It’s officially been a year since all this really got started. A year since I’ve stopped seeing clients in person (telehealth appointments are available for those interested), a year since we all started wearing masks, a year since — most significant for many of us — we’ve been secluded to our own living spaces. A year since the pandemic started.
Take a deep breath. How do you feel?
If you’re anything like me, you’re exhausted. Emotionally drained. Emotionally battered, even, without any of the normal joy, love, or generosity you’re used to having. I saw a post the other day: “Everyone needs more than anyone else can give right now.”
Whew. Isn’t that the truth?
We all need more from each other than any of us are able to give. We crave support, but don’t have the energy to offer it. We yearn for patience and grace, but find ourselves angry, irritable, and stressed. And it’s not because something’s wrong with us; it’s because we’re all going through a serious trauma and it has been an entire year. This has been hard.
Stop. Take a deep breath. We have been living through a pandemic.
For this blog post, I want nothing more than to let you know you are seen. I see you. I’m with you. I, too, feel that pain and stress and just too muchness. It’s been a year. It’s been painful.
We all need more than any of us can give right now.
Just know that you are not alone. It will get better. Right now it has been a year, and we are all exhausted. The only thing you need to do is keep going. It won’t last forever.
So what do you need to keep going? What do you need from yourself?
Can you give yourself rest? How about grace? Can you allow yourself to find joy in small things, to cut yourself some slack if you haven’t been your best?
Can you stop right now and give yourself a slow, deep breath?
Can you give yourself a warm shower? How about a blanket wrapped around your arms and over your head? Can you give yourself something gentle to eat?
We all need more than anyone can give right now. If we’re going to heal, we have to take these small steps to give ourselves healing. The more you give to yourself, the sooner you’ll be able to give that patience to your loved ones.
We will get through this. You will get through this. One day, one breath, at a time.
Photo by Žygimantas Dukauskas on Unsplash
