Author: admin

I had a stroke

Originally posted 10/15/21

On Saturday Oct 2, 2021, I had a stroke. I was talking to my family, and I reached to open the door and I couldn’t. I didn’t remember how a lock worked. I was scared. I walked over to the chair, sat down and the words wouldn’t come. I knew what I wanted to say but I couldn’t say it. My family was understandably scared. 911 was called. They arrived in minutes. My blood pressure was high. I got to take my first ride in an ambulance complete with an IV started along the way. Once at the ER, I had a CT scan and a chest x-ray, and of course the obligatory Covid test. Neurology was consulted and the decision was made to start TPA, a clot busting treatment. I was moved to the ICU and more tests were run. They checked out my heart and carotid arteries and did an MRI. I was soon able to form basic words, but the more complex words still wouldn’t come.

On Sunday the neurologist was able to confirm a stroke to my frontal lobe localized to my speech and language center. Those that know me know that an attack on my speech and language is a huge blow! The mystery was now why did it happen. I had 16 vials of blood drawn to complete a clotting study. I had an PT and OT eval, and I moved to a regular room on the neurology floor. I struggled with language but that was thankfully my only deficit. Unfortunately, that meant I couldn’t eat without a swallow study-which the hospital didn’t do on Sunday. I hadn’t eaten since dinner on Friday! Needless to say, I was hungry and grumpy. I had to practice saying my name and birthdate as those are questions that everybody who enters my hospital room asked. Communicating was exhausting! I had to think about forming every word.

On Monday I was visited by the Stroke Liaison to talk through what to expect now that I have had I stroke. He discussed therapies, medications, diet, and exercise and my increased stroke risk. I also finally had the swallow study!! I could eat!!! I was able to order a lunch tray, and my nurse gave me some juice and cookies to hold me over. My neurologist visited as I was getting my lunch to tell me I could go home. They had done all the tests and I was stable, so there was nothing more they could in the hospital. I would be sent home with new meds, a 30-day heart monitor, and an order for outpatient speech therapy. They still weren’t sure of a cause, they suspect that it was the estrogen I was taking for hormone replacement. I was immediately taken off my hormone. 

I know I was very fortunate that my stroke was localized, and the only long-term effect was my language. That is truly the best outcome. Still, it doesn’t feel the best. It feels like I am trapped in my head, knowing what I want to say but being unable to say it, write it, or type it. It is interesting how it didn’t just impact my speech; I struggle to write and type too. Every word is a conscious thought in how to form it verbally, how to spell it, or how to form the letters. I spend my days practicing. It is frustrating! Theoretically I will get my language back over time. Time will tell…

(Just for reference, this post took me almost 2 hours and was read and edited by a friend before posting)

Let’s Be Real

Originally posted 12/14/2020

Time for another Mental Health Monday. It has been a couple of weeks since I have last written. I have been working on a few things, but nothing is ready to post. I haven’t been writing like I was when I started. Work stress, life stress, and the stress that is 2020 has been getting to me over the last few weeks. I’ve been working long hours, not sleeping enough, exercising—but not as regularly as I would like, and just generally been stressed. I has been an ugly combination, really, especially in a time and place when I have to keep on keeping on. It is tough to be motivated to write about mental health, when my own is struggling—or maybe that is the perfect time. It is real. Things are getting to me. I didn’t start this blog because I have answers. I started it to be honest and real about what is going through my head. Whether that is memories of my grandmother—especially now that the memories are what I have of her in my life, spiritual discipline/faith questions, leadership lessons I am learning, or mental health questions, my motivation in writing was to be real. To write about myself—my thoughts, my studies, my experiences—and to be as honest and transparent about things as possible.

I feel guilty at times when I struggle. Though I think we can all agree that 2020 has been quite a dumpster fire and we’re ready to get past all that it has brought, I know that I really don’t have it as badly as many in my world. I have a full-time job that pays my bills—as an essential worker, I certainly haven’t lost hours, pay or job security in this crazy time. I have experienced loss, but my immediate family remains healthy and well. My kids are staying healthy and are able to continue college and employment. It might look different than any of us might want, but it is there. I have resources that I can share with others. I am immensely grateful for what I have, and I am very aware that things could be much worse. The perspective doesn’t make my struggles any less real or valid, but it definitely causes me to feel guilty at times.

If I were talking with anyone else, I would remind them to be patient with themselves, to allow for grace, and to utilize coping skills. I’m much better at seeing that for other people than I am for myself. I know that I need to give myself some grace and to remind myself that it is ok to struggle. Powering through it isn’t always the answer, though it often feels as though it is. I am actively trying to remind myself to extend the same grace to myself that I do to others. We’ll see how that goes.

If you or someone you know is struggling in this season—whether it is the holidays, Covid, 2020 as a whole, or some other life event, stress or emotion, feel free to contact me. Email, Facebook messenger, or a socially distant cup of coffee are all great ways to seek support and be real when real matters most. No one needs to struggle alone.

Thanks for reading! 😊 EW 

Sleep—not enough, too much, tossing, turning…oh my!

Originally posted 12/1/2020

Welcome back to another mental health Monday (posting on Tuesday—sorry for the delay!). Today’s topic is sleep. Sleep and mental health go hand in hand. When our mental state struggles, our sleep patterns also struggle. Sometimes that means not getting enough sleep, and sometimes it means sleeping too much. I have most certainly seen both sides of the coin on sleep. I struggle to go to sleep, stay asleep and sleep restfully when I have a lot of stress at work, concerns with my kids/household/ finances, or am processing through a tough decision. This is very different than the nights that I way up with someone on my mind to take time to pray for—that happens in my world as well, but it is a much more peaceful time of awake than the stewing and stressing I do when I’m anxious about something and struggling to put it away for the night. Those nights are tough. Any sleep I do get feels like a hard-fought battle that leaves me even more tired than when I went to bed.

The flip side to that is the times when sleeping is the only thing I am motivated to do. As I have gone through times of depression in my past, I have learned that the greatest gift I can give myself is to get up and get dressed. In a year of working from home more than ever before, that might mean going from my night pajamas to my day pajamas, but changing clothes is important to my frame of mind. I have learned that staying in bed brings more staying in bed, which very quickly becomes tough for me to motivate myself out of. And, if I am honest, the sleep I get when I enter those times isn’t any better than the sleep when I’m stressed. It is just a lot more lying in bed.

Healthy sleep patterns and sleep routines are crucial to our overall wellbeing, both mentally and physically. Sleep rests our body and mind, rejuvenates our organs and muscles, and gives our multiple, complex systems a chance to grow and strengthen. It is a time when we are out of our own way so our body can do what it needs to do. Our coping skills, immune system, and overall sense of self all benefit from appropriate sleep. Though anyone who knows me well has heard me say that I will sleep when I’m dead because there aren’t enough hours in the day, this couldn’t be further from the truth for my physical and mental health.

In a world of constant input, it is often hard to wind down and get to bed with enough time to get the appropriate amount of sleep. As with other habits, it takes having a plan and being intentional about sticking with it. What that looks like is different for each person. I like to take time to read before I go to bed, sometimes sipping on a cup of tea, sometimes journaling a little bit. Having a time of quiet helps me to fall asleep faster once I am in bed. Experts say that rigorous exercise isn’t a great idea right before bed, but the slow stretching and intentional breathing of an evening yoga routine can be a great way to end the day. Some people enjoy relaxing in a bath to wind down. There are so many options—and different days can end different ways. As long as the activity is calming and doesn’t add stress, it can be a part of the winding down routine. What is important is building the habit to build toward great sleep.

Thanks for reading! 😊 EW

Firsts

Originally posted 11/25/2020

Thanksgiving marks the first holiday without my sweet grandmother. I’m so thankful for all of the pictures I have taken and posted over the past several years, though they are bittersweet as they come across my social media feed—especially this week. So many holiday memories are flooding through my mind. Grandmom was my last living grandparent. This first holiday without her reminds me of other first holidays without my other family members—grandparents, my great aunt who visited several times a year and helped teach me to cook, and my great grandparents who I was blessed to have time with into young adulthood. My great grandfather even got to meet my son before he passed. I’m thankful to have those memories, even though they are difficult at times. Losing Grandmom has been tough—I was closer to her than my other grandparents, and I had the most time with her at a time when I had enough wisdom and maturity to see the value in that time.

As a child, I struggled to value family gatherings. When we gathered with one side of the family, the gatherings were big, loud, and hot—and often filled with “oh how you’ve grown” from people I barely knew. I had some cousins who were fun—but I was the kid in the middle with several older and several younger. I loved caroling, family prayers at the big dinners, and giggling over my grandmother trying to force us to eat pimento cheese sandwiches (which I always thought were super gross!). However, I was too young to have a true sense of how precious those memories were. I treasure them now, though I haven’t seen those relatives in 20 years or more. The other side of the family is much smaller—and significantly quieter!! Holidays there were slow and easy—and not super exciting to a small child. I enjoyed the Charlie Brown specials, watching the parades on TV, and the great meals—but “visiting” isn’t easy for a child—or at least it wasn’t for me. As I got older, the highlight was finding ways to sneak Grandpop some chocolate when Grandmom wasn’t looking, since she didn’t want him to have it after he had a heart attack. I think it takes age and maturity to recognize the importance of those times—both the silly memories and the gift of family time.

As I’m looking toward this first holiday without Grandmom, I’m thinking about the last few family dinners at her assisted living/skilled nursing facility. She was so proud to introduce us and show us off to her friends—telling anyone who would listen that I am her granddaughter, and my kids are her great grandchildren. Last year was a bit tough as her decline was more pronounced after a difficult month leading up to the celebration, but it was still such a sweet memory. The Thanksgiving celebration where she lived was always the Sunday before Thanksgiving. I always made sure that we could be there because I knew that she was so happy to see us. I was sad that I didn’t need to plan for it this year.

As I prepare for Thanksgiving this year, in a strange way, the current pandemic is a blessing. I am going to miss Thanksgiving with my extended family, but I don’t have to sit with one less seat at the typical dinner table. Our virtual celebrations with family don’t change the reality—but I don’t have to face the empty chair.

There will be many other firsts to come with other holidays, her birthday, and eventually the anniversary of her passing. Each first will be tough, but the precious memories I have will always make my heart full and bring a smile to my face.

Thanks for reading! 😊 EW

Exercise and Mental Health

Originally posted 11/23/2020

Welcome to another Mental Health Monday. I started exercising two weeks ago after a much longer hiatus than I would like to admit. I have definitely been less healthy during the pandemic than I could or should have been. I am working to regroup and remember how important healthy choices are to overall mental health. As someone who has struggled with keeping depression and anxiety at bay, making positive choices with exercise, sleep and nutrition are critically important to keeping me going in a healthy direction.

Since I started exercising again, I am sore. Honestly, I hurt. My muscles are heavy and angry. I am trying hard to remind myself that soon it will start feeling better. I know from the times that I have exercised before that I will start to crave the exercise because it makes me feel better both physically and mentally. There are a lot of reasons for this. The endorphins and increased oxygen that flood my body when I exercise, the improvements to my sleep, and the motivation it gives me to improve my nutrition and other habits all contribute to overall positive improvements to my mood. As my mood stays more positive, I am better able to cope with stress, and the positive cycle continues.

There is so much research on this topic, looking at it from every possible angle. I have read some amazing articles about the benefits of exercise to mental health, the chemical reactions in the body that occur with regular activity, and, of course, the physical benefits that come with exercise. As fantastic as the research is and as much as I appreciate the science behind those findings, what has an even stronger impact to me is how great I feel when I’m exercising regularly. There are days when I’m tired, when I’m not feeling it, when I try to talk myself out of it—but I always feel better if I push myself through that feeling and get it moving.

The benefits of exercise grow even more when I have others who are working along with me so we can encourage each other. Walking with my bestie, biking and yoga with an amazing group of friends, or even just knowing that I am accountable to report my exercise for the day to one of my exercise buddies makes so much difference in my motivation and progress. Even in this time of social distancing, exercise doesn’t have to be a solo activity, and I am so thankful for that.

If you are struggling with your mood, do your best to get moving. Even if it is just a short walk, some stretching, a routine online, or an exercise video, any movement that increases the oxygen you are taking in and moves your muscles will lift you up—even if your muscles are a little grumpy as you get going!

Thanks for reading! 😊 EW

(((HUGS)))

Originally posted 11/9/2020

Welcome back to Mental Health Monday!! Today I am talking about physical touch. As the pandemic has gone on longer than any of us were really prepared for, one of the biggest struggles that my family, friends, and likely many others are feeling the effect of is a decrease in physical touch. I haven’t always been a person who loves hugs. However, after becoming a parent and studying what a huge need physical touch is to the development of both children and adults, I began to change. Hugs have been commonplace in my personal world with my children and my close friends, as well as with my extended family members. In my professional world, I have also learned the benefit of physical touch in building positive relationships and deescalating potentially serious behavioral situations. Touch is a basic human need that builds trust, gives comfort, helps provide a sense of security, and just makes us feel better in tough circumstances. The pandemic is the toughest circumstance that many of us have been through—whether it is illness, job uncertainty, death, separation, or just exhaustion at how much our routines have changed and how “normal” feels anything but normal. At a time when many of us could significantly benefit from an encouraging hug or even a friendly handshake, we are living in a world of social distancing, touching elbows, and air hugs. For those who are huggers, that is completely insufficient. The huggers of the world are struggling, particularly the ones who live alone and don’t have a family, household, or “pod” of people who they are around regularly.

How do we address this? As I discussed a few weeks ago, it is critically important that we check in on those in our circle—the ones who make up our village. Investments of time, vulnerable conversations, and true listening aren’t substitutes for hugs, but they do help. Acknowledging those feelings as really and valid is important. As I have said in previous posts, my biggest heartache of my grandmother’s passing is that she died alone. Second to that is that I had to wait for 3 weeks before I could see my mother. When I finally got to see her, we were in masks, but we could see each other’s eyes while we talked and were able to share stories and just be in the same place. With others I have been able to spend time with over the last few months, conversations are deeper, and stories are shared—sometimes stories of struggles and sometimes moments of beauty, connection and memories made during this unprecedented time.

I look forward to a time when handshakes and hugs are common again. Until then, we need to convey our support in the ways that we have available to us.  (((Hugs))) to you all!

Thanks for reading! 😊 EW

Pray continually?? Really?

Originally posted 11/4/2020

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

What comes to mind when you think about praying continually? If mission impossible comes to mind, then you are thinking like I have. Continually means “without stopping or interruption” (Thank you, Merriam-Webster.com). That means All. The. Time. How is that possible?

When we think about what it takes to pray continually, we need to get a few things sorted out. First, God is not asking us to be on our knees, with our prayer shawl, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to the exclusion of everything else forever. That is not reasonable or practical, and God is both. He understands our humanity, our needs, and our limits better than we do because He created us. There are other things that we need to accomplish each day of our lives, and God has called us and commanded us to those just as much as he has said that we should be praying all the time.

Praying continually is about adopting a continual attitude of prayer and engaging in continual conversation with our beloved Father. Prayer doesn’t have to be a formal, set aside time in a specific posture, but prayer should be intentional. As with any spiritual discipline, it takes intentional thought, planning, and scheduling to ensure our habits are strong. It is important to make prayer a priority throughout the day—adopting a continual attitude of prayer as we go about our day. Here is how this looks in my world:

  • Morning prayer: As I am opening my eyes to a new day, I take time to thank God for the opportunities the day brings. I ask that He go with me throughout my day, guarding my heart and mind and guiding my steps. Ideally my day also begins with a short devotion that generally has a guided prayer time on that topic. Admittedly, I am better at the prayer than I am about the devotion, especially if I am pressed for time in the morning. Sometimes my devotion is read while I’m drying my hair, packing my lunch or in pieces at stoplights during my drive to work! Regardless of my sometimes-lackluster devotion habits, my prayer habit remains intentional.
  • “I’ll pray for you” prayer: How many times do we tell others that we will pray for them? How often do we actually do it? I am awed and inspired by folks who will stop and pray with the person in that moment. I have managed that with close friends and family members, but my courage for it wanes with people I don’t know as well. However, I am working diligently to take the time to pray for that person as soon as possible after I say that I will. The more intentional I have been about this; the more God brings that person to mind throughout the day.
  • Mealtime prayer: I worked hard to build this habit with my children, and still do when they come home to visit. However, it has taken longer for me to build it for myself. When I am at work, I often eat at my desk—not really taking the time to use lunch as a break. Taking the moment to pause for intentional prayer puts a bit of a break into my hectic day and helps set my focus back to Who I am really working for. At dinner, it is a great time to reflect on the day.
  • Prayers of gratitude: Stopping, even for a moment, to thank God for my surroundings, moments of blessing during the day, finding things I have misplaced, and helping me to guard my tongue in moments where a nasty comment/comeback is brewing helps keep my focus on His sovereignty and provision throughout the day.
  • Bedtime prayer: These are often some of my shortest, sleepiest prayers. However, I am sure that God hears them. I take a moment to thank Him again for getting me through the day and ask Him to grant rest for me and for those I love.

There is no substitute for dedicated time of prayer and meditation—journal and scripture in my lap, a cup of coffee in my hand, relishing the quiet of the moment to listen to God’s voice. I cherish those times, but let’s be honest, those moments are not as frequent as I would like. Talking to God throughout my day is a much more frequent habit than my dedicated prayer times. I appreciate the connection to God and the connection He gives me to others as He brings them to mind to cover in prayer.

Thanks for reading! 😊EW

Burnout

Originally posted 11/2/2020

Welcome to another Mental Health Monday! Today’s topic is burnout. I have been doing quite a bit of studying and learning about burnout over the last few months as I am studying positive leadership. I have been dealing with some things in my work life that have caused me to question my leadership methods and skills, and I always believe that learning more can lead to finding solutions. However, in my moments of doubt over who I am as a leader and whether I am effective with those I lead, I have also found myself focused on ways to keep myself from burning out in a job that I love. I truly do love my job, but it is not easy. Working in middle management, I am a person who manages people, who manage people, who manage people, who care for people…my job is not simple. There are a lot of layers, which bring levels of communication, understanding (or misunderstanding!), and direction that can and often are fueled by layers of emotion. As I sit here writing on Sunday night, I am experiencing the feeling that I know is not unique—I feel the tension rising as I start thinking through and preparing for my work week. Again, I love my job, and I love learning about mental health and wellbeing—but I am not immune.

As I have been studying a bit about burnout, there have been several key features that I have come across. I have read articles in Psychology Today, read information from the Mayo Clinic, and am in the process of working through an amazing book entitled Burnout. The common features include physical and mental exhaustion, increased irritability/anger/frustration, and decreased compassion for those impacted by our work. These things are often caused by ongoing stress that doesn’t seem to have a resolution. Based on our current societal climate, this can describe just about anyone. However, those in jobs that require personal interaction, caring and compassion for others seem to be the hardest hit—or at least the most talked about among the current literature. This doesn’t have to just be in the professional/occupational fields—it also includes caregiving for family members, parenting, and relationships. We can experience burnout with those we love at times, just like we can experience burnout in jobs we love.

How do we combat burnout?

The first step is taking the time to recognize and acknowledge it. Once we recognize and acknowledge the feelings that could be indicators of burnout, it is important that we address them so we don’t get stuck in that pattern. The feelings of exhaustion, frustration, and decreased compassion can often lead to feeling guilty (how can I feel this way about someone/something I love?), which can make things even more complicated and can give us more to process.

As we process these feelings, we can then evaluate if there are any stressors that can be eliminated or decreased so we can focus on other things. Have we taken on a role that isn’t ours or could be delegated to someone else? Is there someone who isn’t doing their part that is putting more on us? Are there things we said yes to that aren’t a good fit with the rest of our role? We aren’t always able to diminish our stressors, but it is worth the time to evaluate to see if there is anything that could be adjusted or changed.

After we evaluate and eliminate unnecessary stressors, we can begin to process the stress itself. It is important to look at our coping skills, the things that refresh us, and the time management and margin in our lives to process our stress. This can take many different forms, such as: exercise, nutrition, deep breathing, mindfulness exercises, and engaging in our hobbies. We want to be sure that we don’t try to decrease stress by avoiding or diminishing it. Emotional eating, substance use, and engaging in unhealthy relationships are things that we might try, but ultimately this will cause more stress than it reduces.

Another key factor in combatting burnout is talking with others. Sometimes speaking our feelings out loud to another person can go a long way toward decreasing that stress. We need to be cautious with this—we don’t want to vent to the wrong person in our workplace or circle. The goal of these conversations is to decrease our stress, but we don’t want to increase the stress of others or create an unhealthy or difficult work or relationship environment. Handled well, it can be encouraging to others to hear that you are feeling what they might be feeling, building community and adding to the brainstorming power on how to address the stressors.

Burnout is becoming more and more prevalent in our society as we all push to accomplish more while also facing the uncertainties and unrest of our current culture. By calling it what it is and working to focus on what we are able to change, we can be healthier people and improve our work and home lives.

Thanks for reading! 😊 EW

Legacy

Originally posted 10/31/2020

I have so much to write about my sweet grandmother, but in the past few weeks, I have found myself at a loss for words. How do you summarize such a long, full and meaningful life? How do you properly honor the memory of someone so dear? There are so many stories that are swirling in my mind as I think of her, remember her, and try to make sense of how a life so well lived could end the way it did—dark, struggling to breathe and alone. The biggest ache of the difficulties of this year for me is that she was alone. We knew, and we couldn’t be there.

But, that is not her legacy. Her life well lived need not be remembered by the last few dark hours. I wanted to be there for her—but I also wanted to be there for me. Thankfully, that fact doesn’t change the years that I had with her, the memories that we made, and the stories I have to tell.

When my grandfather first passed away, Grandmom and I talked a lot about how she was coping with him being gone. She wrote about it in much of the writing she did in the few years following his passing. She took writing classes offered by a woman she went to church with to help her to put her thoughts into words. There were moments we were talking when she asked me if I thought she was crazy as she described those late night and early morning moments between sleeping and waking that she saw him, felt him, smelled his aftershave. She told me that they talked sometimes—because she needed him to help her figure out how to do things on her own. When it came time for her to move into town, while she knew that it was the right choice because she couldn’t take care of the house and land on her own, she told me that she was afraid that he wouldn’t come with her. But, of course, he did. Memories of him traveled with her everywhere. Talking with him continued to help her navigate all the new things she was dealing with after he passed.

In the last few years of her life, her stories were a mix of sweet memories and frustration. She missed him so much, continued to share more and more stories of their life together, and she told me that it was never their plan for one of them to grow old alone. They did everything together—aging and end of life were supposed to be included. She also talked about how the journey through his illness and death and learning how to live life alone strengthened her faith in and reliance on God. She was honest about her sadness, hurt, and at times anger over being alone—but she also knew that she wasn’t truly alone. God was with her and was strengthening her and equipping her through the process.  She talked about growing in ways that she never thought she would. Grandpop, though he was a man of faith, never felt comfortable in church. He was self-conscious over his lack of formal education and was not one who liked small talk or interacting in groups. Grandmom enjoyed getting involved in her church when she moved to town; helping in the office, going to Bible studies, and taking the writing classes. She helped with the church bazaar, went to women’s groups (which she called “widows’ groups” as they were all older and had all lost their husbands), and helped with the annual apple butter making day. It was a part of her that she hadn’t grown or developed much in her adult life.

Legacy is a strange thing with so many parts. The good, the bad, the lovely, and the ugly all have their place and play a part. As Kermit the Frog (the best Bob Cratchit of all time) says, “Life is full of meetings and partings; that is the way of it.” The times in between make the parting so difficult and the memories so sweet. There will never be enough words, and words will never be enough.

Thanks for reading! 😊 EW

How’s your Village?

Originally posted 10/26/2020

Welcome to another Mental Health Monday. This week my thoughts are on the supporters who help us when things are tough and celebrate with us when things are great. These are the folks we turn to when we need encouragement, motivation, and sometimes a brutally honest kick in the pants. Sometimes they are family, and sometimes they are friends who are as close as (or closer than) family. They are the ones we will call in the middle of the night—whether it’s to celebrate, cry, or ask for bail money 😊 They are our village—the community who helps us raise kids, encourages us to be healthy, and gets mad right along with us when we need a good vent session.

In our age of social media, it has often been said that we have access to more people, more relationships, more “supports” than we have ever had, and yet we are lonelier and more isolated than ever. We have so many conversations in 160 characters or less; social sound bites and cliché phrases rather than true support. We long for depth, mentorship, and belonging; but how do we get there? It is particularly difficult in our current climate of social distancing. Get togethers take even more intentionality than they did a few months ago—and, let’s be honest, we need them more now than ever!

So, who is in your village? Is it family, friends, neighbors, co-workers? Does it change over time or has it been the same people for as long as you can remember? Did they become a part of the village through genetics, common experiences, geography? What stories do you have to tell of what drew you together?

Over the past few weeks this has hit home even more to me as I have been walking through the loss of my sweet grandmother. I have had so much support from my dear friends, through cards, social media posts, gifts, and socially distant time around the fire pit. That support has given me the ability to be a support to my mom. Though the pandemic kept my mom and me apart for longer than we would have preferred (both before and after my grandmother’s passing), and my time with her last week looked different than it typically would—I cherish the time we had to share stories and process the emotions when we were able to spend time together in person. We had talked on the phone, shared countless texts, and even chatted some on social media—but nothing came close to the time we had in the same room. We needed it.

Whether it is with friends or family, connection to the ones who are dear to me feels more urgent. We need people. We need those we can trust to vent to, cry with, cheer with, and love on in all circumstances and seasons of our lives—folks we can just do life with. Those relationships are worth the time, energy and effort they take to build and maintain for the benefit of support, memories, and common ground we can share.

I challenge you this week to take some time and reach out to those in your village. You’ll be glad you did!

Thanks for reading! 😊 EW