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Some reflexes to possibly connect to during hand washing
1-spine reflex along outside of thumb
2-head/neck/lymphatics reflexes all the fingers
3-lung reflexes on the balls of hands
4-digestive underneath 3
5-more lymphatics/reproductive wrist
(top of hand more lymphatics not shown here)
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We are all connected, even globally. This is now very obvious.
As long as I personally focus on the caring I witness, for me the glass is half full these days. This focus helps; it is a decision that I made, sometimes I forget for a little while, then something reminds me, a text from someone, a call, Ember, a bird, the pigeons outside our kitchen windows, a cup of tea, a walk, etc.
It has been heart breaking, whatever you may think, feel, looking at it from any angle.
As the situation got worse and integrative care events were cancelled (in corporate, the community and an event for social workers), I happened to be making visits to a hospital. I had gone from optional mask wearing to wearing coat, mask and gloves and having to report where I was going and making sure that I was the only visitor at any given time.
The last time I was there, a large cleaning crew got on the escalator before me. As I was in the elevator with medical staff the last time I was allowed in, I was wondering whether I would take full breaths if I was staff. I decided I would, what else could you do? You still had to get through the day and do your job, helping, but as time passes, days may get longer, and staff is not immune to the virus, and there is a PPE shortage. This may be the worst week in NYC. I do not know how medical staff deal with virus PPE, which looks like combat gear; it is uncomfortable, let alone the pain and stress they encounter.
It was already frustrating to having to wear what I had to wear (the regular garb) especially when I made two visits in a row, unrobing before I left one room, walking a few steps and getting uncomfortable again, but, of course I did, and I had to protect my two friends at the hospital.
One thanked me a couple of days ago for wearing a mask even before it was mandatory, I was one of two friends who always wore a mask, he said. Of course, I said, I knew how serious his illness was, I use mass transit and live in a dense area of NYC, etc.
I personally have been appreciating my hands even more than usual and enjoy the twenty plus seconds of my new hand washing routine. I admit I had begun to get a bit paranoid about my hands.
- Doing research for this article, looking for a hand washing instructional video to share about, I came across the world's hand washing ambassador Dr. Myriam Sidibe.
Do yourself a favor and watch her Ted Talk. No, it's a must.
https://www.npr.org/2017/11/17/564609356/myriam-sidibe-would-fewer-children-die-of-disease-if-they-just-washed-their-hand
She made my day on International Woman’s Day when I started working on this post.
- "From within Unilever, she has created a movement to change the hand-washing behaviors of one billion people, the single biggest hygiene behavior change program in the world, and was one of the brains behind the multi awards winner UN recognized Global Handwashing Day – now celebrated in over 100 countries." Here she is: Dr. Myriam Sidibe’s TED Talk.
- Mildred Carter wrote the first Self Help book and it was about Reflexology, so she also started a movement.
- Belatedly Happy Woman’s Day to both and All Women.
Focusing on the positive while dealing with this crisis, good bye 👋 hand shake, hello 👋 hand washing every 20 minutes, sanitizer, and also masks and perhaps some hand reflexology to counteract the stress and explore other aspects of our hands.
Perhaps touch your hands every time you want to touch your face, yeah, but that requires a lot of awareness. While talking about Covid-19, you will see folks touch their face on tv... we all do it.
As I am finishing this it has been a few weeks after I started this post and at this point, I have been more or less quarantined for about four weeks and the idea of shaking someone's hands has not even presented itself; so much has happened since, NYC is a hot spot.
The Comfort (a Navy hospital) is anchored in ten minute walk distance. Staff at the health food store and bagel store are getting affected. While at first a thank you was greeted with a smile and some small talk, now they seem to be more withdrawn. I understand, crises are exhausting. At 7pm we clap. Whatever you may think or do, this is often very intense, but then there are moments when a meal is "just a meal" and not a meal during Covid-19 quarantine. And perhaps it is these moments that will keep us going and the fact that we know everybody is right now being affected, but most of all those who are out there at the front line in many ways and those who are ill or homeless and others...
Having a cough these days can mean allergies, a cold, a flu, or Covid-19, it can be subtle or severe.
My hope is we can see moments of beauty, or experience anything that allows our focus to possibly shift a bit.
As for hands: Our Hands are a portal to health through:
Thank you for our visit as always,
Be safe and take care,
B.
