Uplifting Words We All Need Right Now
First of all, hi everyone. How are you doing? I am sending each and every one of you all of the virtual love and healing energy I can muster through this screen. With everything going on, I thought it’d be a good idea to round up some nourishing soul food from this incredible community. I have had to severely limit the amount of time I am spending reading the news, scrolling the feed, and the overall input of information of COVID-19. Why? Because my soul can’t take it. It’s important to stay informed, but that doesn’t mean you need to soak it up all day like a sponge. If your soul needs a break, then keep reading. This post is for you.
I asked you lovely humans to submit a positive/uplifting story, message, or quote, and you certainly delivered. No matter how this world shifts, it fills me with so much hope to see this community come together and support one another through all the highs AND the lows. So, if you’re really feeling the uncertainty in this moment, the anxiety, the hurt, and the fear… please know you are not alone. I know my heart feels hecka lighter and happier knowing that we are all in this together. So, here it is:
Powerfully Positive words from the Community
Diana (@aiddia)| East Stroudsburg, PA
We are all often so busy, bombarded with so much that we need or want to do, that we forget in the midst of daily living who we are and what we care about. This time can be a time to really turn inward and reflect on what our priorities are, what matters to us, and what matters in the grand scheme of things. There is no doubt that this is a difficult time, but it can also be a time of rebirth in a sense—staying home can be sort of like a caterpillar going into its cocoon. When this is over, if we use this time wisely, perhaps we will emerge with a renewed perspective and sense of purpose. And for the people who have been so busy that they have let their own care fall to the back burner, this can really be a time to rest and reset. Spring cleaning of the soul, if you will, and of all the physical stuff too.
Brittany (@b_money093) | Atlanta, GA
One of my friends found out he is cancer-free after a bunch of chemo.
Christina (@christinaroethemeyer) | Seattle, WA
Sharing a quote from a friend’s relative:
“My introverted self loves the effects we are seeing here of the suggestions that people stay at home as much as possible. There is less traffic, less noise, a beautiful calm, it's possible to hear the birds. I know there will be consequences economically, but I am so impressed how we are willing to stop the running around and how we are willing to stop. If we can do it for corona, could we not also do more to help the planet?”
This perspective really knocked the worry and anxiety out of me! Just a beautiful way to think about this scary time: a time to slow down, be present, and be quiet.
Danielle (@danielle_helene) | Houston, TX
“Love is the most powerful force in the universe.” - Einstein
Hanna (@bride.and.bliss) | Austin, TX
This is a really really challenging and scary time, but it's also a time so full of opportunity, should we choose to look for it. I'm being reminded of how much community and friendship matter; we're all in this together, across the entire world, and we all need to step up in order to protect the collective health and wellbeing. While I'm seeing a lot of fear and panic, I'm also seeing people come together in a way I never have before. I think we're all being reminded of what matters most and being given a unique opportunity to rest, to reflect, and to come back to our truest selves.
@kenzchristiann | Crystal, SF
“Nothing is as strong as true gentleness and nothing is as gentle as true strength.” - Anonymous
Carolyn | Hartford, CT
Two of my friends and I are in our last year of law school, which in on spring break this week but will switch to online classes for at least the following two weeks. Weeks ago we had made plans for this past Saturday to take a trip to the outlets to look for dresses to wear to our graduation ceremony. In light of the coronavirus outbreak, we decided instead to just hang out and look at dresses online. But as we were hanging out, we talked about how unlikely it is that we'll come back to in-person class again and how disappointing it will be for graduation to be cancelled. The more we talked and speculated, the sadder we became—until we had the idea to plan for our own mini-graduation! We will dress up, go to campus with some of our other friends (but still a small group), take a ton of pictures outside the buildings and on the lawn, and then gather with some champagne for a little ceremony! One friend who was chosen to sing the National Anthem will sing it for us. Another friend, who was elected graduation speaker, will deliver her speech—and anyone else who wants to can deliver a speech too! We'll all have a chance to say what our biggest achievement was and to thank all the people who helped us make it through law school. And then we'll gather at my apartment to hang, eat fancy cheese, and celebrate! It may not be the same as what we had all been hoping for, but we have a plan in place to celebrate this important moment with some of our closest friends. It's giving us something to look forward to for the lonely weeks to come! And in some ways, having this intimate celebration will be even more special, because it will be an act of resilience in the face of an unprecedented challenge, as if we're creating our own silver lining in the dark storm cloud that looms above us. Ever since we made this plan, just thinking about it lifts my spirits!
Janelle | Ontario, Canada
“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” - Mother Teresa
Emily (@blooming_forward) | Portland, OR
You are resilient. You have faced hardship before. You have faced fear all encompassing, sorrow that threatened to sink you, rage that burned bright inside your chest. You have faced sudden change, you’ve faced the unknown, you’ve faced the unexpected. You’ve faced all of this, and you’ve survived. Because of all you’ve walked through already, there is resilience threaded into your veins.
Courage is not a lack of fear. It is rising despite. It is choosing the well-being of yourself and extending that compassion to your neighbors. It is sitting with the fear and asking it what it needs. It is reaching out and asking for a shoulder to lean on.
When fear rears it’s head don’t let that stop your hoping, for fear and hope can exist together. Resilience is the ability to keep going despite tremendous setbacks. You have cultivated this your whole life. Lean in now, and remember, you aren’t in this alone.
Alexandra (@alexandragoss) | Crystal, SF
A quote from Oprah, of course! “So go ahead. Fall down. The world looks different from the ground.” I think this quote is relatable as we are in uncertain times right now! I think humans right now are having different perspectives of the world because of this.
Lauren (@wholewithlo) | Minneapolis, MN
“This too shall pass.”
Caitlin | Austin, TX
The concept of ‘internet community’ has always felt kind of abstract to me, I don’t use Facebook and rarely post myself on Instagram. But embracing social distancing the past fews days I have really felt the warmth and kindness of people! Get creative with your social experience and watch your heart expand. It amazes me that as I feel bombarded by news I’ll get a text from an Aunt, cousin, sibling and my mood will rebound right up. FaceTime your grandma, send a funny insta post to your friend, have a virtual happy hour or morning matcha with someone in a different city! If you’re feeling lonely don’t be afraid, take a deep breath and know you’re loved, you’re thought of and your people are there for you- call them!
Kait | Dallas, TX
For the highs and lows / and moments between / mountains & valleys / and rivers and streams / for where you are now / and where you will go / for “I’ve always known” / and “I told you so,” / for “nothing is happening” / and “all has gone wrong” / it is here in this journey / you will learn to be strong / you will get where you’re going / landing where you belong. -mhn
Thank you all so much for your contributions. I hope this filled you with some hope and allowed your heart feel a little lighter. We need to stay united as a community, while also lifting up our local communities. So, I’m sharing more resources over on Instagram (@julesacree) regarding how you can support your small businesses during this heartbreaking time.