Now that we are into a week of this “situation” I am already sick of it. It feels like it has been a month. I crave normalcy. I know you all feel the same.

I watch the romance movies on Hallmark, I enjoy the sound of the basketball games on the TV even if they are old game films, and I have cleaned out more shelves and organized more items than I have during my lifetime. It’s crazy. 

But I think I know why. I know many of you are doing similar actions. We want to stabilize and compartmentalize. Here’s what I mean.

To stabilize is to make stable. It means to keep from changing or fluctuating. It is the state of being resistant to change and not prone to wild fluctuations in emotion. It is a calm, stable life where one doesn’t have wild ups and downs. Whoa. Do we need that or what?

How do we stabilize? We find comfort areas. We look for little oasis to remove us for a time from the hectic feelings that may sneak in. I watch Hallmark. One movie can last me for hours. I work, then watch, then put the movie on pause, then do something else, and finally finish the movie. Just my example. I think you get it. It’s my oasis.

To compartmentalize is to have a different “room” for different things. It is a way of organizing. I keep my shoes in little cubby holes. The dress shoes go in one slot, the boots in another, and so on. One separates into parts and doesn’t allow those parts to touch one another.

When things happen like what has been going on with this Corona Virus, school closures, no sports, and so on, I have to compartmentalize. I may be cooking a meal, and enjoying myself when I overhear something very disturbing. If it is not urgent, I put it on an imaginary shelf, and go back to the food preparation. Those interruptions rob us of our peace and well-being. I do whatever I can to not react and go into a tizzy. I say, “I will take care of that feeling or emotion or panic...later. I am enjoying myself right now.”

When we are going through the stress of any event or tragedy, the stress and imaginary fears can take hold of our minds. That’s not good. Put them away and go do something else. Whatever it is can wait until I am more settled. 

A part of stabilizing and even compartmentalizing is to know that this is a transitory situation and no matter what it looks like, it is not permanent, and we can and will rise above it. There’s a scripture in 2 Timothy 1:7 that says that God does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and a sound mind.

Oh good. I need to know that. Fear is an enemy of the soul, you know.

So, when you feel like you are going to succumb to all the stress and concern, take a deep breath and stick it in a cubby hole, on a shelf, in a corner just for now.

And if you need a stress reliever, pray, or listen to a good YouTube teaching, play some favorite music, watch an old movie. I love old ’50s and ’60s songs. I know some of you like to cook, or tinker, or read. Fred is painting his bird houses and getting his fishing poles ready. These are stress breakers.   

Just remember that you have this option to escape from an overdose of news right now. If you can do that, you are on the track to becoming an overcomer. You will become stabilized and sane. Learn to compartmentalize!

Judi Tabler lives in Pawnee County and is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at juditabler@gmail.com or juditabler@awomansview.