We are in the Twilight Zone (For a while)

Folks: We are in the twilight zone. Sociologists and scientists will be studying the effects of how the pandemic shaped our brains and bodies for the next fifty years. We don’t know what the hell we’re doing. We’re in uncharted territory. Therefore, getting over what “should” be, how we “should” act during, as the news cycle says for the millionth time, this unprecedented time — is probably the best thing we could do. Like, what the hell is happening and why is it taking so long?!

In other words: It’s okay if your body has changed. It has gone through a lot for almost a year. It’s okay that you put on weight. It’s just making you softer. It’s okay that you’re finding a “new normal”, even though that might change again soon (Change is the only constant, after all.) It’s okay that you’re grieving over something small or a death in your family (Dear god, I am so sorry for your loss, so many losses), or if you’re secretly thriving, or having a hard time finding purpose.

We are in a once-in-a-lifetime moment in history, this lengthy, icky stretch of time. If we could just give ourselves the grace to be as is, in this uncomfortable, uncertain, messy space, we could feel a little relief. Let the air out of this perception of control, of keeping it together 24/7, because there is only so much we can control, anyway. (Spoiler: It’s not much.)

You are not losing your grip on things, things just aren’t how they once were. We’re all still coping, yes, even after almost a year, and hopefully releasing some stress periodically too.

If I had to pick one thing, patience with ourselves and the world around us is the only thing we “should” work on right now. Deep breaths, my beautiful friends.

PS: You look great, I promise.