5 Reasons it’s OK to be not OK right now

Is it OK to be not OK?

The Dictionary defines OK as “all right; proceeding normally; satisfactory or under control; … doing well or in good health; managing adequately.”  But is it OK to be not OK?

By that definition, very few of us can honestly say we’re OK during these uncertain times, if only because we violate one of the first aspects of the definition:  proceeding normally.  There is nothing normal to us in a world where we’re confined to our homes, wearing masks in public, worshipping online instead of in person, and our children are not in school in April.

Let me begin here with a caution –

I am not a mental health professional.  None of this is meant as counseling.  If that’s what you are looking for, please call one of the numbers at the bottom of this post.

#1: you are an individual

Medical News Today says that anxiety is “the feeling of fear, worry, or unease, which most people experience occasionally. The stressful or unfamiliar situations and events that cause these feelings are what people call anxiety triggers.”  Everyone has different triggers, and identifying them is one of the most important steps to managing anxiety attacks.

The things that cause you fear and uneasiness are not always the same things that frighten me.  Therefore,  what works to break the cycle for you may not work for me.

For me, knowledge is power.  When I am faced with an anxiety-producing situation, I research.  Google is my best friend.  By unlocking the reasons that things work the way they do and analyzing the expected outcomes, I can better wrap my head around what I need to do to get through to the next day, or maybe just to the next hour.

When COVID-19 first broke, I spent time researching how to disinfect my house while my husband (an essential worker) continued to go out into the world every day.  I read article after article about what this virus is made of and how to kill it.  This information gave me peace of mind because I knew that I was doing everything I could to keep us safe.  And that’s all I can do.  My best.

So you do you, boo. (OK.  That was SO not me!!!)  But what I mean is that once you develop your own healthy coping mechanisms, you can use your own individual way of coping.  If you don’t know what that way is, please call one of the helplines listed below.

#2: you are not out of control

A counselor told me many years ago that anxiety is all about control.  Anxious thoughts stem from somehow feeling out of control in a given situation.  Some people thrive on that feeling.  And that’s great for them.  They skip through life, making things up as they go.

Not me.  My anxiety comes from not being able to control situations.  So when my world feels out of control, I take that counselor’s advice and find something I CAN control.  Usually, that means I clean things.  Actual cleaning is not an activity I enjoy.  I do it because it needs to be done.  But putting objects in their place and wiping the dirt off the surfaces gives me a sense of accomplishment and control in my out-of-control world.  It helps me to re-center and realize that I am not the general manager of the universe.  Nor do I need to be,

#3: you are allowed to feel your feelings

Psychology Today says that actively processing and allowing ourselves to show up for our emotions is what heals all wounds.  You must allow that feeling to visit.  You must sit with it and allow it to teach you.  But you must not allow it to overstay.  Feel it.  Cry.  Scream.  Laugh.

And then move on.

#4:  you are unique

Your neighbor is killing it with the homeschooling.  And your sister-in-law is dominating a new exercise routine.  Cousin Suzy has planted the perfect vegetable garden. And your best friend is sewing masks like she’s under a deadline.  But you can barely convince yourself to take a shower and get dressed each morning.

This does not mean you are failing.  This means you may be in the same boat as everyone else in the world, but your storm looks different.  At the neighbor’s house, it’s only sprinkling because she has always wanted to be a teacher.  It’s a light rain at your sister-in-law’s house, because she’s always been into fitness.  Cousin Suzy and your best friend both know it’s raining pretty hard.  Being busy is their way of coping with stress, so they hardly even notice.  But in your world, the hurricane is blowing full force.

You will be OK.  Not because I said so.  I know that won’t fix it.  You’ll be OK because you choose to face the storm and celebrate the small victories.

#5:  you are normal

In a blog post on Crosscut, Peter Rosencrans, a therapist and doctoral student at University of Washington Department of Psychology’s Center for Anxiety & Traumatic Stress, says it’s normal to be anxious during a pandemic and feel like your mood is more variable than usual. “Anxiety is a response to a perceived threat to our safety. Feeling sad or anxious in and of itself is not dangerous. They’re temporary reactions. Just remind yourself: It’s normal to feel this way. That reminder can be comforting in itself.”

 

The struggle is real

Isolation, ambiguity, and uncertainty only add to the stress that can result from dealing with anxiety and depression or other mental health issues.  All of these require a great support system.  This can be family, friends, councelors, group therapy, or anything else that reassures you that you are not alone in your struggles.

I’ve written before about how I’ve used schedules and routines to cope with anxiety.  Here is a post about planning. This post contains information about planning and coping with stress.  But it’s difficult to make plans beyond today when we don’t know what tomorrow will bring.  So my new routine is planning one day at a time.

Thankfully, many helplines exist if you need answers to your questions.  Almost all of us have never been in our current situation before – loss of income, insufficient child/elder care, lack of social and physical interaction, inability to patiently teach the children.  The list goes on and on.  Every struggle is real.

Helplines

Here are some places you can reach out to:

National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline: 1-800-950-6264

Federal Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990

Throughout Ohio, you can access the Crisis Text Line by texting the keyword “4hope” to 741 741 to be connected to a trained Crisis Counselor. Data usage while texting Crisis Text Line is free and the number will not appear on a phone bill with the mobile service carrier. People of all ages can use Crisis Text Line.

 

5 Questions to Ask Yourself Daily During COVID-19 Stay at Home Orders

It’s easy to get caught up in all the worry and panic floating around out there as we all do our best to stay at home and to practice social distancing during the Stay at Home orders.

And that means it’s easy to get sucked into things like anxiety and depression and fear.

Self-care is really important in these uncertain times.  You’re no good to anyone else if you become exhausted and freaked out.

As you take your body’s temperature to monitor your physical health, you should take your mind’s temperature as well.  Ask yourself the following questions at the end of each day to see how well you’re coping.  I have a couple Facebook friends who post their answers daily for accountability, both to themselves and to their Facebook community.  You could also keep a COVID-19 journal.  Record your answers there for a record when we come out on the other side.

1.  What did I accomplish today?

For some folks, getting out of bed and getting dressed is some days an accomplishment.  So that counts!  But this can mean anything from making progress on a continuing genealogy project to planting seeds in your garden to sending a card to brighten someone else’s day.

Establishing a daily routine has been proven to be an effective way to deal with anxiety and depression.  It can help you to focus on the here-and-now and not on all the what-ifs during the Stay at Home orders.  WebMD has a good planner that you can use.  Find it here.  It was designed for those recovering from clinical depression, but it is also a good tool to prevent anxiety and depression.  Try to not look at this as “I can’t wait till this is over!”  Really conquering this disease and preventing its spread will be a marathon, not a sprint.

Break your day up, and then just survive this segment if that’s what it takes for you.  Telling yourself “I can make it one more hour” is easier than “I can do this for 12 more months!”

As a list maker, I’ve relied on writing down my small goals and planning routines for most of my life.  As the mom of a son with ADD, routines were a life-saver in preventing melt-downs both for him and for me!  And as a writer – someone says “journal” and the sunray splits the clouds to the tune of an angel chorus!

2.  Did I do anything today to keep my space clean?

Research shows that a clean environment is less stressful than a cluttered one.

Sherri Bourg Carter, PsyD offers a good explanation on Psychology Today:  “Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli (visual, olfactory, tactile), causing our senses to work overtime on stimuli that aren’t necessary or important.”

So take this time to clean up the space you inhabit, tackling both those daily tasks that we’ve been instructed to follow to curtail the virus spread and those extra de-cluttering tasks that you couldn’t seem to find time for before.  And by all means – if anyone else shares your living space, get them involved too!

Just yesterday, my husband and I tackled the monumental task of defrosting our old upright freezer.  It was made before the concept of self-defrost, and as you can see from the pictures, it was in desperate need of a warm-up.  It checked off 2 boxes at once – I was productive, and I did something to keep my space clean!

From this  to this!!    

3.  Did I talk to someone besides my husband (or others who live with me) today?

In this electronic age, it is often very easy to make a phone call, video chat, or just connect on Facebook.  Be sure to check up on family and friends, both down the street or across the country.  This is the time to help each other to stay positive.

Often we begin to feel depressed or anxious because we can’t physically be with the people who are most important to us.  The folks over at WIRED have some unique suggestions on staying connected and still abiding by the Stay at Home orders.  They suggest that “Sheltering in place and keeping to yourself is enough to drive anyone a little stir-crazy. If you’re missing your friends and family, we’ve rounded up some apps, services, and ideas that can make your isolation feel a bit less lonely. We also have advice on how to be quarantined with someone without permanently damaging your relationship.”  Go here to see their lists.

I keep in touch with friends and family regularly with Facebook, texts, and emails.  Occasionally I’ll actually talk on the phone, although that’s not really my thing.  I’m a writer – duh!

4.  Did I go outside today?

Staying at home doesn’t necessarily mean staying in the house.  Here is a list of reasons that fresh air is good for you.

Go out in the backyard and enjoy the plants that are coming back to life.  Sit out on the front porch and crochet or read a book.  Mow the yard, pull some weeds, plant some seeds.  Fresh air will lift your spirits.

And open windows and doors if you can.  The fresh air will clear the air in your house and the cobwebs in your head.

I’ve struggled with this one on a regular basis.  Gardening has never been my thing, so I don’t often go outside just to go outside.  I do love being able to open doors and windows, but it’s still just a bit too cold for that most days here in Ohio.

5.  Did I practice self-care?

In an online interview Kathryn Doom, a licensed professional counselor in Ohio, told me that self-care is what you do to recharge yourself.  It’s different for everyone.  This could be as simple as showering and getting dressed.  It could also be reading a book, making art, cooking & eating a favorite food.  The list goes on.

She’s been talking to her patients a lot about self-care in terms of structure and routine.  This is “actually planning times for things, not just a to-do list.”  It’s “setting aside time for defining what self-care is for you personally.”  Whatever allows you to relax and recharge counts as self-care.

If you don’t put your cell phone on its charger regularly, it won’t work like you need it to.  Likewise, if you don’t recharge your own battery, your brain won’t work as well as you need it to.

Yes, Kathryn is my daughter.  And talking with my children is something I do for self-care.  It reminds me that I got the parenting thing right because I think all three turned out pretty well!

Self-care is usually the last thing on my daily to-do lists, though.  I just don’t take the time.  But I do love a good romance novel!  So I find plenty of them on Amazon to read on my Kindle app.  Kindle Unlimited Membership Plans can give you access to thousands of books in all genres for a really low price.  That should keep you busy for a while!

 

How are you coping?

Drop me a comment below and let me know your answers to the questions, or just in general what you’re doing to keep your spirits up.

COVID-19 … Coping Strategies in an Eerie World

 

I am not a gregarious person.  I enjoy being by myself or in the company of a few special people, with or without COVID-19.

Ohio’s Gov. Mike DeWine issued instructions to practice Social Distancing as we try to stop the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19.   So I have been staying home as much as possible.  I still go to my office job, but the business is currently closed.   So I am there for the most part by myself.  A great way to work and still stay safe.  Too bad not everyone has this opportunity.

Let me just say that I am sharing the resources for people in Ohio.  If you do not live in Ohio, I’m sure your state or country has similar resources at similar web addresses.  These are just the ones I am using.

I must also qualify — I am neither an expert nor a health care professional.  The information in this post is in no means meant to be medical advice.

Going out

Today I had to go out to the bank & to get some milk.  The world just seems eerie.  I saw parking lots that are usually full sitting empty.  The number of cars I would normally encounter on such a trip was significantly more sparse.  And the number of people in the store was drastically lower than it would be under normal circumstances.  It reminded me of when I used to go to work at 5:00 a.m., only the sun was shining.  Eerie.

Gov. DeWine closed schools & colleges, dine-in restaurants, bars, salons, tattoo parlors, even most BMV locations to help slow down the spread of COVID-19.  He has now ordered employers to take workers’ temperatures at the beginning of the workday, sending them home immediately if they have a fever.  And we’re to practice Social Distancing – staying at least 6 feet away from anyone we encounter outside our homes.

Attitudes

Attitudes run the gamut from total panic and germophobia to complacency and refusal to be told what to do by the government.  Why are people so stubborn?

Ohio’s governor, along with Ohio’s public health director Dr. Amy Acton, have explained that these precautions are to stop the spread of COVID-19 and to avoid overwhelming the health care system with new cases.  They’ve given some very good advice about working from home and keeping our distance from other people.  But of course, humans aren’t programmed to behave that way.   And since they won’t follow the directions of the governor and the health care advisors, they have been forced to shut down over-populated situations for the foreseeable future.

I almost felt like I was breaking some rule, being in a space I was not allowed to enter, as I moved about the store to get the handful of items I needed today.  It showed on most people’s faces that they feel challenged by the current restrictions.  Only one person that I encountered smiled at me.

Staying mentally healthy during COVID-19

Dr. Josh Gordon, MD, PhD, director of the National Institute of Mental Health says that “for those with anxiety disorders, worry may be all-consuming. For those with schizophrenia, the concern that people are infectious may contribute to paranoia. And for those with depression, lack of social engagement and disruption in routines could increase symptoms.”

Social distancing does not have to mean social isolation.  In this electronic age, we have so many different ways to stay connected to each other.  It’s important to check on each other.  If you know someone who struggles with these issues, please give them a call or send them a text or video message to make sure they’re OK.  If you ARE one of those people, please do your best to keep all your appointments with your health care providers, either in person or by teleconference.  They are still there for you, though the way you stay in touch may change.

The Ohio Department of Health gives us these symptoms to watch out for:

Recognize signs of distress:

• Feeling hopeless or helpless.
• Feelings of numbness, disbelief, anxiety or fear.
• Changes in appetite, energy, and activity levels.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Difficulty sleeping or nightmares and upsetting thoughts and images.
• Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes.
• Worsening of chronic health problems.
• Anger or short-temper.
• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

If you need to reach out for help, the ODH recommends:

• Contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s national Disaster Distress Helpline by calling 1-800-985-5990 or texting TalkWithUs to 66746.
• Reach the Ohio Crisis Text Line* by texting keyword 4HOPE to 741 741.
• Reach the Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services Help Line* at 1.877.275.6364
• Find a provider at https://findtreatment.gov.

Beware the media & scams during COVID-19

Try not to overload on news of the pandemic.  Choose one reliable source — I’ve just been watching the daily press conferences given by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted,  and Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, MD, MPH, shown on the Ohio Channel Facebook page.  This way I get the information on the latest information regarding COVID-19 in Ohio straight from the horse’s mouth.  If I’m confused by something, I will seek more information.  But it does no good to speculate on something there is no data for.  This is all new stuff, so EVERYTHING is just a guess.

And I think that’s why this is so unnerving for some, including me — we don’t know when it will be over.  We can’t tell ourselves “in 2 weeks, everything will be back to normal.”  This may very well become our new normal for many weeks.

Beware also of scams that will undoubtedly crop up.  Do not give any of your personal information to anyone that you did not initiate contact with.  Ask the person on the other end to give you time to verify the information and a number where you can call them back.  If it’s a scam, you’ll usually hear the click of them hanging up.

Stay busy and enjoy the time with your family

Please stop complaining about how much time you have to spend with your kids now that they aren’t in school.  Many, many healthcare workers are just praying that they don’t bring COVID-19 home to their families.

And I bet many of you are just now realizing that it’s not easy being a teacher.  Just think —  you’re probably only dealing with 3-5 children.  They deal with 5 or 6 times that many students at once!  Maybe one of your activities should be to make and send thank you notes to your kids’ teachers.  Here’s the script — “Dear Teacher, I had NO IDEA what you go through each and every day.  I’m sorry for all of those nasty comments I made a few weeks ago ……”

There are SO many things you can do that you never had time for before!  Use the time to teach your kids – or yourself? – how to cook, how to draw, how to plant a vegetable garden indoors.  The list is endless, and there are a lot of good videos on YouTube or elsewhere on the internet that can help you with this.  Learning together can be fun!

There’s a great list of activities here in case you run out of your own ideas.  Leave me a comment below and tell me what your family is doing to stay busy and re-discover each other.

 

 

 

Can we still travel safely during COVID-19 pandemic?

Honestly, I’m not qualified to answer that question.  The worldwide pandemic caused by COVID-19 is admittedly a bit scary.  Each person must determine his/her own level of cautiousness, based on which, if any, risk factors he/she has to deal with.  Using common sense and erring on the side of caution are always good ideas when deciding if one can still travel safely.

Personally, I will not be traveling much until the virus is contained and the health departments give the all-clear.  So my posting may change a bit for a while.  I can still share some past trips we’ve taken.  And we can still talk about anxiety and how to deal with it.

According to the World Health Organization, “Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.”  COVID-19 is a novel (new) coronavirus.

For those of you who feel more confident about continuing to be out among people, or you simply have to get out to shop for essentials, I’ve compiled a list of things you can do to stay safe out there.

General precautions from Dr. Robb

This list comes mostly from James Robb, M.D., an expert on coronaviruses.

1.  No handshaking.  Greet others with a fist bump, elbow bump, or slight bow.

2.  Use only your knuckle to touch light switches, elevator buttons, etc.

3.  Lift the gasoline dispenser with a paper towel or use a disposable glove.

4.  Open doors with your closed fist or hip.  Do not grasp the handle with your hand.  This is especially important with bathroom doors and commercial doors.

5.  Use disinfectant wipes at stores when they are available.

6. Whenever you return home from ANY activity that involves locations where other people have been,  wash your hands for 10-20 seconds.  Sing your ABC’s to yourself (or out loud if you feel confident!) or something like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” or the Doxology (for you church-goers that know that one).  These are all about 20 seconds long, so you’ll know you’ve scrubbed long enough when you come to the end of the song.  Or use a greater than 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.  Keep some in your car and at all the entrances to your home.

7. Cough or sneeze into a tissue and discard whenever possible.  Use your elbow if you have to, but clothing on your elbow will contain infectious virus that can be passed on for up to a week or more!

8.  Don’t touch your face!  This virus is lung specific, and it only enters through your mouth and nose.  Unfortunately, we touch our nose/mouth 90 times per day without even realizing it.

A good plan from the Japanese

Japanese doctors treating COVID-19 make this recommendation:

Take a few sips of water every 15 minutes at least.  Why?  Even if the virus gets into your mouth, drinking water or other liquids will wash them down through your throat and into the stomach.  Stomach acid will kill all the virus.

To travel safely, follow these suggestions

If you are still going to travel within the US, here are some helpful suggestions to travel safely and to just generally keep yourself from getting sick.  These are not just COVID-19 precautions; these will help keep you healthy in general.

1.  Boost your immune system.  Several days before you set out, add these immune system booster foods to your diet:  citrus fruits, red bell peppers, broccoli, garlic, ginger, spinach, almonds, yogurt, turmeric, green tea, papaya, kiwi, poultry, sunflower seeds, and shellfish.

2.  Get enough sleep.  Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per night to function properly.

3.  Regulate your caffeine.  The Mayo Clinic says 400 mg of caffeine per day seems to be safe for the average adult.

4.  Hydrate.  Healthline recommends 8 8 oz. glasses of water per day.  This is known as the 8×8 Rule, which makes it easy to remember.  And if you’re following the advice of the Japanese above, you’ll have no problem getting that much water in you.

While you’re traveling, you may want to use your own water bottle with its own purifier.  LARQbottle or Brita are good choices!

5.  Be wary of your surroundings.  Be sure to only use glasses in hotel rooms that are sealed completely in plastic.  Otherwise, wash them yourself in very hot water before using.  Wipe surfaces down with disinfectant wipes before you touch them.  This includes counters, chairs, airplane surfaces, TVs, etc.

P.S – Do you know what the dirtiest surface in an airport is?  The self-check-in kiosk.  Second are the water fountain handles.

Common Sense will help you travel safely

Above all, use your common sense to help you travel safely.  Don’t lick doorknobs.  Put your food on a plate or napkin, not directly on a table.  Don’t shake hands with someone you just saw sneeze into their hand.  Use the brain God gave you!  Most importantly — wash your hands OFTEN and don’t touch your face.

These are good guidelines with or without the coronavirus out there.

There is a great article on The Conversation website – Ten Reasons We Ought Not to Panic.

But the biggest thing is this – be kind to one another.  We’re all in this together.  We need to share the soap, the disinfectants, the toilet paper with each other, because my safety relies not only on ME washing my hands, but on others doing likewise.  Remember the words of Dr. Spock in Star Trek’s The Wrath of Khan:  the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.

 

 

 

Huzzah!  The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

Even people who don’t know or care much about history have heard of the Boston Tea Party.

In case you’re a little rusty, the Encyclopedia Brittanica says the Boston Tea Party was an ” incident in which 342 chests of tea belonging to the British East India Company were thrown from ships into Boston Harbor by American patriots disguised as Mohawk Indians. The Americans were protesting both a tax on tea (taxation without representation) and the perceived monopoly of the East India Company.

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum in Boston is one of the best historical attractions I’ve visited.  And I’ve been to a lot of them!  It is a multi-sensory experience that includes live actors in period costume, interactive exhibits, and a full-scale replica of an 18th-century sailing vessel!  We found ourselves immersed in the experience and did not realize just how long we’d been there!

The Boston Tea Party began at Boston’s Old South Meeting House

Our journey also begins in Boston’s Old South Meeting House.  Patriots have gathered there to discuss Parliament’s latest attempt to control the Colonies and what they’re going to do about it.

As we enter, each person receives a card with an identity to assume for the meeting.

Whaddaya know — I work for the newspaper!!

A very enthusiastic young lady prompts us that if we strongly disagree with the speaker, we should boo loudly & thumb our nose, fingers extended.  If we agree, shout “Huzzah!!” as loud as you can.

We’re also given feathers.  Why?  They’re part of the disguise we’ll use when we board the ship later.  We’ll be dressed as Mohawk Indians so the local authorities can’t identify us.

There is much nose-thumbing and many shouts of “Huzzah!” during this heated meeting.  Here we meet the leader of the Sons of Liberty, Sam Adams.  According to History.com, “on December 16, 1773, in a packed room in Boston’s Old South Meeting House when a peaceful solution seemed impossible, Adams exclaimed, “This meeting can do nothing more to save the country!”  While the meaning of the quote has been debated, some historians believe it was a coded message alerting rebels to begin aggressively dumping crates of tea into Boston Harbor in a brazen act of defiance.”  We all follow the Patriots, almost giddy from the rallies of the meeting.

Boston Tea Party Ships

The Sons of Liberty sweep us along in their enthusiasm, all the way to the ship.

There we tour the sailing vessel.  Entering the small, dark hold where the tea was kept is actually a challenge for some.  Not me!  Huzzah for being vertically challenged!  😉

 

 

 

And then we help them toss the tea into the harbor.

Griffin’s Wharf

 

Now as we all know, for every action there is a consequence.  Our journey next takes us to Griffin’s Wharf.  This is a wonderful part of the exhibit.  Still engulfed in the dark of the night, holographic images of both Loyalists and Patriots discuss the ramifications of the night’s Boston Tea Party.   Men and women alike argue the merits and potential repercussions of the choices made recently.

As reported on the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum web site, “George Hewes remembered, “We then quietly retired to our several places of residence, without having any conversation with each other, or taking any measures to discover who were our associates… There appeared to be an understanding that each individual should volunteer his services, keep his own secret, and risk the consequence for himself. No disorder took place during that transaction, and it was observed at that time that the stillest night ensued that Boston had enjoyed for many months.” ”

The Minuteman Theatre

Passing through a room filled with artifacts and paintings, including the Robinson Tea Chest, we enter a theatre.  The Minuteman Theatre is a multi-sensory panoramic experience that puts us right in the middle of the Revolution.  Paul Revere shares the excitement of his midnight ride. And we stand with the militiamen on Lexington Green as the “shot heard round the world” is fired.  We can feel the rumble of the horses and hear the shouting as the battle begins.  It’ll get you thinking about the statement you made when you tossed that tea overboard.

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum Gift Shop

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum gift shop holds an abundance of gifts and mementos you can take home with you (for a price, of course!)  We chose two crates of tea!

Abigail’s Tea Room

Abigail’s Tea Room is a fitting end to your journey.  You’ll taste the teas that were thrown overboard during the Boston Tea Party, and sample many tasty pastries.  And don’t forget to take some with you to enjoy later!

If you are fortunate enough to plan well, on the first Friday of every month, you can grab a mug of ale and join the Sons & Daughters of Liberty for the best hospitality in all of 18th century Boston.  HUZZAH! Tavern Nights.  This looks like tons of fun, and we hope to include it on our next trip to Boston.  Priced right around $50 per person, this is a good deal for a good meal and a couple of hours of merriment!

Website for more information

Check out the museum’s website for a wealth of information about both the original Boston Tea Party and the museum itself.

Two thumbs up!

We definitely recommend adding the Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum to your travel plans the next time you’re in Boston!  It is well-thought-out, and the period guides are quite knowledgable.  They’re also very approachable and don’t mind at all answering your questions.

Well worth the cost of admission.