by Erynn Laurie
We are all human and vulnerable and we are living through a global trauma right now. The silence and the isolation may not seem like what you have been taught to see as a trauma, but it is.
Everything you are feeling right now, even if it is contradictory, is okay. Fear, anger, anxiety restlessness, sadness, depression, a need to sleep, a need to distract yourself, a need to keep working longer and longer hours, a desire to help others, a desire to hide from everything, all of it is a normal response to a traumatic situation. A desire to reach out to people you haven’t spoken to in years is normal. Worry for friends and family far away is normal. A need to connect with others is normal. Crying is normal.
If you are the one who usually reaches out to help, it is okay to ask for help. If you are usually cheerful, it is okay to need cheering up. If you are always busy, it is okay to rest. Even if it’s hard, it is okay to reach out, because we are all here together. We are a community, and communities help each other in difficult times.
Sometimes little things help more than you will ever know. Someone posting a photo from their garden may be a bright beacon to someone who can only look out their window into the street, or into the wall of the building next door. A quick note to a friend might ease a difficult day. A recipe shared might give someone ideas for what to cook if they’re tired and not thinking clearly.
Humans are social creatures. We naturally want to act in groups and help each other. Even though we are separated right now in our houses and apartments, in our rooms, that instinct remains, and we can reach out to help others. The empty streets of our city are a profound act of love, compassion, and solidarity; we are protecting each other from a disease that is threatening everyone.
Remember that love is a powerful force and that acting from love is our great strength. Be kind to yourself. Be gentle with yourself. Be patient with yourself. Remember that it is still okay to feel joy.
We are all in this together.
Beautifully said.