Did you know that January 21 is “National Hugging Day,” created by Rev. Kevin Zaborney in 1986?

Fast forward to 2021, and I think all of us could use a hug now more than ever. We’ve survived 10-months of physical distancing and living isolated lifestyles to keep each other safe.

Although these practices have helped protect our physical health, what about our mental health?

Here are some ways you can enhance your resilience and mental well-being in these trying times:

• Acknowledge your feelings: It’s ok if you’re not ok. Get in tune with what you’re feeling and allow yourself to understand those feelings.
• Identify your capabilities: Think about your natural traits that can help you navigate through this. These might be things like your sense of humor, intelligence, resourcefulness, or assertiveness.
• Stay connected: Everyone needs their village to support them. Stop right now, pick up your phone and send a quick text or funny meme to a couple of people in your contacts to let them know you’re thinking about them. Make time for a 10-minute call to catch up with someone.
• Talk about what you’re going through: After one of my virtual meetings, the group decided to stay on the Zoom call and support each other. At the beginning of the meeting, everyone’s faces and body language conveyed stress, strain, and exhaustion.  We all talked about our experiences and allowed each other to vent.  Then we started sharing funny anecdotes from our lives, and by the end of the call, all of us were uplifted and energized.
• Activate positive emotion: Find things that make you smile or laugh. My mom is a fan of “Everybody Loves Raymond.” She dives into the reruns when she needs to laugh out loud.  My husband loves listening to music on YouTube and recently followed Jason Mraz for a positivity boost.
• Get moving: If you’re not already incorporating exercise into your daily routine, it’s time to start.  You don’t have to train for a triathlon. A brisk 15-minute walk around your neighborhood is a great way to get started.

I would love to be part of your village.  Send me a quick text at 330-990-1969, and I’ll reply with something to make you smile today.  Please include a note about this blog in your text so I can send you a personalized response.