It's such a crazy time and many are feeling anxious, depressed, and frustrated. I'm not sure there is anyone who hasn't been affected in some way by the pandemic. Some more than others. I am thankful that we have weathered it well so far.
But still, I feel the effects of being somewhat isolated and nervous about the months to come. I am not someone who has experienced much anxiety in my life and am so thankful for that as well. I do know that over the past few months, the time that I have been able to spend with friends and family has helped.
When anxiety or sadness feels overwhelming, it is so hard to reach out. But when we do, it helps. It helps in some obvious ways like laughter and a shared history. Sometimes it helps by allowing us to vent or cry. Sometimes that help comes in the form of forcing us to vent or cry when we really don't want to. lol
I also know there are times when the statement from John C Maxwell doesn't seem true. I have felt that a few times in my life as well. Nothing is worse than the realization that SOME friends or family members are NOT facilitators of happiness for us. My heart breaks for anyone who has come to this conclusion and has had to learn to deal with how to navigate that situation. My heart goes out to you if you are in that season of life.
But this past week and weekend has been a great example of what John C Maxwell was sharing in this statement. We don't always agree, we may have squabbles, and our lives are not perfect. But when you have had a season of tension in a family that is replaced with a season of function, there is nothing like it. I am so thankful to have lived a charmed life with an amazing family. Our little squabbles seem so small when you see the things others have had to deal with. We may all be very different, we all see things a different way, and we will never agree on everything. But when the chips are down, we know we have a family that surrounds us with love. Even when we feel we are unlovable. They are there and fill our lives with laughter and hugs and support.
So the next time you feel the sadness or anxiety creeping in, reach out to those family members or friends that will wrap you in the love and support we all need. Let this awful year of 2020 be the year your relationships got stronger even though it feels like the world is falling apart. After all, if the world does fall apart, its those relationships we will need to survive!!! 💜
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