As we strive to take hold of wellness in our lives, it is always helpful to be reminded of simple but valuable  and lasting truths. 

The following excerpt is taken from Leo Tolstoy's Calendar of Wisdom.
 
Five principles:

• Do not postpone until tomorrow what you can do today.
• Do not force other people to do things which you can do yourself.
• Pride costs more than all that is necessary for food, drink, shelter or dress.
• We suffer more from thinking about what might have happened than about what actually has happened.
• If you lose your temper, before you do or say anything, count to ten.  If you haven't calmed down, then count to a hundred.  And if you still haven't calmed down, count to a thousand.

Source:  after Jefferson

In a society so focused on finding a quick and easy fix for everything, it's important to remember that some things in life are neither quick nor easy.  Some things take a little longer and require a little more effort.  Certain habits and practices need to be cultivated, strengthened, and refined over time. 

However, if you're willing to make the investment in those areas that require a little more time and effort, the pay-off can be deeply rewarding.

Here are 5 practices that aren't necessarily quick and easy to implement.  However, if you commit to them and make them a regular part of your life, these practices will benefit you and your life tremendously.

The current Covid-19 pandemic has given us plenty to be concerned about.  Against a backdrop of daily virus-related deaths being reported, health and safety is top of mind for everyone.  As the economy takes a hit, financial woes are escalating.  Huge swaths of the population are unsure of their future job status.
 
If that all wasn’t enough, we're also facing the challenge of how to maintain friendships through the pandemic.  The complexity of the situation is increasingly having a polarizing effect and putting people at odds with one another.  As nerves are frayed, friendships are being strained and even terminated.
 
Here are 7 strategies to help you keep your friendships intact during this pandemic, or any other trying time that leads to highly polarized viewpoints.