There is a collective fatigue that is plaguing a lot of people right now.  It stems from uncertainty and a loss of our normal.  Many people are experiencing not only a loss of normalcy, but a loss of their livelihood and income.  This crisis will strip some bare and at the very least, change us all in some way as we move forward.  But how do we move forward or in some cases just stand still so we don’t roll downhill?

We are all carrying a big bag of “rocks”. Rocks called “worry”, “fright”, “concern”, “anxiety”, “sadness”, “shock” and “loss”. Some may be carrying more rocks than others. How do we unload these rocks or at least put them down for a bit? The answer lies within our own sense of hope and the support and compassion of others. We have to name these rocks we carry, feel them, hold them in our hands and then allow them to drop. These rocks will fall from our hands, just like emotion. Knowing that may provide some relief. But denying what’s in our bag will only make the bag feel heavier. We need to notice, name and accept what we carry so we can deal with what we are holding. Sometimes we need others to help lighten our load. At other times, we have the ability to lighten the load for others. This is how we move forward. We call on our own fortitude and we reach out for support from others. If this crisis teaches us just one thing, I hope that it brings a collective, cultural recognition of just how interdependent we are on each other. We are meant to be in community during good times and times of challenge. It is how we are wired.

Having compassion for ourselves is something we can do to lessen the collective load.  It’s important to recognize our own suffering and understand what we need to self-soothe.  To recognize our own suffering is not selfish.  It does not increase the suffering of others when we recognize our own.  Comparing our circumstances and deciding who deserves more compassion does not help anyone.  I am reminded as a child of God, that God has enough love and compassion for everyone, in every circumstance.  So, if we pray for ourselves and others and practice self-love and love for others, we are moving forward.  What might practicing self-love look like – keeping a gratitude journal, a walk outside, meditation, snuggling with our pet, creating, sleeping, reading, talking, praying, eating healthfully, noticing our breath or just standing outside looking at the stars at night? When you take these reprieves for yourself, you have the ability to focus on the present and thus take your attention from the “rocks” that pull you into focusing on the future or past, none of which you can manipulate or change.  You may feel a sense of relief, peace or maybe even witness some magic.  You may even be able to sustain enough peace practicing self-compassion that you will have the energy to reach out and love someone else. And loving someone else could just be a smile, a hug, a talk or even a game of scrabble – remember scrabble? It has been fun to witness the creative ways people have shown love.  So the big question is,  “How can I show love?”  Showing love creates hope and that feels good for those who give it and those who receive it.  This is how we move forward.