There is a light…
The light may be a bit dim at this current moment, but if we can manage to keep the light going in our souls, we will truly see how radiant it can be.
We all are encountering the impact that some days are harder than others. Most days we can keep our head planted firmly on our shoulders and muster through a part of the day that pushes us into a funk, but sometimes it is just downright difficult and feels like an impossible task. Then other days, we are all experts, mastering the fine art of balancing working from home, homeschooling our kiddos, making endless meals to nourish our families (if we are so lucky to have this luxury), and perhaps finding the time to aid our neighbors and essential workers.
Many of us have a countless number of thoughts running through our head on any given day and at times we feel helpless…helpless for the simple reality that we can’t change the unknown or make this experience feel less daunting. All we can do is offer a smile, a hug to a family member, and a word of compassion…there is a light.
Some days our hearts ache deeper due to the drastic changes and challenges we are now facing: schools and non-essential jobs closed and working remotely, neighbors struggling to keep food on the table, domestic violence on the rise, essential workers tirelessly working around the clock to keep us safe, elders missing their family and possibly feeling lonely, SAT/ACT, prom and graduations canceled, college kids plucked away from campus to return home months earlier than planned, all activities canceled, and spending time with our closest friends and acquaintances all placed on hold.
With the unknown looming and encircling the body and soul, we can only be left with the confidence of what we do know…
We are not alone and are experiencing this chain of events alongside each other. We have to embrace this experience day by day and hang in there as best as we can, recognizing that it is the best we can do at this point in time.
There is a light and maybe today it is not as dim.
If we look towards the light maybe we can have time to breathe and embrace the things that our life was missing. What was lost may be found if we open up our hearts and let the light in and see the silver lining. Maybe we were always desiring more family meals at the table together or time on the couch watching a movie that was missed due to recitals, tournaments, SAT prep, homework, extended work hours. Or maybe we wanted to learn how to cook one of grandma’s recipes but never got around to it and now the time has arisen where we can cook as a family.
The reality of this pandemic is also the stark reality that for some of our neighbors, a silver lining and the light is difficult to grasp amongst the angst of daily living. A job loss creating an atmosphere of dread while awaiting the much-needed unemployment check takes over, the kids being taught remotely becomes a burden to bear if a computer is not owned. The family dinner becomes stressful when the kitchen cabinets and refrigerator are becoming barren, and there are two more days to get through before venturing out to the food pantry.
Maybe the a-ha moment in all of this is that each and every one of us needed to learn something new about ourselves and our inner strength. Maybe, our soul needed to be healed and nourished with the stillness of each day, regardless of keeping a job or facing a job loss, having a bounty of food, or struggling to get food on the table, keeping the same budget or budgeting more due to financial changes. We are all facing the same pandemic but through a different lens.
On the days our light is dim, we don’t have to look far, we can find the light in the darkness if we open up our hearts to be at peace with the unknown.
There is a light. Some days the light may be vibrant while blinding our own eyes, and other days it may be a faint flicker, but if we can look towards the light and find a way through this pandemic united together, our light can only shine a bit brighter than before. Look towards the light. It will carry you forward.
