knowing when to share and when to listen. I've gotten so good at it that sometimes I find myself not speaking up at all.

It's been 3 weeks, and I finally decided to get back out in the world. Every day I keep saying that I will head out and take a walk, but every day I wind up opening my windows and stay inside. This morning I ran out of milk - and I cannot drink my coffee without milk - so off I went out in the world. Luckily, my grocery store is a block away, and when I arrived I was first on line to enter the store.

Yesterday, I shared a small victory with my mother, that I achieved out of lack. I was unable to find what I needed, so I made a better alternative work. She immediately scolded me for not telling her what I didn't have. I made a major stride in something I tried for months to accomplish, however she questioned my failure of going the usual route. Without thinking, I asked her why she wasn't helping me celebrate my victory?

During yoga last Thursday I noticed I was a little lightheaded. I mentioned it to my friend, Maria towards the end of practice and she suggested grabbing a glass of water after making sure I had breakfast. (um, I'm never one to skip a meal!) We had a genuine mystery on our hands! The following day I started getting dizzy and I realized (dun, dun, dun) that it was a case of the Vertigo Returns!

I see lots of people on social media asking what day it is. In an online meeting last week the host talked about the Elasticity of Time. Without regular schedules it's easy for days to merge.

All of my pre-marital counseling session currently start with a check-in of the new normal. In times of crisis it's important to find the good. Most of my couples are grieving the fact they have to change their wedding dates. Some are working from home in super tight spaces. And I do have one couple both in the medical profession and on the front lines. So in general things are pretty sucky.

As we isolate at home, we're doing our best to stay connected. However, we're forgetting to embrace calm. We're searching for answers, but it's hard to distinguish fact from fiction. We're trying to work, and stay informed, but it's largely overwhelming. That's when we HAVE TO embrace calm.

Today is not only Gratituesday, it's the Indian holiday, Holi. So, Happy Holi, everyone! Holi is a festival to celebrate the full moon, Spring, lots and lots of color and just love, in general. So, while the entire world is freaking out about the coronavirus/COVID-19, we can do our best to celebrate joy, happiness and laughter!

Hi, my name is Hope, and I have an umbrella problem. An umbrella surplus problem, to be exact. I own about 10 umbrellas, but then I fail to check the forecast and get caught in the rain. So I either grab one from hotel coat checks or lost & founds, or buy a brand new one. I'm sure I'm not the only one. However, for you it may be condiments, over the counter meds, baking soda or something else. In any case you have a surplus of something you DON'T need!

Surprisingly enough, the iconic sites of NYC still amaze me. I find that it's important to stop and [insert sense here]. Sure, we always think about stopping and smelling the roses, but for me it's usually visual.