the struggle is real

And it is for everyone. I keep asking if we are in the “Twilight Zone.”

Kids are breaking their arms on the playground.

Our van was totaled by a deer.

My uncle passed away.

My middle son kicked up his behavior just a notch. Just enough to inflame a stress rash on my face.

Oh yeah… I have a stress rash on my face–all around my mouth. Super hot.

Wah…wah…wah…

The thing is, I’m not the only one experiencing random trauma. When I sit down for lunch at a table full of brilliant, beautiful educators, they say the same thing. Not only is education harder than ever, but they too have crazy random trauma happening to them in their personal lives.

It’s like there’s a buzz in the air causing everyone to be little jumping beans. Buzzzzzz. Maybe someone else would call it madness. Whatever word you choose, we all feel it.

Some people say it’s the pull of the planets because so-and-so is in “retrograde”. If that’s the case then the planets have always been in retrograde. Some people say it’s the End Times. I am Christian and often wonder that myself. But I am also getting older and as we mature in our adulthood the lens that we look through is now colored with all of our experiences. This makes us see the world as “bad” or “getting worse”. I mean I get it…I see it.

I’m Positive Polly, nice to meet you. I have no idea why my lens is rose-colored. I have no idea why I see people the way I do. My principal told me that I am “insightful”. But never-the-less, even my Positive Polly, rose-colored glasses self can see a shift in our world. Because of this, I’ve been a little more negative lately.

And I hate it.

Ever since the pandemic, we have all been a little more anxious. The anxiety we used to feel when a tragic event happened in our lives is now how we feel most every day. We are all about one major event away from bubbling over.

Or maybe it’s just me.

The mental health industry is having a hard time keeping up with the demands and now elementary schools are needing therapists to come in and hold therapy sessions with students. I can’t help but wonder if there was a time in history when everyone’s anxiety was running sky high–The Great Depression.

Right. The Great Depression. I shake my head in fear. I don’t want to live through a similar narrative. Now that I’m a mom of young adult children, I don’t want them to experience an economic crisis when they’re trying to make roots themselves. But I’m afraid it’s too late. We are definitely experiencing something and it’s uncomfortable and stressful.

So now what?

How do we live in a world that is one tragic event away from war? How do we protect our children who can’t help but absorb our anxiety? I don’t have the answer but I have tried things:

Mindfulness breathing

Pausing to look at something in nature

Physically writing cards to people and then actually mailing them (ha!)

Taking a short trip with my hubby (haven’t actually done it yet, but it sounds so nice and relaxing!)

Having a stay-cation

Laugh with your children

These are some things that I have tried to help my mind come back down to a healthy level again. It’s 2022 almost 2023! It’s been almost 3 years since our anxiety started bubbling over. Our bodies need a break!

I probably should work out and eat healthier. (insert eye roll here) That is always a great stress reliever but I am a notorious stress eater and I have succumbed to it too many times lately. Maybe that’s why the rash on my face is so ridiculous. I should probably get it looked at.

So while the struggle is real out there, take some time to calm your mind. I know I need to!

Love, jes