Making ordinary extraordinary

DEAR ANNIE ANNIE LANE

Dear Annie: Just adding my opinion about coping in these difficult times. My husband has been suffering from cancer for the past four years, and we have come to terms with the expected outcome. I have several serious agerelated health issues, so we are like many elderly in our country.

Here’s what we do every day:

We are kind to each other, regardless of the irritating things we both do.

We find things to laugh about in something we are reading or watching on TV, and we share those things throughout the day.

We each have a prayer life and spend part of the day in private devotions. We give God thanks every meal. We “attend” our church services on livestreams. We contact family and friends by phone or email. We listen to and pray for the concerns of those family and friends. We share laughter with them.

We limit news to the newspaper in the morning and tuning in to one TV news program to follow.

We each work on a hobby we like — for fun rather than feeling like we have to.

We try to get some exercise every day — mainly walking.

— Just Ordinary Folks Making It Through Together

Dear Ordinary Folks: In doing these daily activities with great love and intention, you are living an extraordinary life of gratitude. Connection to family, kindness, laughter, prayer, having fun and exercising are all wonderful suggestions to make the most of each moment.

Dear Annie: A friend forwarded to me the following poem by author Haroon Rashid:

“We fell asleep in one world, and woke up in another. “Suddenly Disney is out of magic,

“Paris is no longer romantic,

“New York doesn’t stand up anymore,

“The Chinese wall is no longer a fortress, and

Mecca is empty.

“Hugs and kisses suddenly become weapons, and not visiting parents and friends becomes an act of love.

“Suddenly you realize that power, beauty and money are worthless, and can’t get you the oxygen you’re fighting for.

“The world continues its life and it is beautiful. It only puts humans in cages. I think it’s sending us a message:

“‘You are not necessary. The air, earth, water and sky without you are fine. When you come back, remember that you are my guests. Not my masters’.”

— Our World

Dear Our World: This is a great reminder of how precious is this Earth. I would disagree with one point: You are necessary. Sometimes, it can be difficult to remember that we are each necessary, capable and loved. Please, check in with loved ones during this difficult time; they, too, are precious. Let’s protect our earth while continuing to look out for each other,

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@ creators.com. To find out more about Annie Lane visit the Creators Syndicate website at www. creators.com.