Self Care in the Midst of Crisis

Hello, friends. It's been a while. I've been a bit busy the last few months - I got married about two weeks ago! On the top of my list of post-wedding things to be excited about was coming back to this blog and writing again. This is not what I intended to be my first post back but here we are.

On Saturday, a gunman entered a synagogue less than a mile from my home. Innocent people were killed, wounded, and traumatized. I have a lot of opinions and feelings about what happened this weekend and what has been happening around this country. If you know me, I'm sure you're aware of where I stand. If you don't know me, in my efforts to be 100% transparent, here is where I am: I stand against white nationalism. I stand against any rhetoric and action rooted in hate and prejudice. I believe in every person's right to life, love, happiness, and equality. I will fight for those rights.

At the same time, my intention in writing this is not to tell you how to feel or what to believe. My intention for this article is to help bring healing and self-care to those who have been trying to heal the wounds of oppression and hate. I am hoping to provide a moment of pause to remind us all that we need to continue to take care of ourselves in order to heal and take care of others.

So, how do you take care of yourself in these moments? Here's where I am starting...

1. Be in community

I am really blessed to be surrounded by humans who consistently create an inclusive and accepting space. This community was the first thing I sought out as Saturday unfolded. Community could be you and your family, your friends, an organization, a neighborhood, or any group of people who can hold space for your physically and emotionally. No one should feel alone in these moments. Find stillness and safety with those you love. Take a moment to dwell on the love you share together rather than the hate outside of your sacred space.

2. Give yourself permission to feel

Letting out your emotions is so important. Sing, chant, yell, write, cry, whatever! Be kind to yourself because this moment is hard. You are not wrong if you are hurting. You are not wrong if you feel numb. You are not wrong if you are angry. You are also not wrong if you laughed at a joke today or enjoyed your day. You are human. You will have experiences and feelings. They are valid.

3. Rebuild

When we are physically hurt, our body creates scar tissue. It is a part of us that seeks to serve the same purpose as skin, but instead it looks and feels a little different than before. Let this be a moment for us to heal into a version of ourselves different than before. Set the intention of who you want to be and move towards it. This experience has made me feel broken in many ways. I am going to rebuild myself to be better, kinder, and more aware. My intention is to be as deliberate and kind as possible. It feels good to build relationships with others. We deal with enough hate and apathy. I choose to bring empathy and love to the conversation, even when it is challenging. Consider what rebuilding means in your life.

4. Take care of your basic needs

This is simple but often the hardest part for me. In times of emotional distress, I am guilty of not taking care of myself in the most basic ways. On Saturday, I barely ate. On Sunday, I barely slept. During work, I had to write on my to do list "drink some water." Check in. Are you taking care of yourself? Your body still has needs even when your mind is working overtime. Don't forget to fuel it.

This list is, of course, not all inclusive. Its four simple ways I am trying to hold myself accountable to root down in strength so I can grow out to help others through their pain.

We are stronger than hate. We will overcome. Strength through solidarity.

With all of my love, tears, and gratitude,

Samantha

#selfcare #welllness #crisis #tragedy