I want to share a few things that are helping me through the
endless days of going nowhere, but first I feel compelled to disclose that
it’s not all rainbows and unicorns over here.
As I’ve been trying to convince my students and clients, you can’t tell your
wisdom story if you don’t disclose the despair from which it grew.
I’ve woken up most mornings this week feeling horrible. Some old physical
symptoms have made an encore performance.
Not to mention that old dog, depression.
Some days, I haven’t had the strength to fight it. I’ve stayed in bed, never
bothered to shower or dress.
While I don’t claim to have the magic button for getting through a
pandemic, I can share what has helped me on those other days when a little
effort has carried me through.
1) Reading something inspiring.
I just finished reading Shala Nicely’s book about recovering from OCD, Is
Fred in the Refrigerator? I picked it up because I’m writing a memoir
about parenting OCD and wanted to see how the author had written about her
disorder.
As a writer, I admired how she collected wisdom and strategies like gold
coins in an old-fashioned quest story.
But mostly, it lifted my spirits to read something
heartbreakingly honest and vulnerable.
2) A good, long cry
Shala’s story has made me weep with gratitude and also brought up my grief.
Which seems to be the daily cocktail: gratitude and grief.
It helps to let it all out. As my business mentor, Samantha Bennett, often
reminds her tribe, feelings just want to be felt.
3) Receiving gratitude. Witnessing gratitude.
I’ve received emails, memes, and even poems expressing thanks for the
writing practice sessions I’ve been offering.
In addition to feeling good about serving my community, the expression of
unabashed gratitude is simply a gorgeous thing to behold.
4) Showing up for others.
Holding twice-weekly meditation and writing practice sessions has given me a
reason to shower, dress, and even apply a little make-up.
But it’s not just me who’s showing up. It’s everyone who participates holding
space for one another.
We
can carry each other through this.
- When you read an inspiring book, you remember how important it is to tell your story, to let yourself be vulnerable on the page.
- When you express your feelings, you remember that you are a sensitive creature and you need to acknowledge how deeply you feel things.
- When you are present with someone else’s gratitude, you are witness to the human heart.
- And when you gather together in community, you hold one another up.
Our practice sessions continue through quarantine.