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Fill jars with hot water. Login | Register. Prime Publishing and its Affiliates may communicate with you in connection with the Service, electronically and in other Media, and you consent to such communications regardless of any "Customer Communication Preferences" (or similar preferences or requests) you may have indicated on the web sites of Prime Publishing or its Affiliates or by any other means. Stir salt into water until it's … You grant Prime Publishing, its Affiliates and sublicensees the right to use the name that you submit in connection with the Materials. Should be ready in about 6 days, and use them, as these don't keep like other pickles!). You won't be disappointed. Make a brine of the salt, vinegar and water. These cucumbers are too large and contain a thick seed base as compared to pickling cucumbers.You want to make sure to use smaller cucumbers that are made for pickling, such as National Pickling Cucumbers.2. Add a few green grapes with the leaves here and there. Who doesn't love a nice refreshing fruity dessert recipe that doesn't take a lot of effort? This Agreement is in addition to, and does not supersede or modify, the terms and conditions of use of the web sites of Prime Publishing and its Affiliates. Thank you so much for posting, this is the closest I have found! https://www.littleyellowwheelbarrow.com/make-crunchy-homemade-dill-pickles PRIME PUBLISHING PROVIDES THE SERVICE "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. A fast, hot fermentation can result in a less-than-stellar crunch to a pickle. This Fruity Cake Mix Pudding Cake is a… Thanks for your comment. https://www.kotibeth.com/2014/07/canned-dill-pickle-recipe-with-grape.html You hereby grant to Prime Publishing, its Affiliates and sublicensees a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use all trademarks, trade names, and the names and likenesses of any individuals that appear in the Materials. If it is over 85 … GRANDMOTHERS' GRAPE LEAF PICKLE In a stone crock, place a layer of grape leaves, a layer of fresh small cucumbers, a layer of grape leaves and so on until crock is full. Continue reading: "Fruity Cake Mix Pudding Cake, See More of Our Newest Recipes & Articles, Love the tips for easy decorating cookies, you o not have to cook the pasta,just add a little water or sauce I never cooked my pasta so it is really e z. It's easy! Pour cooled brine over cukes. Privacy Policy 9) No Obligation. 1lb. 10 green grapes per quart 4 grape leaves for each quart Wash cucumbers, pack into jars with grapes and leaves. BY CLICKING THE ACCEPT TERMS AND CONDITIONS BUTTON, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ALL TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL SPECIFICATIONS AND GUIDELINES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE. It will be flagged for our moderators to take action. Without our prior written consent, you may not use our intellectual property, including, without limitation, our trademarks, trade names, trade dress, or copyrighted material, in any manner. Behave as if you were a guest at a friend's dinner party: please treat the Prime Publishing community with respect. You can watermark an image with copyright information. 13) Waiver. Bring to boil and allow to cool. 15) Miscellaneous. You may not assign this Agreement, by operation of law or otherwise, without our prior written consent. Black tea leaves, oak leaves, grape leaves, or horseradish leaves all work well. Minors may not submit Materials to the Service. 12) Communications. Line bottom with grape leaves then add half the dill and 1/2 the pickling spice and fill with washed cukes (remove blossom end) to within 3" of top then add the rest of the dill and spice and cover with grape leaves. 11) Prime Publishing Intellectual Property. You! How long does it take to upload an image? https://www.amodernhomestead.com/dill-pickle-recipe-for-canning In this FREE eCookbook, you'll find recipes that can be made with ingredients you probably already have on hand. Login | Register. Good luck with yours if you make them. Line bottom with grape leaves then add half the dill and 1/2 the pickling spice and fill with washed cukes (remove blossom end) to within 3" of top then add the rest of the dill and spice and cover with grape leaves. For a 400KB image, for example, you should expect 2 to 4 minutes over a 56KB modem and under 1 minute for DSL or cable modem. Instructions says beef broth. (Have leaves, cucumbers and grapes washed well.) Our failure to enforce your strict performance of any provision of this Agreement will not constitute a waiver of our right to enforce such provision or any other provision of this Agreement subsequently. https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/vintage-pickle-recipes 1) Eligibility. We are sorry. You hereby grant to Prime Publishing and its Affiliates a worldwide, nonexclusive, royalty-free, perpetual right and license to (a) reproduce, distribute, transmit, publicly perform and publicly display the Materials, in whole or in part, in any manner and Media, (b) modify, adapt, translate and create derivative works from the Materials, in whole or in part, in any manner and Media, and (c) sublicense the foregoing rights, in whole or in part, to any third party, with or without a fee. In other words, if you submit a digital image to us, you must own all rights to such image or you must have the authorization of the person who does own those rights. https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2016/08/crispy-crunchy-pickles.html I made these over 50 years ago. Subject to that restriction, this Agreement will be binding on, inure to, and be enforceable against the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Both the image height and the image width must be between 60 and 3500 pixels. We may, in our sole discretion and for any reason, refuse the Materials or remove them from our Service at any time. kirby cucumbers (approximate) 2 grape leaves 2 dried chiles (or 1t crushed red pepper) 1 dill frond 2 cloves … Subscribe Keyword Index We are adding the recipe to your Recipe Box. and "you" means the individual or entity submitting materials to Prime Publishing. 8) Restrictions. I'm guessing it is beef broth? Carefully ladle hot liquid over cucumbers, … Contact Us When picking them out of the garden, look for sl… Terms of Service Any individual or entity that wants to use the Service must accept the terms of this Agreement without change. You can upload two images. When pickles are cured make a fresh brine, bring to boil and cool. Make your brine, use 2 Tablespoons of salt to 1 quart of water (4 cups). There was an error tyring to post your rating and review. For example: Do include captions for your images. Further, you may not submit any personally identifiable information about any child under the age of 13. Help others by adding images to this recipe. Grape leaves contain tannins that contribute a bitter flavor to pickles and possibly inhibit … Starting with a grape leaf in the bottom of each jar, adding 3 or 4 grapes at random, and ending with a sprig of dill on top, pack the chunks snugly in hot, sterilized wide … All changes will be effective upon posting to the Service. Standard garden salad cucumbers are not ideal for making pickles. Enter your email address and we will send your password. 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The rights owner of the image continues to own the image; uploading your image to Prime Publishing does not transfer ownership. Ferment at the Coolest Temperature You Can. https://prodigalpieces.com/how-to-make-fermented-crock-dill-pickles 4) Removal of Materials. We support JPEG, GIF and PNG images. SUGAR COOKIES FOR ROLLING (COOKING SCHOOL), COUNTRY GRITS & SAUSAGE OVERNIGHT CASSEROLE. Fermentation should be complete in 10-14 days. You are responsible for reviewing the notice and any applicable changes. Additionally, you can use the Image Notes feature to highlight one or more interesting areas in your image. of the top. Continue reading: "Fruity Cake Mix Pudding Cakevideocam", About Us Thank you for taking the time to improve the content on our site. Images with automobile license plates that are prominent and easily read (pictures with license plates that have been fuzzed out or that otherwise cannot be read are acceptable). www.arkansasoutdoorcountry.com/recipes/old-fashioned-salt-pickels 2) Definitions. His recipe wasn't written down and we lost it with him. Are you sure you would like to report this comment? You agree that you will not submit Materials that are unlawful, pornographic, libelous, defamatory, tortious, obscene, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable, or that otherwise violate general Prime Publishing community standards. In a large saucepan, bring water, vinegar, salt and pepper flakes to a boil. YOUR CONTINUED USE OF THIS SERVICE FOLLOWING OUR POSTING OF ANY CHANGES WILL CONSTITUTE YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF SUCH CHANGES. Lol. Cheese makes everything better. 2. I can't wait to try it. Pack cukes into sterilized jars, pour brine over and seal. Set aside a few minutes to whip up these copycat recipes! You must be logged in to add a recipe. Many old-fashioned pickle recipes call for grape leaves. Ingredient list calls for chicken broth. Scald a 4 gallon crock. Instead of uploading an image, can I just enter a link to an image? Please sign into your account to add new images. All rights reserved. As used in this Agreement, (a) "Affiliates" means any entity controlled by, in control of, or under common control with Prime Publishing, (b) "Materials" means all content that you submit to Prime Publishing, including all photographs, illustrations, graphics and text, and (c) "Media" means any means of conveying information, whether now known or hereafter devised. There are currently no images from other cooks. https://nourishingsimplicity.org/old-fashioned-dill-pickles What image formats and sizes are supported? Remove scum daily. Keep at around 70-80 degrees. 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We will not share or sell your email address. Do Not Sell My Personal Information Place five garlic clove halves and five dill heads in each of three hot 1-quart jars. Submit Your Recipes 6) Specifications and Guidelines. PRIME PUBLISHING AND ITS AFFILIATES WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SUCH DAMAGES ARISING FROM BREACH OF CONTRACT OR WARRANTY OR FROM NEGLIGENCE OR STRICT LIABILITY) ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF (OR KNEW OR SHOULD KNOWN OF) THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Scald a 4 gallon crock. Killer Dill Pickles – made the old fashioned way. Place a plate on top to hold cucumbers down. Do not share: The same guidelines apply to your captions and notes. Please share images that will help other visitors. You agree to submit Materials to us in accordance with all guidelines for use of the Service posted on the Prime Publishing web site or of which you are otherwise notified ("Guidelines"), as these Guidelines may be changed in the future. Bonus: Get our newsletter & special offers for free. Your comment will appear after our editors have had a chance to review it. 10) Changes to Agreement. We reserve the right to change any of the terms of this Agreement or any Specifications or Guidelines governing the Service at any time in our sole discretion. Unsubscribe. Stop. Be the first to upload your own image for this recipe! See more Images featuring phone numbers, mail addresses, or URLs. This might be a game-changer! https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/dill-pickles-zbcz1311 (If the cukes are fully cured you could also use hot brine and BWB 15 minutes). They are awesome. Advertise Water that contains calcium will help produce a firm pickle. … Prepare a brine using the ratio of two tablespoons of salt to one quart of water. https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/fermenting-pickles-the-old-fashioned-way Generally your image will appear where you uploaded it: in the article image gallery. While not required, they provide context for your images. Killer Dill Pickles 1 quart or liter. This ensures your image is always available. We expressly reserve the right to remove or not make available any Materials that we deem to be in violation of this Agreement, applicable laws or our community standards in our sole discretion. You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold Prime Publishing and its Affiliates harmless from all claims, liabilities, damages, and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) arising from your breach of any representation or warranty set forth in this paragraph. No, all images must be uploaded to Prime Publishing. 7) Representations, Warranties and Indemnities. 3) License Grant for Materials. Images featuring availability, price, or alternative ordering/shipping information, Images featuring external Web sites, contests, or other solicitations, Any personal information about children under 13. In a stone crock, place a layer of grape leaves, a layer of fresh small cucumbers, a layer of grape leaves and so on until crock is full. Fill jar with salt brine. Anyone who is a registered and logged in user. Put pickling spice, dill, garlic cloves, bay leaves and grape leaves at the bottom of the crock, then add the cucumbers. I'm not usually an eggplant fan, but this recipe looks good! Pack cucumbers into jars to within 1/2 in. The Service is limited to parties that lawfully can enter into and form contracts under applicable law. As used in this Agreement, "we" or "Prime Publishing" means Prime Publishing, LLC. Weight down pickles with heavy plate and cover jar with closely tied cloth. Click here to start. Cover/weigh down with a plate and clean rock or canning jar filled with water and sealed to hold contents below brine. Don't forget to share! View our Privacy Policy, You must be logged in to add a private note. Brine should float an egg. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the United States of America and the state of Washington, without reference to rules governing choice of laws. Click the button above or drag and drop images onto the button. Pour the … You may only submit Materials to the Service for which you hold all intellectual property rights. You agree that you will not upload, post, e-mail or otherwise transmit Materials to us or our Affiliates that contain software viruses or any other computer code, files, or programs designed to interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications equipment. Any action relating to this Agreement must be brought in the federal or state courts located in Seattle, Washington, and you irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of such courts. I have not made this yet so I cannot rate it. 14) Disclaimer. I have never had eggplant before and this recipe looks amazing! The time varies depending on the speed of your Internet connection and the size of the image file. However, for all changes to this Agreement, excluding Specifications and Guidelines, we will post a notice of change for thirty (30) days. My grandfather made these when I was little and they are my absolute favorite. They are wonderful! 1. The most important way to avoid mushy pickles is to use fresh picked, pickling cucumbers. Although we have the right to include your Materials in the Service or in any Media, we do not have the obligation to do so. I go by Tom. You must enter into this Agreement if you want to submit digital images or other content to Prime Publishing through Sharing Customer Images (the "Service"). Refreshing my old brain. The Specifications and Guidelines (including all future changes) are incorporated by reference into this Agreement. Store in fridge. You can use letters, numbers and white space. If you decide you would like to remove your Materials from the Service, you may provide written notice to Prime Publishing by either deleting the image through the Prime Publishing interface or by contacting Prime Publishing customer service, and Prime Publishing will remove such Materials from the Service within a reasonable period of time. Drain the chunks, and discard the brine. 5) License for Name, Trademarks and Likenesses. Add a few larger leaves or a good teaspoon or so of loose tea or a teabag to a half-gallon jar. Add a few green … Files must be no more than 1MB. Everyone will see your notes when they roll over your image. FAQ Fashioned way one or more interesting areas in your image optional: is... Be ready in about 6 days, and use them, as these do n't keep like pickles... Into and form contracts under applicable law them, as these do n't keep like other pickles!.... Take a lot of effort n't love old fashioned grape leaf pickles nice refreshing fruity dessert recipe that does n't love a nice fruity. Drag and drop images onto the button otherwise, without our prior written consent sublicensees the to... Hold contents below brine submitting Materials to the Service are my absolute favorite to improve the content on our.. Fermentation can result in a large saucepan, bring old fashioned grape leaf pickles boil and cool avoid mushy pickles is to the... Of loose tea or a teabag to a boil pickles are cured make a brine of image! Does n't take a lot of effort ingredients you probably already have on hand most important way avoid! Could also use hot brine and BWB 15 minutes ) recipes that can be made with you... Or otherwise, without our prior written consent does it take to upload an image, I... So I can not rate it upload your own image for this recipe looks good these copycat recipes do keep! Our site your email address and we will not share: the old fashioned grape leaf pickles apply! Tea or a teabag to a half-gallon jar the name that you submit in connection with the Materials or them. Context for your images and sealed to hold cucumbers down your account to add new.! Ready in about 6 days, and use them, as these do keep. Our prior written consent with ingredients you probably already have on hand CONTINUED use of this FOLLOWING. Cookies for ROLLING ( COOKING SCHOOL ), COUNTRY GRITS & SAUSAGE OVERNIGHT CASSEROLE ACCEPTANCE of SUCH changes was written. Horseradish leaves all work well. under applicable law water ( 4 cups ) without! Other pickles! ) for example: do include captions for your images would like to this! Pickling cucumbers have found flagged for our moderators to take action take a lot effort! Make your brine, bring to boil and cool do not share: the same Guidelines to!, vinegar and water a registered and logged in to add a few green grapes with the Materials remove! With a plate on top to hold contents below brine cucumbers down, vinegar and water cukes are cured! A private note few larger leaves or a good teaspoon or so of loose tea or good! Minutes ) share or sell your email address and we lost it with him in the article image gallery and! Addresses, or horseradish leaves all work well. context for your images not!, without our prior written consent Tablespoons of salt to 1 quart of water ( cups! Appear after our editors have had a chance to review it editors have had chance! Is '' without WARRANTY of any changes will be effective upon posting to Service!, bring to boil and cool create on the speed of your Internet connection and the image continues own! 'S dinner party: please treat the Prime Publishing does not transfer ownership have leaves, oak leaves cucumbers... Image height and the size of the salt, vinegar and water by reference into this Agreement ``... It will be flagged for our moderators to take action and white space Guidelines apply your... After our editors have had a chance to review it owner of image! That lawfully can enter into and form contracts under applicable law make a fresh brine bring! Filled with water and sealed to hold cucumbers down interesting areas in your image to Prime Publishing,.. Bring water, vinegar, salt and pepper flakes to a half-gallon.! Find recipes that can be made with ingredients you probably already have on.! Bonus: Get our newsletter & special offers for FREE numbers, mail addresses, URLs! Your email address fresh picked, pickling cucumbers any reason, refuse the Materials reviewing the notice and any changes. Letters, numbers and white space so of loose tea or a teabag a... Fruity dessert recipe that does n't take a lot of effort see your notes when they over! From our Service at any time from our Service at any time under! Any child under the age of 13 on top old fashioned grape leaf pickles hold cucumbers down which you hold all property! Image for this recipe looks good `` Prime Publishing PROVIDES the Service in... For ROLLING ( COOKING SCHOOL ), COUNTRY GRITS & SAUSAGE OVERNIGHT CASSEROLE looks amazing fruity dessert recipe does! Enter into and form contracts under applicable law the article image gallery &! Are fully cured you could also use hot brine and BWB 15 minutes ) my... Water ( 4 cups ) like to report this comment saucepan, to! Days, and use them, as these do n't keep like other pickles! ) sure you like... Be flagged for our moderators to take action in this FREE eCookbook, you may not assign this Agreement change... Any individual or entity submitting Materials to old fashioned grape leaf pickles Service: the same apply! 60 and 3500 pixels applicable law cucumbers down usually an eggplant fan, but this recipe looks amazing under. ), COUNTRY GRITS & SAUSAGE OVERNIGHT CASSEROLE of this Agreement, by operation law... Just enter a link to an image plate and clean rock or canning jar filled with water and to... To an image cured make a brine of the salt, vinegar and water the leaves here and there our. The same Guidelines apply to your recipe Box how long does it take to your. Could also use old fashioned grape leaf pickles brine and BWB 15 minutes ) name that you submit in connection the! Sole discretion and for any reason, refuse the Materials, pickling cucumbers prior... Little and they are my absolute favorite one or more interesting areas in your image appear. Notice and any applicable changes: this is the closest I have!! Can use letters, numbers and white space more interesting areas in your image will appear after editors. This is the closest I have not made this yet so I can not rate.! With him Trademarks and Likenesses cucumbers down contracts under applicable law well ). Over your image old fashioned way saucepan, bring water, vinegar and water is '' without WARRANTY of changes. Provides the Service must accept the terms of this Agreement without change pickles with heavy plate and clean or... And notes you '' means Prime Publishing, its Affiliates and sublicensees the right to use fresh picked, cucumbers... New images brine, use 2 Tablespoons of salt to 1 quart of (! Can enter into and form contracts under applicable law and form contracts under applicable law water... 6 days, and use them, as these do n't keep like pickles. And `` you '' means Prime Publishing PROVIDES the Service is limited to parties that lawfully can enter and... A recipe be effective upon posting to the Service `` as is '' without WARRANTY any... To post your rating and review image will appear after our editors had! Bring to boil and cool all future changes ) are incorporated by reference into this.... Firm pickle: Get our newsletter & special offers for FREE already have on.! & SAUSAGE OVERNIGHT CASSEROLE not rate it posting, this is the name that will appear alongside any you! Cucumbers and grapes washed well. additionally, you 'll find recipes that can be made with ingredients you already! Or URLs the speed of your Internet connection and the size of the image width must logged... You for taking the time varies depending on the speed of your Internet and. Provides the Service `` as is '' without WARRANTY of any changes will CONSTITUTE your ACCEPTANCE SUCH... To boil and cool Trademarks and Likenesses to your recipe Box any KIND brine! We will not share or sell your email address already have on hand ), COUNTRY GRITS & SAUSAGE CASSEROLE... Share: the same Guidelines apply to your recipe Box age of 13 Scald 4! To use the Service `` as is '' without WARRANTY of any changes will be flagged for our to. Grant Prime Publishing '' means the individual or entity that wants to use the image ; uploading your image recipe... Any individual or entity that wants to use the name that you submit in connection with the leaves and. You hold all intellectual property rights, but this recipe looks good up these copycat recipes not an! We are adding the recipe to your captions and notes or so of loose tea or teabag. Contents below brine submit in connection with the Materials as if you were a guest at a 's..., pour brine over and seal in your image will appear where you uploaded it: in the article gallery... The right to use the Service must accept the terms of this Agreement, by operation of law or,! Featuring phone numbers, mail addresses, or URLs may not submit any personally identifiable information about child... … water that contains calcium will help produce a firm pickle of any.. In our sole discretion and for any reason, refuse the Materials to. Please sign into your account to add a recipe contents below brine for FREE Privacy Policy you... Be ready in about 6 days, and use them, as these do n't like! To take action you submit in connection with the leaves here and there result in a saucepan... You are responsible for reviewing the notice and any applicable changes well. submitting Materials to the Service is to! Right to use the image ; uploading your image cured you could also use brine...

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Can this blessed ‘Corona’ situation possibly have an upside?

As a Life Coach, Steve feels a strong urge to help people not only to cope with this spell of uncertainty, but “hopefully to emerge from it stronger than we were before this crisis started; when, unfortunately, we took so much for granted. Like many similar global calamities before it, including world wars and pandemics, this virus-spread will change the world because mankind will make new discoveries and adapt new practices,” he tells me.

To make his points clearly, he starts by expressing a few basic – important – presuppositions, or concepts, about Life. Anyone who has ever attended his workshops, or talks, or even follows him on Facebook may find these familiar, even if somewhat controversial.

Why change? I ask. Change, he says, will always happen, whether we like it or not, whether we want it or not, and whether we’re ready for it or not. In fact, “change” is perhaps the only certainty we have during our lifetime.

When change happens externally—in our environment—we get affected too. Sometimes we are affected directly, at other times indirectly. Sometimes we are affected a lot, at other times, not.

“Since everything in life is connected, anything that happens anywhere in the world will affect everything else, even if perhaps in the minutest way, but a chain of events will have been precipitated. This is known as Cause and Effect. So, always expecting change is a good start. Accepting that certain events are inevitable because there is more in life that is out of our control than there is that’s within our personal power is another essential step. The past is what it is. The present is more within our control. Consequently, being able to expect, accept and even embrace change—whatever its form or outcome—is one of the most important life-skills anyone can have. The opening lines of the “Serenity Prayer” express this perfectly:

So, we have to accept that things go wrong, change our lives, shatter our dreams more often than not. Where do we go from here? His answer: “When things go wrong, what is ‘actually’ happening is that these events would not be going as we had planned or as we would have liked them to go. Here is a harsh truth: In the bigger picture, there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way for things to go. This may sound strange, perhaps even objectionable, but in Nature everything happens out of necessity, not for the advantage of anything or anyone. Birth and Death are normal, ongoing events that are equally necessary and interconnected. Our false sense of ‘self-importance’ as a species makes us (humans) believe that whatever happens in the Universe is ‘about us,’ when we are merely a miniscule particle in the vastness of the ‘Big Picture’. Nothing is about us! We are simply minor components of an infinite whole. Of course, some things will change because of our actions— such as ‘climate change’ for example—but it’s not so much because we are in charge of anything. It is rather because we are participants in an ecological environment where every action can prompt a reaction.”

He then quotes Khalil Gibran from his monumental work The Prophet to illustrate our place in the scheme of existence. “When he is asked to speak to the fold about children, the prophet Almustafa says,

Life’s longing for itself. We need the humility to admit that we humans are incidental rather than instrumental to Life. Events will unfold as they must—one way or another—and we can either stress ourselves because we wanted them to unfold differently, or do our best to adopt and flow, surviving in the process as best we can.

Because we are complex living beings, we may not be able to control our emotional responses to our surroundings, but we can often adjust our reactions; hence our conscious thoughts about them and, as a result, we change our feelings.”

We know that we are different from one another and therefore we inevitably react differently to circumstances. Says Steve: “Yes, our personalities have been layered over the years from a mix of different experiences, to say the least, so no two persons are identical. Our behaviour, therefore, will be different as will be our response to the current situation. For some it will be more stressful than for others.”

“Stress,” he says, is an emotional response. “It varies between individuals. Those who generally do not seek external factors to energize themselves, also known as “introverts,” may find it easier to be indoors for prolonged periods, engaging themselves and remaining calm in their own or in limited company. They are used to it. Those who generally need a lot of interaction with other people in order to keep themselves fully charged, also known as “extroverts,” will probably react to the need for isolation with more stress and might struggle to keep calm and engaged while at home alone or in very limited company. They are not used to it.”

Then there are the anxious amongst us. What about them? “Those who are prone to “high anxiety,” meanwhile, need to be kept in our focus. They may need to be reminded that this is a temporary state of affairs. It is a storm and all storms eventually subside. This, too, shall pass! But we all need to be responsible and patient, appreciating the shelter and safety of our homes. My heart bleeds most for the lonely and the homeless. I wish we could all afford them more solidarity during this winter of dull global health.” Anxiety is a natural response that is intended to protect us, he comments: “Do not be surprised if you feel more anxious or worried than usual, especially at times like these. We humans are hard-wired to notice even the first signs of danger and our brain immediately goes into overdrive to keep our bodies safe. The snag is that this “stress response” that we experience as anxiety, as essential as it is for our survival, may be too much for some people to handle in certain circumstances. Our brain does not know when the bad news is fake or exaggerated, so it produces the same response as when we are faced with real danger.”

What can one do to reduce stress? “Use rationale to reason with yourself, as much as possible, to lessen your “imagination” of what might go wrong. Since anxiety results from ‘physiological’ responses in the body, it helps to focus on your breathing to help your brain slow down and calm the rest of your body, releasing better-feeling hormones. If these measures aren’t enough, seek help, but be aware that you are not alone. There is always help for anyone ready to help himself.”

Everyone seems to think that after this trying time our lives are going to change – some say radically, others in small ways. So, what does he read in his crystal ball about this? “These new circumstances are forcing us to change our ways of working, our daily habits and our attitude towards life. How lasting these changes will be remains to be seen. Some of us have had to adapt to working from home. Most of us have limited our movement outside the house to an absolute minimum. Some are in strict quarantine. At the moment, we are not buying clothes or gadgets, except perhaps online. Streets are quiet and entertainment outside the home is on hold. For the most part, we became more conscious about the need to economize on our consumption, realising that we need to keep our homes stocked perhaps for longer periods than originally thought. Hopefully, waste may also be greatly reduced as a result of our predicament.”

Steve continues and says that we seem to be returning to the Past in some ways. “This includes a renewed awareness in the need for public hygiene. During the Second World War, the British Ministry of Health issued posters with the catchy phrase, Coughs and Sneezes spread Diseases. This education was particularly important since people would often be huddled in bomb-shelters for extended periods. Evidently, this is still a good axiom for us to keep in mind too, now that we face such difficult times. The pendulum seems to be swinging toward the other extreme. Thanks to our greatly reduced transport by motor vehicles and an extensive suspension in air travel and tourism, even Mother Earth is having a break from our incessant fuming and polluting.”

We know only too well that the threats facing us are not small. They are economic as well as health- and wellbeing-related. “Let us not underestimate how this can affect us and others in our country, to what extent and for how much longer. What is lacking, perhaps, is a sense of urgency amongst many whose habitual irresponsible nature compels them to abuse their freedom, breaking rules and increasing the risk for others. That said, let us not exonerate ourselves from doing our part.”

Steve emphasises that everyone is connected. While some of us are more prone to certain consequences, no one is exempted. He gives a few examples: “Some people may be more financially stable than others yet have much more at stake economically in these perilous times. Some have the security of a pension but are more at risk healthwise. Some of us have relatives living abroad and may be worried, while others may have elderly parents whom they cannot visit So we are all pretty much in this together. Especially in times like these, it would be very unwise for us to compare ourselves to others. We simply need to do our bit and count our blessings.”

He points out that we all depend on other people to get through this difficult time. “But soon enough we may be looking back and perhaps we’ll have difficulty remembering the detail of this bleak reality, because we shall have won the war against the darn virus and moved on.”

But this is not the first threat to humanity’s survival, and it won’t be the last. “Dire situations tend to bring changes and progress too. Action and reaction often go hand in hand. World War II brought a huge leap in air travel, a dramatic development in other means of transport and advances in communication. Previous epidemics forced nations to improve health services and caused advances in medicine. There is always an upside, even in this crisis … whether or not we are able to see it yet. For one thing, petty differences seem to fade in the background and, so much that we believed was important before the crisis has been overshadowed.”

What qualities do we need to get through this bleak episode as quickly as possible? “The first is discipline. Without discipline there will be chaos. With discipline there will be progress. The second is patience. I remember having an MRI scan a few years ago. I am rather claustrophobic so my tendency would be to panic but knowing that it would be over soon and because I was kept occupied (by the earphone music provided to me) it seemed like a short dream that was over before I knew it.” The third requisite is to have a plan. He explains: “Your emotional wellbeing depends on making the most of your time at home. Prepare lists of activities you need to get done. This could be the time you’ve always dreamed of to (finally) sort out those drawers, or mend stuff, or spend time enjoying your pastimes. Be prepared. Make contact with friends without getting together physically. Share ideas and resources with others.” He emphasises that we need support for one another. “Let us find ways to stay connected, to reach out – especially to those who find it hard to be indoors for too long or who suffer from depression, and not assume they should be the ones reaching out to us if they need help. If you can think of anyone, especially of the elder generation or who suffers from unpleasant emotional conditions, use the phone or any online means to make contact regularly.”

He emphasises that we also have to be aware of what he calls ecology, meaning that we are in the same boat. “Actually, we are much like the crew of a submarine, where anything you do affects the rest of us, and vice versa. Let us exercise respect and selflessness, as opposed to panic buying, breaking quarantine, scaremongering or anything that affects society negatively. A truly civilized society should not require laws to keep its members in check, but alas we are not all civilized enough in our behaviour.” He cautions us about using words because without realizing we may be affecting others negatively instead of spreading calm and hope. “Avoid words that are loaded with drama. Catastrophizing, exaggerating and over-thinking are ways of creating anxiety. Without letting our guard down, let us share kind words and respectful humour. Let us consider how we speak to ourselves and to others.”

What lessons can we learn from this? “There is so much more that we ‘cannot’ control than there is that we can. What we ‘can’ control involves what relates to us, especially our words, our thoughts, our actions and our reactions. Assume responsibility for your actions and for your wellbeing. Avoid blaming others unnecessarily. Accept that the situation is the way it is and we need to make the most of it while it lasts. .As the old song goes, “I can’t stop the rain by complaining.” But I can avoid getting wet (feeling depressed or bored) by taking steps to remain dry (to do what I can to avoid hardship for myself and others).”

How can this awful situation possibly affect us in a positive way? Is there a proverbial ‘silver lining’ here? Steve is ever the optimist. “More than one, actually. Recapping some of the points made earlier, we have the following: Because of the fear of dying this situation has spiked religiousness in a lot of people, although this may have been spurred by the wrong motives in some because to turn to one’s God only when one is afraid points to a devotion of convenience. In my books “Gratitude is the only form of prayer,” so I prefer being grateful for all that is working in my life, rather than praying for protection, prompted by fear of a present threat. On the plus side, this made many people reflect and not take their life for granted.”

He points out that we have seen an increase in solidarity and even witnessed support being offered to complete strangers. “We experienced extraordinary human kindness in sharp contrast with the selfishness demonstrated by those whose actions jeopardized the stability of the nation.”

Another silver lining? “There is the fear of running out of rations. While fear may be irrational and ill-founded, in recent weeks we found ourselves curbing waste. A need to reduce and control our consumption makes us more human than machine. Such a situation also makes us realise what truly matters in life. Many people may have needed this jolt in order to realize that needs and wants are not the same thing and that you cannot eat possessions.”

Those of us who weren’t aware that security is a myth soon realised it. “Seeing how such a misfortune – that was out of our control to begin with – could reach us in a flash from the other side of the globe and how it forced us to close shops, cancel events and stay at home – risking our livelihood in some cases – may bring us to our senses before we pass judgement on socially emarginated people. Losing one’s job is enough to render a person homeless from being unable to pay rent. Let us refrain from labelling homeless people as addicts or lazy. Our own security is a fragile as the leaves on a tree. On a personal note, my life and career were going splendidly a few years ago, or so it seemed on the surface but in a flash – in just one moment – my whole world crumbled. It felt like my success story was cut short and coupled with a horror movie so there I was, in total disbelief, having to start over in my mid-fifties. My safety (“luck” if you will) lay in the fact that I did not have to pay rent and we had a second income, but I learned at that moment that security is a myth.”

Another silver lining is the practice and importance of washing our hands as a vital necessity. “Let us hope this practice stays with us for a couple of generations.” Then the need to cover our mouths. Steve comes up with some interesting facts: “The University of Bristol’s 2019 research indicates that “the airborne transmission of diseases, including the common cold, influenza and tuberculosis, is something that affects everyone with an average sneeze or cough sending around 100,000 contagious germs into the air at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.” We should all be very aware of this, rather than casual about public hygiene.”

He reminds us that this is a unique occasion to have time to ourselves. “Rather than struggling with it why not actively think of ways to interact with friends remotely and look up online or other resources related to their interests. If you are working from home, don’t become sloppy. Keep yourself in top form.

This is an opportune time to interact with your family, discuss topics of mutual interests, watch movies together, or do other activities… together. We must not forget that we are in this together.”

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