4 Positive Ways to Respond in the Face of the Covid-19 Crisis by Author Janet Autherine
There is no perfect way to respond in the face of a crisis. The Coronavirus pandemic has brought fear, anxiety, death, loss of capital, and loss of the social connection that all humans need. As I sit at home practicing “social distancing” and contemplating how to navigate life with the children out of school for the next two to six weeks, I am also grappling with how to be mindful in the midst of chaos and how we can all help each other in this time of need. My approach is a combination of thoughts, prayers, having an open heart and lending a helping hand.
Thoughts: Think about the most vulnerable in our communities, such as the elderly and those with a weakened immune system. You may become infected with Covid-19 and have mild to no symptoms but as a carrier, you can be a death sentence to someone else. Just being thoughtful of others and respecting the CDC guidelines is a huge help to us all.
Prayers: We all have different ways of coping with tragedy and adversity. If prayer is your choice, when you send thoughts and prayers, please don’t forget to pray. Many in our communities fear for the health of their loved ones or have already suffered a loss. The prayers that you send out in the universe return to all of us in the form of love, hope, and healing. Unfortunately, many in our communities and internationally are in need of healing and we are all in need of hope.
Helping Hands: Volunteer to get groceries for an elderly friend or neighbor, purchase supplies online and ship to those in need, don’t hoard the soap, hand sanitizer, or toilet paper. Wash your hands. Please stop coughing into your hands. For you and your loved ones to stay healthy, we all need to be our best selves. Remember single parents, part-time workers, anyone in the service industry, and all the children who rely on the food and services provided at schools to survive. Have a meal delivered or use online transfer services to send a few dollars to help with their expenses. Every act of kindness helps. If you need assistance, ask for it; we are in this together.
Open Hearts: What has been on your heart? How often have you complained about lack of time for yourself, your passions, or your family? Now is the time for action. We are all in a collective pause. Read a few books, learn a language, re-arrange your house, call old friends, write a book, play chess or basketball with your children without feeling rushed, get on that treadmill that has become your clothes hanger, go outside and garden, dance, listen to music. We may not be able to hug or shake hands but we can finally make that call to say, I love you. Open your hearts and leave no room for regrets.
It is an incredibly stressful, anxiety-filled time for many of us. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance — financial, emotional or a helping hand. If you are feeling overwhelmed, call a counselor, pastor or trusted friend and take long breaks from the news.
Consider giving mindfulness and meditation a try to calm the nerves and stay centered. Finally, be thoughtful, be prayerful, be hopeful, rest, recharge and lend a helping hand to someone. You are not alone. We are in this together.
Wild Hearts, Peaceful Soul: Poems & Inspiration to Live and Love Harmoniously is a patchwork of vulnerability, truth and empowerment for everyone who loves deeply.
J. Autherine’s inaugural collection of poems and inspiration is a love offering to strong, vulnerable, badass women who lead with their hearts, love deeply and sometimes fall hard.
Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul is a deep, gritty, raw look at the thrill of loving unconditionally, as well as the mental and physical toll that it takes when peace and harmony are lost in the process.
The author draws inspirations from her own journey spanning 30 years, and also dives deeply into the vulnerable hearts of women globally, including her experience growing up in Jamaica.
She captures the pain and struggle of women who love deeply and pour into others without first filling their own jars. A reoccurring theme is reclaiming your heart in order to live and love harmoniously.
Chapter 1, Wild Heart, takes the reader on a journey of self discovery — being an empath in a sometimes harsh world, feeling broken after losing love, not feeling good enough to be loved, facing rejection and abandonment, and navigating life with a heart that just wants to love unconditionally.
The second chapter, Peaceful Soul, is an empowering meditation on the peace that comes with reclaiming your heart — finding strength in the love and support of sister friends, practicing self-love while responsibly loving others, and finding joy in loving those that are worthy of our love.
Wild Hearts, Peaceful Soul: Poems & Inspiration to Live and Love Harmoniously is a 170-page book that reminds us that moments of despair and heartache are a normal part of life’s journey but are also only temporary. Read an excerpt from the book: http://a.co/9lcNNiO
“Heartbreak, rejection, abandonment are universal struggles, even though they may cause us to feel alone,” says Autherine. “Regardless of how others may have treated us in the past, we are worthy of love. We are not alone; our friends are facing very similar struggles. We have to love ourselves enough to allow those past hurts to heal, so that we can live and love in a physically and emotionally healthy way.”
African American Poet Releases New Book With Poems That Explore the Heart of Today’s Woman
Words have long been regarded as a means to wellness. In moments of crisis and frustration, a phone call from sister-friends and family can serve as a woman’s lifeline. When those who would serve as a support system are unavailable, comfort can be found in prayer, a song, or poetry.
The genre of inspirational poetry has encouraged scores of people. Revered poets, William Ernest Henley, author of “Invictus.” and Robert Frost, author of “The Road Not Taken,” offered hope and inspiration for decades.
Author, Janet Autherine’s newly released title, Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul: Poems & Inspiration to Live and Love Harmoniously (available on Amazon), was written to be a source of inspiration to women of this generation who lead with their hearts, especially young women.
An attorney-at-law by trade, helping others has always been her passion. Autherine recognized that many women choose to face personal struggles by isolating themselves, out of fear or embarrassment or the need to show strength even when feeling vulnerable.
Motivated by her faith and passion for writing, she created this book of inspirational poetry to capture the pain and struggle of women who love deeply and pour into others without first filling their own jars. Both strength and vulnerability are recurring themes, as well as embracing self-love and reclaiming your heart.
About the Author
Janet Autherine is the founder of Autherine Publishing and author of Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul: Poems & Inspiration to Live and Love Harmoniously. Born in St. Thomas, Jamaica, she moved to the United States at age 12, settling in Philadelphia.
Janet is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Boston College Law School, and the Georgetown University School of Law. Her poetry is inspired by her own journey of the past 30 years, and also explores the hearts of women from around the world. She hopes that her poetry collection resonates with women globally, and becomes a catalyst for healing and empowerment. For more details, visit her official web site at www.JanetAutherine.com
For media inquiries, including promotional photos & interviews, for booking requests and speaking engagements, and for bulk orders, please contact by email to JanetAutherine@growintogreatness.com.
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