Courteous Goodwill
Photo by Dee @ Copper and Wild on Unsplash
It is what we need right now.
As we head back in the direction of normalcy, we are so full of anticipation and even excitement. We will get to see the people and places that we have missed! To travel! To have experiences outside of our own homes again! To gather in person!
But what if our expectations do not match the reality?
As we move out of the cocoons that we have been in, we may find ourselves feeling anxious or overwhelmed. Our schedules will once again become more complex. Traffic will increase even more than it already has. We will be socializing more and maybe that will bring up issues around alcohol or food intake. We may be so pleased to see those we love and give them a big hug, only to be reminded that family relationships can be complex. We will see others all masked up, when we ourselves think that is an overreaction. We may be looking for long term changes in how we work, but our employers may have different ideas. Many institutions will have permanently changed.
Upheavals like the one we have lived through often prompt personal soul searching, an examination of priorities, and clarity on what is important. This is a great time to reprioritize - a fresh start of sorts. Think about what you gained over the last year, what you really missed, what felt important, and what you dropped with no trouble. Use that information going forward.
But, do not expect everything to move in an upward direction every day. Having had most of the routines and structures that sustained and supported us suddenly taken away, will have a lasting impact on the mental health of many. We have already seen the devastating loss of life from the pandemic. As we all emerge, I believe we will find ourselves with an unprecedented mental health crisis - how can we not? I mean really - think about what we have been through - the loss, sadness, isolation, fear, anxiety, uncertainty. Even the healthiest and most well adjusted among us will take time to recover.
For that reason, give yourself grace - defined here as courteous goodwill. Give those around you grace. Give strangers grace. Let’s enjoy our new found freedom, but move through it with patience and kindness towards ourselves and others.
