Two months into quarantine Being riddled with anxiety is nothing new for me; with a running diagnosis of a panic disorder there was always more at my disposal to distract myself with and not have to sit with the mounting chaos within my own head I’ve taken to trying to find ways to keep myself relaxed and entertained — all while staying inside I’ve had trouble focusing on taking in new things so I’ve decided to return to old favorites; namely movies where the character’s world and feelings feel more exaggerated than my own Particularly, the wild world of the films of Barbra Streisand She represents everything I look up to in the women that I know: unapologetic strength and a razor-sharp wit to keep everyone on their toes she is wholly herself to the absolute extreme and her certain kind of drive that demands your attention Streisand’s Oscar-winning directorial debut which she also adapted (And which was nominated for practically everything but Best Director which everyone should still be upset with the Academy for.) Set in a small village in Eastern Europe Yentl is the unmarried (gasp!) daughter of Reb Mendel who teaches her Talmud after his male students have finished for the day Yentl is unwilling to stay and fulfil her community’s expectations of her Yentl falls in love with fellow student Avigdor (a young Mandy Patinkin!) and who is very much in love with his fiancée who also thinks Yentl is a boy named Anchel But when Avigdor and Hadass’ engagement falls through they both think that Anchel would be the perfect replacement husband Overwhelmed by her conflicting desires — studying Talmud fulfilling Hadass’ expectations — Yentl becomes Just when it seems that she could have everything the only way Yentl has to express herself is (you guessed it!) to sing on high to God (and her papa) above all Yentl has to release her anxiety is her words both those directed to herself and to those she loves Throughout this quarantining experience, I’ve found myself belting along with her show tunes, Yentl’s soundtrack on repeat. I’ve been writing poetry in my diary more than I have in over a year, and as much as I don’t like to, I’ve been making myself presentable enough to go on Zoom and talk to the people I love from the shortest texts to the hours-long phone calls you just need to hear the words that someone cares When Yentl reveals to Avigdor her true identity bundled up among throngs of other immigrants the words Streisand sings in “A Piece of Sky” offer Although she’s “felt the most,” she’s realized that “sometimes where danger lies there the sweetest of pleasures are found.” unable to go beyond the bounds of my apartment walls I’ve realized that I take the most pleasure in stories like this How I Keep Calm is our series featuring different ways people manage anxiety please e-mail submissions@heyalma.com with “How I Keep Calm” in the subject line She was also an Alma Ambassador for 2019-2020 By submitting I agree to the privacy policy.