For months now, I have been wearing a mask when I cannot socially distance. And, I have worn it enough now to start to notice things about myself and others. If you are an observer of human behavior as I am, this highly unusual phenomenon offers an abundance of opportunities to gain insights. Here are some of mine.

I’m no domestic goddess. Because of that, there’s usually a long list of things I would rather not do around the house. But recently, I’ve noticed that I have a newfound urge to clean and organize. Perhaps it is a welcome break from everything that is going on. Or, maybe it is the appeal of getting something completely done and the satisfaction that comes with that. But I think the primary reason is that I have incorporated these routine tasks into my daily mindfulness practice.

I’m sure you are experiencing the same issue that I am - not being able to run out and get whatever you want, whenever you want it. Today was another wake-up call for me. After all of the handwashing, I noticed how dry my nails were. The hand cream I was using wasn’t helping and I needed nail oil. But, I didn’t have any at home…

As you know, we’ve been given guidelines from the CDC on when and how to wash our hands. In reviewing these guidelines, it seems like it would be useful to incorporate a mindfulness practice into this daily routine.