This is Quarantine: Day 68

Do you ever have those days when you really want it to be a good day, and you try and try to make it a good day, but the forces of nature seem to be conspiring against you and nothing seems to work out?

No, me neither.

But I've heard that there are people who have those days sometimes. So I thought I'd offer them some free advice.

1. On those days, do not watch Inside Out. Jesus, that movie. I can't keep my eyes dry on the best of days with that one. Stay far away from it on emotionally fragile days.

2. Take a loooong shower. Shave, scrub your feet, do a face mask, put all the lotion on your skin...do all of those things that get skipped most days when you're just trying to get in and out to start your day. And make sure to turn the fan on to drown out your family regulate the humidity.

3. Don't pin your happiness on anything involving cooperation.

4. And if whatever it is is so important to you, then just do the damn thing yourself. If you're lucky, FOMO will get the others to join you after all.

5. Find that thing that feels like a warm hug for you. Put on a cozy sweater,  pour another cup of coffee or tea or wine, find someone who isn't grinding your gears to give you an actual hug...just find something that makes you take a step or two away from the ledge and spend a few moments just enjoying it.

An absurdly large puzzle can be an excellent diversion

A lap full of cuddles can be an adorable distraction

6. Understand that a lot of the time, those precious ingrates will push back simply because they've discovered they can. Introduce fun ideas the way you introduce broccoli - don't expect success the first time, just hope that eventually they'll go for it. If you plant the seed, it won't necessarily take root immediately, but with a little patience they'll come around. You know, once they've decided that it's their idea.

6. And if you've tried everything and once again, everyone is screaming and whining and crying and objecting vehemently to all of your best efforts, just quietly make your way back to bed. It's nice up there. And it usually elicits at least a few minutes of remorse.

A wonderful neighbour dropped off some timbits for the girls yesterday, and as we were chatting, she suddenly stopped mid-sentence and said "You know, you are a very good looking girl." Just like that. A propos of nothing. If I had a day today like the ones I described above, I might have gone back to that nice memory a few times to lift my spirits.

She called me a girl.