A Sensible Take On The Current Situation, From Cameron Hewitt's Blog

Another of his excellent articles here,
https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2020/02/swiss-love/
and there are lots of good tips in the comments section, too.

Thank you Rebecca.

You're welcome. Thank you, James E., for your hopeful outlook, and for knowing that we need a break once in while from the tragedy, death, and fear. Depression is also a killer.

We have compassion, but cannot process after a while all the suffering we are seeing.

Rebecca,
Thank you for taking the time to share Cameron's heartfelt blog. I have enjoyed his blogs and classes at RS headquarters for many years. Some of my favorite blogs are his stories of Ljubljana. We share the same attachment to this charming city.

Thank you for also mentioning depression. Social distancing can trigger anxiety and depression. I receive daily updates from my DOH for my practice. Yesterday it covered Mental Health. Your tips were excellent. In addition it is also recommended to avoid watching, reading or listening to news reports that cause you to feel anxious or distressed. Try to let worried thoughts pass instead of attaching and reacting to them. Seek out information from reliable sources, eg. DOH & CDC. Fact check what you read on social media. Stay connected with others and maintain your social networks. Go for a walk & wave to your neighbor's from 6 feet away. Ask them if they are well. Introduce structure in your day. Maybe we will feel better if we shower, get dressed and eat breakfast. The list goes on and on.

I will share a saying that was given to me many years ago: "Every day is a gift, that is why we call it the present."

Janis, you are welcome. Thank you so much for sharing your excellent advice and insights. Very much appreciated!
I am in agreement that we can only watch so much of the tragedy and suffering on news reports before we ourselves reach the breaking point. Being compassionate people on this forum, we feel their pain and grief. And the feelings of isolation, fear, and helplessness contribute to depression.

Glad to hear you enjoy Cameron's blog, too. He certainly has a gift for writing! His articles are truly wonderful little "mini-trips" to a variety of destinations. I must look for his articles on Ljubljana.
That's terrific that you have gotten to see him in person while attending classes at RS headquarters.
Looking forward to the day when everyone is safe from this thing.
Stay safe and best wishes.

And I love that saying. Very true.

Rebecca,

Thanks for sharing this as I hadn't seen Cameron's Blog. This slogan is certainly appropriate for the current situation, and I've forwarded this to family members.

Ken, you are welcome. I hope you enjoy Cameron's wonderful blog.

Great Blog. Thank you Rebecca for bringing it up.

You are welcome, onefastbob. Thanks for your comment!

I enjoyed this, so I am posting it:
10 European Discoveries For 2020:
https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2019/12/2020-discoveries/
More good info in the comments section.

Great photos and a great walk here:
All Alone In The Alps; Hiking With The Cows High Above Gimmelwald, Switzerland:
https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2019/09/swiss-gimmelwald-cows/

Thanks Cameron for sharing so many great photos and for writing so many great blog posts!
We are enjoying your articles more than ever during these times!

Keep calm and carry on ❤️

Thank you, Kristen!

And on that note.....
Cameron's excellent article/blog post on London:
https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2019/07/promenading-london/

More coping tips,
Care for a pet
Bake cookies
Clean out a closet or pantry
(If that is too big, a drawer)
I talked to my tax dude today about
my appt for next week. We agreed I'm going to put stuff together and mail it to him. I want that darn mess off my dining room table, and he'd like to have my $130

EDIT Tax dude and I agreed since he will ultimately E file for me I'm sending him good xeroxes of my W2, etc, and keeping the originals . Therefore not monkeying with registered mail
Y M M V

LOL, thanks doric8!
I sympathize with you on the mess/pile of tax-related papers, receipts and notes and wanting to send them on to the tax preparer!
Thank you for that great list.

Another London post:
https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2019/05/london-non-touristy-tips/
This one includes details about visiting Hampstead Heath and Regent’s Canal.

Fun thread! Thank you so much Rebecca! I'm working my way thru all the links, lol!

Pam, thanks for posting. Glad you are enjoying Cameron's blog and the links!

Emma, very interesting! Thanks for posting that bit of WW2 history. I hope you are staying safe over there!

Thanks Rebecca for posting this. Love Cameron's blog in general but I had missed this one.

MA Traveler, you're welcome. I'm glad you are enjoying this one.

I got a couple of luggage tags with the red Keep Calm and Carry On message, that I put on my carry-on bags. Nobody but me seems to get the pun.

Oh, I like that Stan.

Stan, I love it!
I also love traveling with only a carry on bag, but maybe I'm taking Rick's advice of traveling light a little too far.......

Janis,
Cameron has some great blog entries on Ljubljana:
https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2016/03/my-favorite-city-ljubljana/

Delicious-looking food here:
https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2016/03/foodie-ljubljana/

And for anyone stuck at home wanting a good list of movies and TV shows:
10 Movies and TV Shows that Capture the Essence of Europe:
https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2019/12/movie-tv-europe/

Rebecca,
Thanks for sharing the links to Cameron's stroll through Ljubljana & delicious food. Like Cameron it is our favorite city in Europe. He spoke of Marijan who was our outstanding RS guide in 2018. His lovely wife Barbara was our local guide. We spent 4 nights there and wished we could have stayed longer. We spent our first two nights at the featured Meščanka Apartments. Fabulous!

These articles were a welcome diversion as we remember the wonderful people and the charm of Ljubljana. Hvala vam!

Janis, Cameron's blog has made me add several destinations to my bucket list.
Reading this forum for several years has broadened my view of where I want to go. Initially, I was concentrating on the UK. Now many more locations have been added to the list, thanks to forum members' trip reports and recommendations.