We shake with joy, we shake with grief.
What a time they have, these two
housed as they are in the same body.
Mary Oliver
There are advantages to being temperamental. At least that’s what I tell myself. One thing I’d like to think I’ve learned over decades of moodiness is that feelings pass–eventually. And that seemingly contradictory emotions can co-exist. There are days when I feel both deep sorrow and deep joy, Hell, there are hours, even moments, when I’m riding the the waves of both. And then there are the subtle gradations in between.
As this strangely horrible year comes to an end, I’m looking at all the ways I’ve coped and all of the ways people I love and people I’ve only read about have come together to protect us all. I could absolutely talk about the selfishness I’ve seen and how desperately sad and angry that makes me–and I do–but in this moment I am feeling hopeful and grateful and want to share that.
I hope that you are healthy and that you have what you need. I hope that you are not feeling too afraid, or too alone, and that if you are, you will feel relief soon. I hope that you are able to find some joy in the chaos.
I am grateful to everyone who has stayed home this year more than ever before, to anyone who has foregone travel and parties and sitting in movie theaters and restaurants, to every one of you who wears a mask. The last is such a simple thing with profound impact.
I will leave you with a question: What is another simple act of kindness with deep meaning that you perform?