Is everything perfect in your life?

If you are one of those people who have it all together, things are going along exactly as you planned, and you’ve resolved all your past trauma, this post is not for you.

For the rest of us:

It has come to my attention that I am not the only one struggling right now. Post pandemic, many people are trying to return to a normal that no longer exists.

The pandemic was a collective trauma and we are working out new versions of our lives. Because only the most insular believe that nothing has changed.

Trauma

Trauma takes things from you: people, money, status, routines, your favorite pizza place.

Huff here had his favorite pillow/blankie. It made him feel safe and comfy. The world made sense when he was curled up on his blankie.

We create lives that act as a security blanket.

And the pandemic has made a mess of our blankies. There are rips and holes in them:

People Sized Holes

Some relationships dissolved. Friends moved away. Coworkers quit.

Some we don’t know what happened.

Sandy and I miss the elderly man we regularly saw in the park pre-pandemic. He was frail but he loved to pat Sandy’s head and tell me about his dog that looked like her. He brightened our day. I hope we did the same for him. But we haven’t since him since early 2020.

More holes

The great resignation made holes in workplaces.

There are money sized holes. Routine sized holes, and yes a big hole that was the pizza place you loved but it didn’t survive lockdown.

Time for kindness

While we work on our blankies, let’s be kind to one another.

We’re all struggling and could use a little extra warmth right now.