When life overwhelms...we are not alone.

When life overwhelms and is full of uncertainty, especially at present with fires engulfing and threatening our land, our towns, our homes, our livelihoods, our holiday destinations, our dear friends and family and so many beloved creatures. What an out pouring of grief as we witness the shocking evacuation, the loss and the experience of so many fellow humans, both victims and emergency workers and of animals at the mercy of this distressing bushfire emergency.

And yet what amazing stories of relief and respite and intervention. The generosity of so many to aid and support the variety of need in as many ways, including: food vans arriving to provide nutritious meals for the displaced, finding and caring for distressed or injured animals and even a ‘thank-you’ banner made to show appreciation and to honour the CFA, also in order to occupy the young at such a stressful time.

Even from afar as we grieve, our felt sense of safety, of security and of stability is under threat. Our anxiety and our stress may have peaked after hearing the news, seeing the footage and smelling the smoke as it lingers across the miles. How can we alleviate this anxiety, manage our stress and not feel guilty that we are far removed from others painful experience? It’s not that we don’t care, we’ve all shed a tear or said a prayer or donated some money but immersing ourselves in grief is not going to change what has and is happening.

We’ve heard it said before but it really might be a good idea to take a break from our devices? This can help alleviate some of our stress. Maybe then we are more able to use our emotional energy to make a difference? By giving our time or money, by simply listening or offering the comfort of a cup of tea or by quietly debriefing with one-another, our shared pain does somehow bring us some relief.

During and after devastation we realise how vulnerable we all are. How undeserved suffering is. That’s when we join together to comfort, to help and to offer practical assistance. Strength to strength, all doing the best we can given what we’ve got or what we’ve been through. True community at it’s worst and at it’s best. Through this we can potentially glimpse and gain a real sense of connectedness, even joy, that can reassure us and restore our hope that others do care and we are not alone.

Grief is a process and it can be really debilitating. We may never forget what has happened but we do need to process it. We need to be compassionate with ourselves, to be patient with one-another and to allow time for adjustment and healing to take place.

Whenever we suffer there are thoughts to express, emotions to manage, issues to deal with and lessons to be learned but this can take some time to fathom. May we all find the courage to seek the help we need in 2020.

If you’re stuck?

Let’s talk!