Choose Kindness

It has been so very long since I have “picked up the pen,” but in this new climate it seems there truly is no excuse to continue to avoid it. In some ways, I am more busy than I had found myself before. The kids are home and we are gearing up towards virtual learning. I am blessed that I used to be a homeschool mom, so this is less of a shock for me than it is for many others I am sure. In other ways, there is so much more time on my hands. Less physical appointments call for fewer transitions and in and outs. Fewer reasons to literally drive myself into exhaustion.

For me, this is better. For others it is most certainly worse. Regardless, this is scary. It is scary to wonder what the economy will do, to wonder how bills will be paid and who will still have jobs and businesses, who will still have their very life at the end of all of this.

It is easy to be be entirely self-centric, and do and post what makes us comfortable (within limits–please do keep to social distancing to keep yourself and others safe). It is easy to think the way we need to think and immediately become offended at those who think differently.

I suffered an aggressively abusive relationship, I cannot think myself trapped. If I think myself trapped I will panic and the young, impressionable, special needs children I have at home will suffer for my loss of composure.

However others may see this as a reality, and looking at facts is what is a comfort to them. That does not make them wrong and me right, or vise-versa.

Some people have dark humor, and that is how they handle things. That does not mean they don’t care that people are dying by the thousands. It simply means that they need what they need to keep themselves sane and safe.

Some need to say they are scared and feel panic and are sad. That is ok. Some need to say that they are looking at things in a positive light. That doesn’t mean the former is less right or valid than the latter.

It is ok to deal with this how you need to. We are social creatures raising our voices and social media is alight with our opinions. It’s ok if yours is different.

However, I do not wish to be silenced, nor do I wish to silence others. So when you come across a meme or post that you disagree with to comment, consider there is another *person* on the other end of your words. If you can’t be kind, scroll on. If someone can’t be kind to you, raise your voice. No one should have to be silenced.

We are all dealing with this in our own way, but agree or not with how someone feels, there is no need to be unkind. And to any that may have felt silenced by my responses, I absolutely apologize. Be blessed, stay safe and stay well. We are all in this together.