If you are struggling with getting things done in this time of COVID-19 or actually … anyone reading this … what an uplifting life story!

Lucille Ellson celebrated her 102nd birthday on December 30, 2019.

Go read the entire article! But an excerpt to inspire you to:

“I’ve been through so many things,” Ellson said. “To cope with this virus, and all that’s going on, I would tell people to not get stressed about planning far ahead. You can’t do it. A long time ago, I started making a list every morning of what I had to do. It was the only thing I could control, and I stuck to it, you hear me?”

Those lists now are similar day to day: check in on family with her iPad. Do Zoom video calls with her kids, and their kids, and their kids. Make meals and bake desserts to leave on the front porch for her son who lives nearby. She cooked for 25 people in February. She calls that preparing “a little something.”

Holy Damn Cow!! Sorry … but at 102 she checks in on family with her iPad and does Zoom video calls. You go girl !!!

And what an inspiration, based on incredible life experience. There is more to learn from her story and her smile and her outlook. Go read the article!

Meanwhile, I am midway through Day 2 of my RIGID schedule regime and it continues to work well for me. As Lucille notes in the article, it amounts to controlling the little that we can control and for me, that is how I spend my time.

I am finding that making a short schedule of 2-4 hours, of specific tasks and then another and then another … it is helping me focus on doing the things I want and need to do. At the end of each time and last night … WOW, I felt 100x better (mentally) than I have in a few weeks AND I slept well.

Everyone is different, but I do think a list, written down and referred to, is something to try if you are struggling. And I think the idea of doing what we can to “control” what is controllable is also key to a bit more peace of mind in uncertain times.

And always … fresh air, whatever you can find that is beautiful, helping others, being kind … let’s do it :) !!