The Silver Lining

The silver lining. Never has there been a time in our country (at least in decades) that we have been continually in search of the silver lining.  By definition, it is the light and the sun behind the cloud, and in some cases, the storm.  

While it does not feel this way, and while many of us wish this would stop and go away, we are being trained. We are being forced to look for the silver lining, which is helping us not only today but is preparing us for tomorrow and our ability to deal with adversity. IT is teaching us to make the decision to look at the silver lining.  Even in the most challenging of times, there is almost always an opportunity to look for the bright side or a small glitter of hope in the darkest of times.  

Doing Our Part to Make the Silver Lining

We must always remember and hold dear the truth that exists, and that is that love always wins.  The love in your heart is far greater and more powerful than the fear in your mind. Now more than ever, we need to practice the feelings of peace and the pathway of love.  

We are in the most epic, unprecedented, and challenging time of our lives.  

While it is scary, and life is much more challenging for some than it is for others, our challenges in this are all relative. They are relative to our life situation, our health, our family, our finances, and the lives we live.  If there were ever a time to offer support be it financial, emotional, or hopefully, all of the above, now is the time.  If there were ever a time to not think of ourselves but to make decisions for the betterment of others (to stay at home for example), now is the time.

For those that are more vulnerable and for all the brave essential workers and health care workers that are out there doing their job, now is the time.  This is a time for doing the right thing, for making the decision that helps strengthen all of us, and knowing that we all need to do our part, even when it is difficult, inconvenient, frustrating, and for some, unbearable.  

Facing These New Challenges Head-On

The challenges brought on at this time for so many are real. They are difficult, and they cannot be overlooked. Death, health complications, illness, financial implications, debt, mental illness, depression, anxiety, addiction - not the severe diagnosis, but the dance we all do with these topics. For some it is situational, and if not treated, it can lead to more serious consequences or diagnosis.  Difficult emotions such as frustration, fear, loneliness, grief, being overwhelmed, sadness, despair, worry, and confusion.   These are all real, these are prevalent, and it is time we talk about them out loud, as it is a time that all of society can better understand the feeling, the experience and remove the shame from these topics.  

There is a continuum, a continuum that many people find themselves on and it is real. It is important to be aware of and to acknowledge the feelings as much as we want to escape, numb out, and ignore those emotions that are happening.   Navigating the emotions and true impact, and then being able to put things into perspective, and in the challenges of it all, be able to see the silver lining, and allow the silver lining to add light to the darkness and downside.  

Finding the Silver Lining

The silver lining in all of it is our ability to see the silver lining. That behavior alone is a gift, a gift at the moment but also a gift of learning this behavior and practicing it which will serve us in the future.  At this moment, there have been several silver linings, ones which impact some more than others, and it is important for us to look for it in most situations and certainly each day.  Silver lining moments for many are time with family, a slower pace, more conversations, simplicity, food and family time, working virtually, resiliency, a healthier planet, presence, creativity, and discernment (maybe saying no to all the homeschooling and following your heart with parenting).  This is our time to break out of the norm, follow our hearts, and trust our intuition as it has been trying to speak to us for a very long time. Going within will be our greatest gift in all of this.  

It has been and is the hardest thing we have ever been through, and we are still here. We are not done. There have been so many losses, life being the most important, and financial after health. My heart aches for the seniors losing their special events/graduations and senior week traditions, brides that had to reschedule, and women birthing at hospitals in fear of this virus.

We ARE the Silver Lining

In the face of it all, there is still a silver lining, and the silver lining is the human spirit. The brave health care workers that are saving lives, they are showing up, they are working together to protect all of us.  The support workers - health care, grocery, delivery, truck drivers, and public safety workers. They are making such low wages and still showing up, still putting their life at risk to help in this public health emergency.  The first responders are always our heroes, showing up in emergencies and in communities, making people feel safe and supported.  The Seniors being celebrated in a different way. \

While it hurts today, I promise you tomorrow you will know resilience, and you will use this in other life situations. You already took your most important class, and that is the Class of 2020. You are the example of strength, teamwork, resiliency.  The brides, the birthday boys and girls, the celebrations and milestones - they all matter. While it is not what anyone would desire or plan, we are all making the best of it.  This will go down in history as the most memorable time in recent decades, and the stress and fear will fade away. The memories of this moment and your milestone will be special in your mind as time goes on and it heals our hearts.  Those words do not offer much now but know that you are loved, you are celebrated, and you are being tested to rise above the ashes of disappointment and sadness.  

Let’s be There for Each Other Emotionally and Spiritually

Remember, it is okay to not be okay.  Have your moment, have your set back, and have your time of stress, sadness, or uncertainty. These are feelings that are real and need to be acknowledged.  Then, look for the silver lining. Look for the good. Look for the helpers and let that human spirit, that love, and this moment in time sink in.   When we come out of this (which we are slowly doing now), there are blessings and there are lessons. If we hold on to just a few of them, we are better because of this.  

It is especially challenging because we are all so thrown off. I feel it every single day, and that is my own struggle to be gentle with myself and others around me.

It’s hard, so let's remember to exercise more compassion, more empathy, and more flexibility with ourselves and those around us. We are in this together, and when we unite, we can get through anything. The silver lining is there, it is always there, just look for it, and let your heart shine too!  XO