This week: Tips on avoiding drama Edited by: ~Minja~  
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"Our best decisions are often what we choose not to get involved in." ~Doug Cooper
"All the world's a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed." ~Sean O'Casey
"Conflict is drama, and how people deal with conflict shows you the kind of people they are." ~Stephen Moyer
"No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man will store up in his ghostly heart." F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
"People don't want their lives fixed. Nobody wants their problems solved. Their dramas. their distractions. Their stories resolved. Their messes cleaned up. Because what would they have left? Just the big scary unknown." Chuck Palahniuk, Survivor |
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t the time I'm writing this newsletter we are in the Phase 5-6 of the pandemic which, by World Health Organization, means that this phase is characterized by community-level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region in addition to the criteria defined in Phase 5- designation of this phase will indicate that a global pandemic is under way. The next phase is the post-peak period where pandemic disease levels in most countries with adequate surveillance will have dropped below peak observed levels. And, in the end, we have a post-pandemic period, influenza disease activity will have returned to levels normally seen for seasonal influenza.
Experts say panic is a natural response to a major crisis such as this one, but there are so many ways to stay both—informed and calm. I'm not saying this just because I happen to be provided with space and audience in order to spread my own personal views of current events. I'm saying this as a crew member who was properly trained on what to do and how to behave in case of a real emergency. And, as a crew member on board the cruise ship, I say that panic and dramatic reactions at the time of crisis doesn't help you or anyone else around you who is trying to take measures of precaution. For those of you who cruised before and went through a boat drill, there is a reason why you don't know what coded public announcements really means. There is a reason why you don't know the name of the guest and the number of the cabin he was in before he was taken down to the medical center and later transferred to the nearest hospital by the helicopter. You don't know any of this information because of the panic that would spread and cause distress.
In the past couple of weeks, we witnessed a lot: panic-shopping, fall of the global economy due to a lockdown, an increasing number of ill as well as cured, conspiracy theories and whatnot. I come from the country torn by the war and I very well know and understand the reasons for panic although what the world is going through now by any means cannot be compared with the conditions during the siege and war. I know this because I lived through both. Pandemic might be larger in scale but the war is definitely scarier and more dangerous considering all actions taken by your enemies. However, it is very important to preserve sanity and common sense in the wake of both events. Below are some tips on what to do to keep yourself sane during the outbreak the world is facing right now.
Seek out information from authoritative sources
This is a common sense although I do understand the need for endless scrolling of Facebook newsfeed in order to see and read anything related to our current situation. Facebook is addiction even if we don't want to admit it. But you should STOP now. This is very dangerous and it hurts your mental health no matter how strong you think you are. There are so much misinformation and rumors spreading around at this time. There are a lot of conspiracy theories that you probably read but don't quite understand due to a lack of proof and eligible information. There are a lot of video and image files shared on social media where you can see empty cities, people hoarding food and hygiene products, weapons, a large number of people are traveling with masks, information about the wildlife waking up now when the earth is taking a break from humanity. All of these things when consumed on a daily basis causes distress, anxiety, and panic while being locked for a specific amount of time in probably now crowded apartments and houses.
What you can do instead, in order to stay both—sane and informed—, is to seek balanced information about the current event. Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) update their websites regularly where they provide accurate and specific facts, how to protect yourself from disease, without necessarily engaging you into the harmful interpretation of these facts like media does. You should also check with your local department's health and follow their instructions.
Use your quarantine time for learning something new
When I say use your quarantine time for learning something new I don't mean learn something new about the virus situation. I put a short list of FREE courses, cultural events, and activities you can do instead.
 The Science of Well Being course
This is one of the most popular courses at Yale University, taught by the Yale psychology professor Laurie Santos, and is now offered for FREE of charge during the current outbreak. The course engages you into a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits.
Cambridge Assessment International Education Resource Plus
Cambridge Assessment International Education Resource Plus program provides you with FREE access to high-quality videos, ready-made lesson plans and teaching materials that you can use to help your students learn and prepare for their exams. Choose between biology, combined science, chemistry, mathematics, physics, English literature, first language English, and business studies.
Fairy Tales: Meaning, Messages, and Morals course
This course by The University of Newcastle Australia and the instructor Caroline Webb, who specialized in English literature since 1900, especially fantasy literature, will take you into the world of fairy tales. Considering the historical context of fairy tales and examining the characters, styles, and plots, you will discover that the intended morals of the original stories may not be exactly what you first thought. The course starts on April 1st so make sure you enroll on time. While on their website, check out the other free courses on different topics that they offer.
BroadwayHD free musicals
BroadwayHD offers a seven-day FREE trial for all of you music lovers. That means you can watch performances such as 'Cats', 'The King and I', 'The Sound of Music' from the comfort of your home for a limited time so don't miss this fabulous opportunity.
HelloTalk App for languages
Use this time while you are being stuck in the comfort of your home to learn some new languages. This fantastic app was recommended to me by my WdC friend Charlie ~  after our discussion of the importance of the languages in the culture and in a working place. When I was applying for a job recently, I've been asked to speak fluently another language aside from my own and English. Many large companies today look for bilingual employees and I believe this trend will continue further in the future. HelloTalk is an interactive and fun app and completely free of charge. I'm currently taking French over there.
Read books
If you are one of those people who never have time to read, now is the right time to make a reading habit. If you don't own any physical book in your home or any e-book on your device, do not fear for I have a solution. New York City Public Library created an e-reader app that you can download, borrow books from their library and instantly start reading. Check out SimpleE for more info. Project Gutenberg is a library of over 60,000 free e-books, waiting for you to read them. For more info check out Gutenberg.org . There is also Manybooks.net website where you can browse through 50,000+ free books in a different genre.
If you, however, simply can't make a habit of reading you can try to listen to audiobooks. Audible Stories offer some FREE audiobooks for your enjoyment. You don't have to sign up or anything. Simply click to the 'Start Listening' button and choose your book.
Check out great activities on Writing.Com
Writing.Com is escapism from reality for me and I believe many members will agree that this is always a safe zone. Use this opportunity to spend some quality time on the site by participating in various creative activities and contests. If you don't know where to start, please check the editor's pick below.
I have to say that I spent a good three hours writing this newsletter and even though it touches the topic of the current pandemic, I certainly didn't spend time consuming all available information just so I can bring myself into distress and panic. Instead, I explored creative ways of spending time while in quarantine. Culture is very important as well as mental health. Don't allow this outbreak to take it from you. Stay smart.
Until next time, #washyourhands, #stayhome
~Minja~
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Excerpt: Want to complete writing a book but not making much progress? Looking for a community of friends to write with you? Seeking a motivation to restart your stalled writing projects? In here, we are learning to take one small step at a time.
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Excerpt: Since starting my Happiness Box Project in 2016, year after year it has helped me grow into a more positive person. Not everyday is good, but with gratitude, there is good hidden in bad days. Each new year when I open my box, I feel the joy as I read the notes, and continue to feel that joy and gratitude as I scrapbook the notes and photos.
Starting today (27 March 2020), I'm running an activity that will mirror the concept of my Happiness Box Project. Instead of a box, you will use your portfolio to house notes, poems, stories, photos, you name it.
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Excerpt: This is a bi-monthly contest having a month-on, month-off format. The blogging community is a thriving one and the challenge to blog for 30 days straight is what keeps people coming back, month after month after month to the most intense battle of the bloggers. Are you ready to join us?
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Excerpt: This self-created activity has a purpose to review at least one item from each genre on Writing.Com. The activity was very popular back in 2016 when many members decided to embark on the reviewing journey so why not hop on this train yourself?
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Excerpt: The Newbie Welcome Wagon is a Forum Open to ALL WdC members and has been designed to encourage and support those Who Review Newbies (on the site for six months or less).
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Excerpt: This challenge is meant to inspire your muse to dive outside the current boundaries while bringing awareness to lesser-known writing genres. Inspiration can come from many areas and the prompts each round will be genre combinations only. I will provide some background on the highlighted genre to explain it so you understand what's expected. Beyond that, it's up to you!
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Drama: April 01, 2020 Issue [#10095]
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