Yes, and...

Everyone is having a hard time right now. Even the most positive people I know.

In launching this blog, it might seem like I’m really thriving during this global pandemic.

Truth is, I am not. Everything that is happening in the world has taken a toll on me. I am not sharing this to complain, as I am so thankful to have my health and safety.

Many people have so much more to worry about. I cannot begin to describe or imagine what others are going through with the loss of loved ones, financial insecurity and an uncertain future.

The reality is that for me (like I’m sure for many of you) this pandemic has triggered my feelings of anxiety and depression.

Some days I am ok. Many days, I am not.

I have been amazed at how quickly we have adapted to this “new normal.”

Seeing people develop new trends and new ways of having fun while stuck at home horrified me at first. Here was this Big Terrible Thing happening in the world and people were just carrying on.

It seemed frivolous, dismissive.

How could we simultaneously know there was so much suffering and still make jokes?

But then, someone reminded me that this ability to take a horrible situation and make it somehow bearable, is a testament to our resilience and strength.

Overnight, so many of us adapted to a completely new lifestyle. And not only adapted but figured out how to make the “best” of it.

I am amazed that we have the capacity to switch gears so quickly. It’s like we are all in a worldwide comedy improv game - and we’re all “Yes, and’ing” like pros.

For those not familiar, “Yes, and…” is a concept from improv where you go along with your fellow cast member’s actions and statements. In this way, you adapt to whatever is happening (no matter how ridiculous) and build upon it.

So, if your castmate says, “We are in a spaceship!” You respond with something like, “Yes… and we’re traveling at light speed!” while pretending to steer the craft.

It is a way of keeping things moving.

So, now the world is telling us, “You must stay indoors! You must listen to news reports of death and tragedy.”

And we have responded with, “Yes… and we will do pushups when we can to stay healthy. Yes… and we will learn how to bake bread. Yes… and we will video call each other and share our tears.”

Your “Yes, and…” may look very different from your neighbors.

Some days, my “Yes, and…” is more like, “Yes… and I will cry about it. Yes… and I will try to numb my mind until I am exhausted enough for sleep.”

But some days, my “Yes, and…” is “Yes… and I will warm my feet in the sunlight streaming through my window and take a deep breath to enjoy this moment right here, right now.”

And on glorious days, my “Yes, and…” looks more like, “Yes… and I will call a friend to see how they are doing. I am feeling optimistic today, and I’ll share as much of that light as I can spare.”

Not every one of us will have light every day.

So, for the days that I have a little extra, I will share it.

For the days when I don’t have any, I will be kind to myself. And that is enough.

Wherever you are right now, I am sending you a little ray of light.

Today, I have just enough to spare.

There may be many, many dark days. But we will survive those. They won’t destroy us.

And if you feel like they’re destroying you right now, please just hang on a little longer.

We are all figuring out how to cope as best we can. Let’s agree not to judge ourselves. At all.

Let’s agree not to judge others. At all.

Everyone’s situation is different. Let’s not hold up anyone’s suffering as harder than anyone else’s. We are all grieving, angry and frightened.

I am sure many of us have found different things to help us cope. They may be silly or useless.

Some days my coping looks like doing an interpretive dance around my living room.

Some days my coping looks like journaling, exercising and mediating.

And some days, my coping looks like eating large quantities of junk food while lying on the couch. And that is enough.

I’m sending you encouragement to tell you that whatever you do (or don’t do), is enough.

The world around us is scarier and harder than it’s ever been. We have to adapt and survive by holding on to whatever tiny glimmer of light we can. Yes, and… we will make it, somehow.