The First Drop

I was sitting in a small room in a small house in rural Kenya with my friend, Katie. It was night, but we could see and hear that a storm was coming. There was some talk earlier in the month about a drought and folks were worried. The rain started small, then medium, then large, then the wind, thunder and lightning. It sounded and felt like the sky cracked open. I thought our thin metal roof would float away. Katie and I sat by the window, listening to the rain, hoping we were safe. All we could do was wait, but we were together, watching.

It's amazing how such a small thing can turn into a raging storm. Here we are. At war with the invisible. Our humanity is being challenged and for most of us, I believe, we are rising to the occasion. We are taking a look at our lives, how we do things, how we spend money, how we use our time. We are taking stock of our relationships as we are forced together and apart. Are we still strangers? I love the people in my neighborhood who stop and wave at me through my window. I notice more eye contact, a need to connect. We're all experiencing the same thing. What an amazing moment in our history that no matter where we are on this planet, we understand one another. We empathize with each other. We all know sickness, we all know death, we understand survival.

I personally go through an emotional roller coaster throughout the week. I worry a lot, I'm paranoid, I'm hopeful, I'm tired, I'm bored, I'm energized, I'm thankful, I'm enraged. Some days I have to push myself more than others. I literally force myself to get up and do something sometimes, which is why I have way too many baked goods in my house. Those out there with depression, I feel you. This is hard, especially if isolation is not healthy for you. We try so hard not to isolate and now we're being told too. Hopefully you have the coping skills and people in your life to help. I've been working on living in the moment. But the more I try to be in the moment, the more I think about how I got here. I think about my life. I think about the moments like the story above that color my existence. During this quarantine we're all living in an interesting moment in time. If you have small children, they might ask you about this one day. We'll review this experience over and over again and for a while have something in common.

I talk about this a lot on my Facebook page and I know you've heard it before. Try to stay connected but don't overwhelm yourself. Don't put pressure on yourself. Put time aside during the day for worry, because you'll need a solid mind at the end of all this. Constant stress and worry is not going to take this away. Make plans, even if that's "how are we going to survive" plans. Set aside time in the day for some form of peace. Walk away for a minute, take a breath, put the baby down, do a lap around your house. Go and scream it out somewhere if needed. Cry it out! Try to engage in a healthy release instead of arguing or fighting it out.

Remember, in times of crisis, relationships are vital. Don't take your anger, fear, anxiety out on those around you... those that love you. They don't deserve it (even if they do, it's not helpful). Walk away, find a way to process your negativity in a healthy way. Focus on what you can do. Try to get outside. Try to move. Don't panic. Ask for help! You're not alone.

We got this, team! If we all practice healthy behaviors, social distancing, and stay home, the storm will end. Life will resume. If you need a person to reach out to and/or need tips please drop me a note on my Welcome page. I work in crisis intervention and have resources if needed. I'm happy to hear from you. If you just want to write something and get it out into the void, please send it to me. If you need help and don't know where to go, ask and I'll try my best to help. I'm here to listen and to hear you.

“We are each other's harvest; we are each other's business;

we are each other's magnitude and bond.” Gwendolyn Brooks