This month marks the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic. Our lives have been turned upside down and everything as we know it is different. We are wearing masks. Children are doing virtual schooling. People who can work from home are doing so. Essential workers on the front lines are carrying so much for all of us. Entire industries have collapsed. Financial worries are rampant as people have lost jobs and homes. People have been sick and far too many have lost loved ones (either to COVID or other reasons). There’s been an increase in awareness of systemic racism and untold political strife and discord. There’s been an undercurrent of anxiety, worry, and fear not just in the United States but across the world.
And yet, there are bright spots. Babies are still being born. Teenagers are graduating from high school and college. And, milestone celebrations got really creative. The desire to be connected is really strong and we had to get really creative at being safely with people. Companies are learning that employees can be productive working from home. New businesses have sprung up. Parents are spending more time with their kids. There’s been less focus on consumerism and more focus on presence. In many cases people are spending more time outdoors and even trying new activities. We learned how to inject our chaotic lives with quick 5-minute self-care breaks!
Life has always been a rollercoaster of highs and lows but it’s been especially pronounced this year as the “Coronacoaster” has been zipping along. Since leaving Houston six months ago, I’ve kept in close touch with my mom friends—the ones who are especially near and dear at this stage of life as we’re all raising kiddos. We text weekly and try to video chat monthly. Every single week, someone is faced with a challenge—a sick kid, a hospitalized parent, a setback at work, a child who’s struggling, an unexpected health challenge (COVID, in one case), anxiety and fear about the state of the world.
We share our struggles openly and honestly.
But one thing we do just as regularly?
We share our wins.
We have been trying really hard to celebrate everything—the wonderful wins and the tiny triumphs. We celebrate a baby’s smile, a good day at work, a rare date night with a spouse, new work opportunities, the kindness of neighbors, a beautiful day outside (whether there’s sunshine or snow!), speaking up for ourselves, receiving help from an unexpected source, or the satisfaction of reading a good book.
As a result of us sharing BOTH the grief and the gratitude, we are building our resilience.
Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from challenges. This past year, we’ve been challenged on all levels—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. I’ve been teaching and writing about the importance of smart self-care for almost two decades…and this past year, it’s been more critical than ever. In my work as an intuitive life and business coach, I understand the value of creating sacred space to have intentional conversations so that we can acknowledge what’s hard and celebrate what’s good.
This month, as we mark the one-year anniversary of COVID in our lives, I’d like to invite you to facilitate a simple resilience ritual to honor your grief and express your gratitude. You may be surprised at how the conversation helps you to feel even more connected with those you care about.
A Resilience Ritual to Honor the Grief and Express the Gratitude
Gather your family, a group of your closest friends, or even just one other person—a partner or a best friend. State the intention that you want to set aside some uninterrupted time to review these discussion questions together. Invite everyone to share honestly and openly and to take turns listening deeply to one another. In times like these, being witnessed is often the most precious gift of all.
If you’d like to say a prayer, light a candle, or ring a bell to help set this time as sacred, please do.
Discussion Questions:
- Share one word that summarizes the challenges for you of the past year.
- Share one word that summarizes the positive aspects for you of the past year.
- Remember that It’s OK, to not be OK. What were the most challenging things for you that occurred over this past year?
- Resilience: What have you learned about yourself and your ability to bounce back?
- What skills have you learned or developed as a result?
- Silver Linings: What bright spots have you witnessed or experienced?
- What are you most grateful for?
- Hope for the Future: How has this experience fundamentally changed you?
- Anything else that needs to be said or shared before you complete the conversation?
- As you wrap up your conversation, ask everyone to share final thoughts about how they are feeling as a result of the discussion. You may decide to say a short prayer, hold a moment of silence, read a poem or listen to a song as a way to wrap up your time together.
If you elect to engage in this Resilience Ritual, I’d love to hear about it. Please do email me!
Of course, if you’d prefer to do this reflection on your own, by all means, grab a journal and write it out. Or if you’d like to share your observations privately with me reach out via my contact page form. I’ll gladly witness you.
As always, if I can be a support, let me know. I’m back to seeing coaching clients this month and you can schedule a session online right now!
Here’s to our collective resilience,
Elizabeth