This is the final post in the series from the Friends Life Care team to share things that they did during the Coronavirus shut down of Spring 2020.  Enjoy the read.  Be safe.  Be strong.  Be well.

What Brings Comfort and Joy

Just like everyone else on this planet, I look for things that bring comfort and joy while being compliant and staying far away from the rest of humanity.  My go-to’s have always been the same but have been more concentrated over the past weeks since being in pandemic isolation: cooking and sharing healthy food; reading and enjoying time with my brilliant and lovely book club friends and walking my dogs and letting them run in the now empty park.

Cooking and Eating

Cooking and eating, of course, has always been part of my life from my earliest memories.  Sitting in my grandmothers’ kitchens, watching them prepare their delicacies and enjoying the smell, texture, and overall deliciousness of both the food and the company.  Nothing brings me more joy than to share the food I prepare with family and friends.

 

 

 

 

The challenge during this time is finding ways to safely share with those who are on the front lines in our community.  I have only been able to do so one time, but hope to find other ways to share more fully.

Reading With The Book Club

Reading books has always been my number 1 escapist mechanism.  It has helped me get through many difficult times in my life and has given me tremendous pleasure.  I never imagined it could get better until I was invited to join a book club.  Some book clubs are more like wine tasting events.  Ours, I believe is on the more serious side but we have a great time pushing each other to think deeper, emote stronger and overall have a great time.  Our most recent book was, The History of Love, by Nicole Krauss.  We don’t always agree, but, this time we unanimously enjoyed this book.  For a complete list, just email me!

Walking With My Dogs

Lastly, everyone needs to be unconditionally loved and to give love, correct?  Walking my three doggies in the empty park and along the side of the road where few people traverse has been a joy for us all.  Not so much in the rain, of course, but you have to take the bad with the good!

 

Lisa Pettinati, BSW, MS

Executive Director

Lisa Pettinati started her career working in the first shelter in Philadelphia for homeless women and children. Her knowledge and skills expanded as she added more than 30 years of experience in behavioral health, helping individuals and families in crisis deal with mental illness and complex medical issues. Prior to joining Intervention Associates in 2014, Lisa fulfilled different roles and was promoted numerous times during her time working in behavioral health. Her expertise includes: management, consulting, intake and direct service. She earned an MS in administration of human services from Chestnut Hill College and a BSW from Temple University.