Have a wonderfully different Thanksgiving this year.
​

The key is Gratitude. Everything is exactly as it should be.

Social distancing at family events is so very hard. No No Keep your masks on.

YES YES YES thank you thank you Yes Yes thank you I got closer to my family.

Even our darkest days come with a blessing, tho' it can take time to see it.

I miss sharing meals with friends.

Keys to Coping  is a community project.  
We are collecting and sharing stories from real people who show courage, resiliency, humor, compassion and more in this historic time.
 Share your wonderfully different thanksgiving photos, drawings or stories. 
Snail mail or email.   PO Box 304  West Hyannisport, MA 02672     thekeyidea@gmail.com  

For my 90th B'Day friends had a "drive by" Two Sheriff's cars lead the way with flashing lights, 12 motorcycles, 20 plus cars with signs & banners.  What a Day!!!!  Annie Smith.

The family that masks together basks together.

How are we going to eat this? Partee Freeze

Barnstable MA welcomes you.

Suited up and ready to go grocery shopping.

Funny or creepy?

Mother • Teacher • Principal • Lunch Lady • Don't forget Custodian!

As We Help, And try to cope, There is always Love and hope! See the worth In every face, It is truly, A saving Grace! You are special Don't you know? For Our Lord, Has told us so! I think and thank all of the wonderful people who help! Marilyn 83

Isolation - too much negative hopeless news. no hugs• what will the future bring? when will I ever see Zachary.

I miss believing that everything would be OK . Tracy

I swear have road rage, gamble! I love being alone! I hate dogs that bark, jump chase me! I love cats and fish! I am trying to cope alone. I hate to share my food drinks anything. I hope someone understands me. I love watching TV Alone!  I love eating alone! I hope no one gets mad at me!  I live in a 3 floor building called Rivercrest in Jefferson Wisconsin. I love it here. I hope no trouble!                

I have no access to postcards to send to you in regards to your Keys to Coping which I read about in my my newspaper.  Hopefully then my letter will suffice.  
I am an "Essential" worker at a grocery store in the town in which I reside. I have worked along with my co-workers to make my shoppers happy with our service. It is very rewarding to be thanked by many of our customers for our dedicated service, etc.  Aside from that every week,I call my two year old great niece via my sister to see what is going on in her life. Ruby is a delight after a long day at work  Sh is the daughter of a new Your Doctor who is helping many Covid  victims recover  He is at Elmhurst /Elmcrest Hospital in New York which is probably the most populated with Covid victims   Thank you.

Can't be around people, mingle, socialize. Dennis from Hyannis 76

We cope by going for daily walks.

7 Certain keys to cope with uncertainty and Covid19 isolating:
1. Pray for all nations, all.
2. Stay hydrated; eat healthy
3. Rest, relax, rejuvenate, read.
4. Communicate daily in some small way... wave, smile, share, laugh, snuggle, cyber call.
5. Seek spiritual solace, be inspired and you will inspire others.
6. Sunshine, sit, walk, plant, play, dawn, dusk daily (Vit D)
7. Ask and you will receive:  a.) help
b.) answers c.) guidance, directions
d.) forgiveness, mercy  e,) second chances  f.) justice - maybe not right away  g.) work - always there is something that needs doing. Pace Yourself but don't be idle.Set goals; you can do it...we can.
Oh and last but not least: Music, sing, a new, old, familiar, funny, jazzy, bluesy, love song.   

Keeping in touch with family/friends via phone calls, texts and snail mail. Did Christmas in June note to everyone. Trying new cooking recipes. Reading more, 4 felines keep us entertained. Barbara

I miss seeing my friends at school and running with my friends

Re: Quarantine Experience- The Good Things 1. No robo calls 2. No postal junk mail 3. Lower gas prices 4. Much less traffic 5. Clean, clear blue skies 6. Lush growth of plants, trees 7. More abundant wildlife 8. Families together 9. Acts of kindness 10. Time to reflect on the important things in life and the after-life.

My husband and I have been married 41 years and fortunately we are very compatible! We have read a lot, planned and cooked some great meals! I am amazed at how much our 2 married kids with a total of 4 grandkids are enjoying their yards, walking in neighborhoods , hiking with their families during pandemic. Like when we grew up in the 50s and 60s. Barbara Illinois

Greetings - our county in the far Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the only one in the state with 0 cases. Regardless, our tourist economy is drawing in a lot of visitors from WI and MN... we are acting like it will get here so hunkering down still.

Hello! Just want everyone to know how our wonderful President Trump is handling the virus. He is doing all he can! Vote - election time 2020

"Be strong and of good courage, fear not nor be afraid of them, fo the Lord thy God, he it is who doth go with thee, he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." As my dragon boat training stopped during the pandemic, I took to encouraging others with my creative skills. I took my acrylic paintings and made them in to cards to share courage with others! Be strong! Lucy

Thank you for creating this project. There are many things that I miss during the Covid crisis - like traveling, visiting with friends and family, dining out, concerts and hugging at church meetings, But I retired last year and for that I'm truly grateful because I have the luck of no pressure to do more that what I feel safe doing. So I cherish the new recipes and the time to tackle old projects, years in the waiting. I cherish the time to keep up with the yard work and the house work. Grateful for the impact covid has had on the environment just so grateful. Slow is good.

I was already in mourning for my gentleman companion who died in January, so the "pandemic" was easy for me to deal with. I'm a walker and a walk daily (often with my sister) for a 2-3 hours, masked and chatting. We're lucky to live in a rural-ish town close to the harbor and ocean. Works for me! In my spare time I clean out junk. and read. Vicky in South Dartmouth MA

I am experiencing too much aloneness and my daughter, mother of 4, too little aloneness. The young people miss their firends and I we older retired and/or widowed people. I'm glad that I don't have to keep my Drs visits buy would at least like to go for a drive to see someone. Lost, but alive.

I'm feeling grateful for the solitude of staying at home and I'm sad for the distance from friends and family. Modern technology is helpful but it can't take the place of human touch.

I miss TIME ALONE Quiet, no siblings swabbles, no conference video calls, no constant chatter. I miss LARGE MERRY FAMILY GATHERINGS Hugs, kisses, laughing, loud, dancing, joking, kids playing.

Each day I look for the joy in all things. I remember to be grateful for all that I have. And I try to help everyone I can each day. Who's luckier than me?

We took up geocaching. I've been playing with my cats.

Really getting sick of this. Keeping busy doing a lot of reading and calling friendss and family. The one plus, I've met alot of rally nice caring people. Afraid what the new world will look like. Grace age 83 Centerville

What I am missing most is a hug! whenever I greet someone, I hug them. Something as simple as that has now become nonexistent for me. I look forward to the time I can hug and greet people with a human touch . I will never take that for granted again. Mary 60 years old.

I do not really like it but it is okay.

So far, I have kept myself busy organizing draws and cupboards. Still all kinds of things you put off for a rainy day. Go down to look at the beach each day. Very windy to walk. Still have plenty to keep me busy for months. No family on the Cape, but plenty of friends. Enjoy Sen. Cit. lunches every few days. Thank you all C. of Hyannis.

I am missing the sharing of people's stories. - where they have traveled, what they ate, what piqued their interest and why. Coping is not difficult because there is a lot of loner with me and I am OK

NOT ALLOWED!

Isolation      •        Sadness

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The Key Idea, Inc. (501 (C) (3)

Since The Key Idea Project began in 2015, nearly 6,000 adults and children have participated in this unique project.
It has been exhibited dozens of times in small venues, conference halls, and museums
​ including The Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum. More history, here.
  The Key Idea® was designed to be accessible to all.