Dear Readers,
Where do I even begin? Covid 19 is affecting us in a variety of complex and interconnected ways. We have no experience for a time like this; nothing to look back on to say “I made it through and I will make it again.” We are in a challenging time of change, uncertainty, and upheaval – things that can make Eating Disorders loud and symptoms heightened. I wanted to (virtually) check in on all of you. You can participate in this blog by sharing your stories, ideas, or comments by emailing Kmccarthy@sheenasplace.org
Despite physical distancing, we do not have to be entirely alone at this time. Sheena’s Place is offering a limited number of online groups with registration opening today. We all know that waiting lists are stressful and frustrating, so I want to provide you with other options. At the bottom of this post you will find a list of online resources for people affected by Eating Disorders.
For people who are not considered an “essential service” or not working from home, the hours can pass by so slowly. Coming up with ways to pass the time can become an uphill battle. I’ve had my moments of napping just because I was bored, or literally staring at nothing because I just couldn’t do one more painting or knit one more pair of socks. Many people feel uplifted through the arts, travel, reading, adventure, or benefit from positive distractions. I am here to provide you with a list of virtual activities that you can participate in from home. Museums, art galleries, opera, ballet, the symphony, the zoo! Global communities are coming together to provide virtual experiences to reduce the emotional and physical isolation so many of us are experiencing.
With the help of Carol MacLellan, I have put together a comprehensive list of options.
NOTE: Sheena’s Place does its best to ensure that there are as few triggers as possible both in person and in this online community. I have viewed each site and have not found any current triggering content. Sheena’s Place cannot be responsible for content added to these sites in the future.
Literature:
- Free online ebooks and free ebooks for download: https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/4604-free-quarantine-ebooks?fbclid=IwAR38J50bu3oEykqGdYCCVk7H80RVTEi_lFMVYKTDHReeVc6HNOdE1DLmxfI
- eBooks and tons of other resources: torontopubliclibrary.ca
- More free eBooks from another publisher: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/blogs/112-ten-free-ebooks-from-haymarket-books?fbclid=IwAR0TzGHTmkGLfYRGVT4RkhXvwlWaE73vCkARUiCgEHOzbHDvMiN4KVxXr7s
- Paulo Coelho offering some of his work as free ebooks: https://paulocoelhoblog.com/
- Sir Patrick Stewart, reading Shakespeare (because, really, what more do you need than Jean-Luc Picard reciting sonnets? Oh, that voice!) Find him on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/SirPatStew?s=2
- Austen fans, here’s one for you! A variety of Jane Austen themed activities at #VirtualJaneCon March 28 & 29: https://drunkausten.com/2020/03/23/virtualjanecon-schedule/?fbclid=IwAR3dtJQ2h-TuInR3_VidTkADNDJrnipEuGdBf4WOI3IJ-VpTz6ZyVngWFy0
- Inform yourself while you entertain yourself, with these suggestions to help you better understand our troubling times: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/campaign/1677/shelf-care?fbclid=IwAR0Coco-OPHCmDI-Xv7X0bmhqeXhGDgKlIjuHYUGUm8-ZCARlgm_qJ5-yqo
- Or just get advice from the likes of Margaret Atwood on what you should read next: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-thursday-edition-1.5502954/margaret-atwood-waubgeshig-rice-and-daniel-kalla-share-their-pandemic-reading-lists-1.5502962?fbclid=IwAR1ripkMuCU3NdFUs95fQvTchvVsjTzklSt2sMXVnH5czBG2GQP_rHE79Xo
- Check out the Festival of LIterary Diversity (FOLD), normally held in the GTA but going virtual this year. It aims to prioritize underrepresented authors and storytellers from around the world. Registration opens April 5 and the festival happens in early May: https://thefoldcanada.org/festival-events/the-festival-of-literary-diversity/?fbclid=IwAR1SzY_zhF0xfPxCIPVj_d70MpHNj-n7D51ERMnpVBrMeWlc5hPK_K_VGAM
Theatre:
- Contemporary Canadian theatre: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcasts/arts-culture/playme/index.html?fbclid=IwAR3ZOuzfjfyavxK616FmcOaOR7O-DTyIzrIDo5EniQBGWH92riJAtUsGl10
- Stratford Festival (Stratford, Ontario): https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/WatchandExplore/OnDemand?fbclid=IwAR3gSq_0z2ixHleyyUI_NO9-G5RObzxXYskLFcWvEjQYVwwV3k7ztgxYp74
- Globe Theatre (London): https://londonist.com/london/theatre-and-arts/globe-theatre-streaming-plays-online?fbclid=IwAR2zIxDRZZcl8JCKeKUWxtdVUd12EtgfFxicTowy9k5spcFdEFeAeAoJxRs
- A live streaming reading group performing all of Shakespeare’s plays in order: https://www.timeout.com/london/news/a-live-streaming-reading-group-is-performing-all-of-shakespeares-plays-in-order-031920?fbclid=IwAR2mjXWI8D297zPfymI6GmtP8eVwLVzNX6rCmwMYnP2olNn0iVlYwNN6JE0
- Broadway musicals free streaming (for a limited time): https://www.travelandleisure.com/culture-design/tv-movies/live-stream-musicals-broadwayhd?fbclid=IwAR2ZBBgwIoidn2G19RhxOk0ZhFcr2L79jHg8ANeGxdhERhwH_6ENY8tN9KQ
- Free 30-day trial for Marquee TV, where you can watch (among other things) David Tennant’s Richard II: https://www.timeout.com/london/news/watch-david-tennants-richard-ii-for-free-and-loads-more-shakespeare-plays-032320?fbclid=IwAR21N5jVZ5NK-nLNIYKBnA-aFDwZemwa9NSmlk_Opv800jxbf5A1WMRFOIo
- Listen to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales in its original Middle English with a free app: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/616293/geoffrey-chaucer-canterbury-tales-app?fbclid=IwAR3Mx0GD0s2UcPVq4-xQqFtgrArZesjzBj2WFPr79W1nfFi_2HZygnw9KbY
Music:
- Online music festival: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/cape-breton-s-ashley-macisaac-plans-online-music-festival-during-covid-19-pandemic-1.5499103?fbclid=IwAR2flOqFsZl1WqA_nCtJKIQVrhP7LHW3fZ_XT6AWtVXha6kSPsHHerkgKQA
- The Great British Home Chorus (at-home virtual choir project): https://www.classicfm.com/artists/gareth-malone/choirmaster-gareth-malone-home-chorus-coronavirus/
- Classical music online from the Met Opera to the Berlin Philharmonic: https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/live-streamed-classical-music-concerts-coronavirus/
- The world’s first classical music crime podcast: https://www.globalplayer.com/podcasts/42KbSm/
- Sing Vivaldi’s Gloria (and other pieces) with the Stay At Home Choir: https://www.stayathomechoir.com/
- Social Distan-Sing Along with Choir!Choir!Choir! – check their FB page for details: https://www.facebook.com/choirx3/
- Teach yourself songs on piano or guitar (there’s a “premium” version of the app, but you can have a more limited selection of free options): https://chordify.net/
- Yo Yo Ma’s “Songs of Comfort”, starting with Dvorak’s “Going Home”: https://www.facebook.com/YoYoMa/videos/1138960419795844/
- Get up to speed on 1200 years of women composers (#GirlPower) in a free 78 hour music playlist: http://www.openculture.com/2015/10/1200-years-of-women-composers-a-free-78-hour-music-playlist.html?fbclid=IwAR1ZOAI6O_s6uGnJFs77MPzccIgF7aGPVLU4vDKHe7J0OKb7luUY0wtSPRQ
Other Arts:
- Royal Opera House offering free ballet and opera performances online: https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/coronavirus/royal-opera-house-launches-online-ballet-opera/?fbclid=IwAR3czrLV-c1QyxjYQrPjbhPs3wc2azcSPbyyFx2J6Y11B2K8zFqc5bJAHu8
- Art museums you can visit digitally: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/6-digital-art-museum-you-can-visit-from-home
Writing:
- Write the Great Canadian Novel at #StayHomeWriMo, brought to you by NaNoWriMo (or National Novel Writing Month): https://www.facebook.com/nanowrimo/posts/10158118168234299
- Write – and get a free do-it-yourself MFA (not really a degree, but you do get to learn how to write!). Looks at both fiction and non-fiction, has suggested readings and lots of online resources (including a podcast): https://diymfa.com/
- More about writing (and some for the full-on grammar nerds, too): https://www.classcentral.com/report/writing-free-online-courses/
- It’s not free, but you can take a masterclass in creative writing with Margaret Atwood: https://www.masterclass.com/classes/margaret-atwood-teaches-creative-writing
- Free mini masterclass in short fiction here: https://writershq.co.uk/short-fiction-mini-masterclass-landing-page/?fbclid=IwAR113JZLQMZ5zCKljXvbaRXccYc_5dhEZr77VuSrMcVfApF4clLsKbzMJZQ
Learning:
- 450 Ivy League Courses for free: https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/ivy-league-free-online-courses-a0d7ae675869/?fbclid=IwAR1HZNhoAtPG08Z4eFh5LV6RW3qd2uKojQXciZqFmRqxcNIHbmrxJM4QEBQ
- Language – DuoLingo app
- Yale University – “happiness” course: https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a31846979/coronavirus-quarantine-yale-happiness-wellbeing-class-free-online/?fbclid=IwAR3KZ-1ON4YEHVQy-0OzKVxU_KynJgWNZPiyONN3XpgsmkPB8oTGR-5rfx8
- com – accessible through the Toronto Public Library (with a library card): https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?R=EDB0187
- iTunesU (accessible with an Apple ID): https://itunesu.itunes.apple.com/coursemanager/
- Learn anything!: http://www.openculture.com/2020/03/use-your-time-in-isolation-to-learn-everything-youve-always-wanted-to.html?fbclid=IwAR0F11qclxYZXxqXBi5tHmTMkvv6jXF1XTmf7MGTqc-ukJIo3BbXV3-u8Qc
- Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/
Armchair Tourism:
- Toronto attractions: https://www.blogto.com/sports_play/2020/03/toronto-attractions-you-can-visit-while-social-distancing/?fbclid=IwAR1qwHULPBdINU6Bq17viiJhGu8Hr3O0phnSLNSg_gceHrhLlINrWYJXQpc
- Virtual field trips to some very cool places: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SvIdgTx9djKO6SjyvPDsoGlkgE3iExmi3qh2KRRku_w/preview?fbclid=IwAR02BOIkp1SGjgdeyxhPGp66NCIezYSFr2iS1Qxamq8YSLKdYn6wSecBUc0
- More virtual field trips: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/mar/30/10-best-virtual-tour-worlds-most-famous-landmarks
- Free online programming from the Toronto Zoo at 1 pm every day: https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheTorontoZoo/videos/?ref=page_internal
- Virtual tours from world-famous museums (British Museum! Musee d’Orsay! Uffizi Gallery! Guggenheim! Van Gogh Museum!): https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-share-article&utm_content=20200313&fbclid=IwAR07BhA_AMMWEkrMMzqMv2FfxRZpgG2Ih4F0lP88fbRhqbGB57cHu5AQZiA
Podcasts:
- In Women’s History Month, learn the history you were never taught in school: https://www.bustle.com/p/13-womens-history-podcasts-you-dont-want-to-miss-out-on-22585118?fbclid=IwAR0OkjbXc7pky3MTxBbACIbK0q27G9hiwDPjXuh97HFiV3U8W5Uhq4f4viQ
- The best Canadian podcasts right now:: https://www.cbc.ca/life/culture/the-best-canadian-podcasts-to-listen-to-according-to-podcasters-1.5357112
- Little-known Canadian history tales on “The Secret Life of Canada”: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-secret-life-of-canada/id1434339568
Movies:
- Try one of more than 4,000 films free to stream online from the National Film Board of Canada, including a library of Indigenous cinema: https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/nfb-indigenous-cinema-free-self-isloating-1.5504434
Games / Kids / Just for Fun:
- Become a chess grandmaster: https://www.chess.com/learn
- Play board games online (I haven’t checked this out in detail yet, so I don’t know what games they offer): https://en.boardgamearena.com/
- Kids’ drawing classes with children’s book author Mo Willems: https://www.boredpanda.com/free-online-lunch-doodles-sessions-for-kids-mo-willems/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=BPFacebook&fbclid=IwAR0WcCK18XbzuAvFbx0CNu4KE_ar725lk-2w-c_AmvKo1mtvzMz77SyEUNY
- Isolation-friendly scavenger hunts (for adults too!): https://bit.ly/2QEB7ew?fbclid=IwAR0iuL1A7UMYwA2GSA8fhgQjv9hWnwpy9CgPvK5TQA1Lxc0kwdguo8SanBk
- Virtual roller coaster rides at Canada’s Wonderland! https://www.canadaswonderland.com/blog/2020/march-2020/heres-how-to-take-a-virtual-ride-on-all-the-rides-at-canadas-wonderland-in-your-own-home
- Running out of kids’ books to keep your little reader entertained? Try free audiobooks from a new Audible service: https://www.cbc.ca/books/audible-launches-free-audiobook-service-for-children-1.5506999?fbclid=IwAR3LfBwB2IKnP6peXf2COEpAKzYC8Tpoic6veZr9f63Q52kxrjRT3nnNYKk
- Missing sports? So is this sports commentator, who’s taken to commentating on real life instead: https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2020/03/20/this-commentators-got-no-live-sport-left-so-hes-commentating-on-everyday-life-and-its-brilliant/?fbclid=IwAR0z1BZA0u9zAGVuzOdJp9UraLvGq2hGLPJmFUwBFvCW4yhBbea-PFhPEcw
- Check out these ideas to keep your bored socially-distanced children entertained: https://www.cbc.ca/parents/play/view/indoors-activities-for-kids-2020?fbclid=IwAR0tNLmP8qyL-v34PjM-JnVd3gptbSbbO_zNOlsf8SDLACL0uDMbXLLpaog
- Or try one of these 20 short & easy experiments from Physics Girl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aaXZDazPxs&fbclid=IwAR0-EVm5ciCIaojkmwAIkApJS4ZxPKiT_gHojV2MDxclR2Plvr_lVWCbRjc
ONLINE/VIRTUAL ED SUPPORTS:
- Peer Support: http://eatingdisordersns.ca/ops-2/
- Peer support: https://www.lookingglassbc.com/online-peer-support/
- Treatment: https://bodybrave.ca/
- Professionally Facilitated Group Support: https://www.eatingdisorderfoundation.org/get-help/support-groups/
I hope that this list helps you to keep occupied and supported through this time.
Take care, and be sure to nourish your body, mind, and spirit,
Your moderator,
Kira