Notes from Chic Blogging Challenge over Paris’s CoVid-19 Lockdown (3)

June 12, 2020

For the Paris Spring 2020 CoVid-19 Lockdown, I followed Fiona Ferris’s 2 books (30 Chic Days and 30 More Chic Days) day-by-day and tried to implement each day’s recommendation. For the next several posts, I will write about what I learned through my 60-day assignment:

In her book, 30 Chic Days, author Fiona Ferris writes about rest on (chapter) Day 22.  I wrote a short post of how I interpret and apply Fiona’s idea of “beauty sleep” here.  Sleep, and all the good things that it does for us, is back on my mind this week. I thought that the CoVid-19 lockdown in Paris (and elsewhere around the world) was the big challenge that we all faced this year. It was and continues to be a big challenge. I guess I was a bit naive when I called it “the” big challenge – as in the only big challenge. It looks like life is throwing us big challenges (plural) this year. 

At the micro-level, my challenges have included two friend’s death in the past two weeks. Both men were my age or younger. Both deaths were completely unexpected. Both men left behind wives, teen-aged children and parents. I attended one funeral yesterday at Pére Lachaise cemetery. It’s a beautiful and serene location. I wish passionately that my reason for visiting had been just to walk around.

At the macro-level – well, it’s been tumultuous since January. Evidently, the world stage will continue to be tumultuous (at least, insofar as the media informs us.) 

So why does Fiona’s Day 22 come to mind? In the midst of coping with personal and international pain, sleep becomes an even more necessary and sometimes, more elusive, ally. Gretchen Rubin addressed getting more sleep as her first challenge to experiencing happiness in her book, The Happiness Project. She found that when she developed the habit of a solid night’s sleep of 7 or more hours, she felt happier and more able to handle life’s myriad issues. Lack of adequate sleep leaves us more emotionally and physically fragile. A good night’s sleep helps us face any challenge with more strength and resilience.

Madame Melville’s  (of The.elevated.everyday) Instagram post yesterday talked about Fiona’s advice of Day 28 (in 30 Chic Days,) “Take the small wins.” I’m glad she reminded me of that piece of advice. Celebrate whatever is possible to celebrate in your daily experience. Even the smallest point of beauty when noticed and appreciated brings a moment of joy. 

Yesterday evening, I (re)learned that following Admiral McRaven’s advice (given here) is well worth doing. I refer specifically to his advice to “make your bed.” In his 2014 Commencement Address at the University of Texas at Austin, Adm McRaven tells us that by making our bed first thing, we start our day with a small win. Even if that particular day contains absolutely no other bright spot, the “made-up” bed will be a clean & comfy spot to crawl into at the end of the day. From there, we can get some sleep and then rise to face another, hopefully, better day.

Just writing this post has brought some comfort into today. It’s good to remember how many thoughtful and wise pieces of advice are out there in the world. Reading and listening to quality content can make a huge, positive impact on how we experience our lives – especially on difficult days. So, thank you to all of you, past, present and future, who take the time and effort to share your wisdom.