You Help Me and I'll Help You
Being human is weird. Some days I feel like I’ve got it all figured out and other days I feel like I’m drowning in uncertainty.
Often, I feel like I’m the only one feeling this way (even when intellectually I know this isn’t true). The only real cure I find there is to the ups and downs is connecting with the people in my life.
Do you know that feeling you get when you’re really connecting with someone? You’re engaged in a conversation, ping ponging ideas back and forth, hearing what the other has to say, while also being heard yourself? I love that feeling. And not only when I’m the one doing the sharing. There’s a special kind of joy that comes from being there for the people in my life. I’m well aware of how tough it can be to open up to others, and being able to provide an empathetic ear is a huge esteem builder.
If I’m being 100% honest, a big part of why I love discussing other people’s feelings is it gives me perspective on my own.
Surprise! Self centred human being! Of course part of the joy comes from being there for a friend, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to being soothed by learning I’m not the only one questioning everything…(Am I going grey at 25?! Should my partner and I be having more sex?! Does 2 glasses of wine a day make me an alcoholic?!) In case you have similar questions, I’ve spoken with some trusted advisors, and I can confirm that indulging in daily quarantine cocktails is a completely reasonable, unconcerning pastime.
Needless to say, our various lives can look so different from the outside. But more often than not, the similarities outweigh the differences. We all want love, respect, and pizza for breakfast. Well, the last one might be just me, but you get the point. A big takeaway for me from this whole pandemic is that we are all in this together. I think the secret is that, when you get rid of the pandemic, we are still all in this together. It’s just so easy to forget that. The only way we can keep that lesson alive is to communicate with ourselves and with each other.