While You’re In: Visit far-flung lands, relax with a story and give yourself a hug
Something to see: Globe-trotting photographer Paul Mongillo of Olympia has been sharing inspirational images on his Facebook feed since mid-March. “Feeling like I should provide something to give folks a break from the drastic changes we are experiencing in our lives,” he wrote in a March 21 Facebook post. “I am going to post an image every day (or thereabouts) from my archives. They may not be new, but perhaps they will give you a moment of peace and positive reflection.” Mongillo, who has traveled to five continents and about 20 countries over the past couple of decades, has shared through his photos such peak experiences as coming eye-to-eye with a mountain gorilla, witnessing an elephant’s bond with a human and capturing a colorful moonrise at Joshua Tree National Park. Check out more of his work at http://wideawakephoto.com.
Storytime anytime: LeVar Burton (best known, depending on your age, as Kunta Kinte, Geordie La Forge or the guy from “Reading Rainbow”) is these days more storyteller than actor. Right now, he is reading stories live on Twitter three times a week (at 9 a.m. Monday for kids, 3 p.m. Wednesday for young adults and 6 p.m. Friday for adults). But you don’t have to get online at just the right time to savor Burton’s storytelling skills. His podcast, “LeVar Burton Reads,” features a new short story for adult listeners every week. One pick for these times: Karen E. Bender’s “The Cell Phones,” about the importance of listening and being listened to — and over the phone, yet. How appropriate. Bonus: Burton launches each episode with a deep breath — a perfect moment of relaxation.
Need a hug? A good hug can be hard to find — and never more so than now, when fully clothed body contact is a high-risk activity. If you’re sheltering in place alone, what are you going to do? Rebecca Clio Gould of Seattle, a nutrition coach and teacher of qi gong and meditation, has made a video demonstration of a possible way to give yourself the comfort of the human touch when no one is around. Maybe you’ll feel silly giving it a try, but it clearly works for Gould, who is sheltering in place with only her dog, Buddy, for company. “As an introvert and homebody, I feel I’m handling it very well,” she told The Olympian. (But maybe that’s at least partially because she’s not afraid to hug a pillow or a stuffed sloth.) Find out more about Gould and check out her online offerings at http://www.rebeccacliogould.com.
This story was originally published April 10, 2020 at 5:45 AM.