Breathe

I’m going to be honest. It’s been difficult to do much of anything during these times. So far, I’ve caught up on my favorite shows, which I couldn’t watch with college being both fast paced and seemingly never ending. I’ve decluttered and reorganized my living space. I got out of bed and went outside of my room today. I ate more than once. I felt the cold water trickle down my back while I showered. I went outside to admire nature’s beauty. I took a walk around the neighborhood and observed people being present with the ones they love for the first time in a long time. I felt myself being more tender with my words. I felt an intimacy to people I held close to my heart. Yet, I still felt emotionally distant at times.   

My thoughts have begun to overflow. Our world changed in the blink of an eye, and for many, including myself, we didn’t have time to adjust. Quite frankly, I am still unsure how to cope with this situation. Giving myself permission to not “be productive” is the greatest gift I’ve given myself during this period. I’ve been taking the time to truly relax and unwind. I’m learning what those words mean to me now and examining what they have represented for me in the past. I have to constantly remind myself to take a step back from the flood of news and breathe. 

Allowing myself to slow down and cherish the daily hints of joy, such as embracing nature and speaking with friends, is how I’ve found refuge in all the chaos. Sending tiktoks to my loved ones and laughing for fifteen minutes straight is my joy. Facetiming my friends and debriefing is healing during this time. Allowing myself to feel all my emotions and examine those further is healing. Seeing the world stay home and care for each other on so many levels has given me hope for the future. 

We are all more interconnected than we realize and we all have a global responsibility to care for one another. Our humanity is tied to our love and compassion for one another as well as for ourselves. I urge you to let your compassion fuel your actions in the future. This is how we understand one another, this is how we rebuild, this is how we heal.