Where We Are

I feel like this sign sometimes. Don't you?

by Jan McDaniel

It's July in a year we never expected. It's hot. We're well into a pandemic and the many changes it brings that we are going to have to live with for a while. Political and social unrest are affecting most of us. The future is uncertain for all of us. And we are grieving. Where are you right now? Do you sometimes feel you've forgotten what you were doing, starting off in one direction only to cross a room and lose your train of thought? Where are we?

So much is pulling and pushing at us right now. What is the best course of action to protect ourselves from Covid-19? Should schools reopen? How does vote by mail work? Who should I listen to? How can we manage grief work when going to the grocery store has become so confusing? These and many other questions can feel overwhelming to anyone, especially someone who has been wounded by a recent loss.  

If you feel this way, there are ways you can help yourself. Here are a few:

• Evaluate your situation and decide what is most important to you.
• Decide if certain things can be put aside for now. 
• Whatever you do, do not put self-care and your grief work on the back burner.
• Find support if you haven't already. It really helps.
• Ask for help from doctors, counselors, friends, and family.
• Ask for understanding, too.
• Take one thing at a time.
• Rest. 

One way to plan and gain insights into where you are now and where you should go next is to write in a journal. Even five minutes a day is beneficial. This might end up being your peaceful time. Everyone needs moments dedicated to "just being" during each day. Nurture your soul by looking at natural scenes. Start a new routine of having a cup or cool glass of tea in the afternoons. These things become natural routines after just a few tries. They become something to look forward to, and that is healing.

If you feel the world outside of your home is too much to care about right now, that's okay. Remember, you are not alone. Each person facing any or all of these 2020 challenges can only move through the moments one at a time. You can do this. You can.
​