Happy Mail: You Will Be Okay!

Hello dearest BlogClanners!

I won’t lie to you; this has been a frightening day. If you’ve been watching the American news, you might be scared, confused, and worried about the future. I want to tell all of you that you are alright!

Yes, times are chaotic and alarming. You are right to stay up to date about the goings-on of the world news, but be mindful that sometimes, it’s best to take a break from reading through scary headlines. You aren’t any less of a person for having different limits to how much mental stress you can take. In fact, I have already tuned out, because the anxiety of the incoming information was too much. Your own mental health comes first.

A few people or events in the present sometimes can make the future seem terrible. But I want to express to you that the future is okay. You will be okay. We will be okay. For every individual expressing thoughts of violence and terror, there are so many more expressing sincere compassion and loving justice. Don’t let the scary people in the world paint a picture of a frightening future; let the wonderful people in the world inspire you to feel excited.

There are some sad days ahead, there are some angry days ahead; however, there are a million wonderful days to come, too. Don’t let today’s events convince you otherwise. We will be okay, and we will be happy.

In the highland areas of Guatemala, an indigenous community has a special type of doll rooted in a very old original tradition. Worry dolls, little hand-made objects made of wire, wool, and colorful textile leftovers, are usually between .5 inches and 2.0 inches in size. They’re quite tiny. However, their size lies in their function; in both traditional and modern times, worry dolls are given to children who are anxious or depressed. The children are meant to tell the dolls about all of their worries just before they go to sleep, and then put the doll underneath their pillow. The child relinquishes their worries to the doll, and overnight, the dolls take them away so that the child can wake up refreshed the next day. Why am I telling you this? Well, because I find this practice a wonderful technique for anyone dealing with the heavy burden of constant anxiety. This evening, find a little object of some sort–perhaps a toy, perhaps a piece of paper–and tell it what worries you. Reason out for yourself why you feel afraid. Talk until you’ve gotten everything off your chest. And then put that object away–maybe under your pillow. That’s it. That’s the most your worries can do for you, and they’ve served their function. You have to let them go–or let something else help you let them go!

With all of this, I want you to remember that we are here for you. You are not going through this alone. There are so many people who’ve shared your concerns, your fears, your worries, and we will get through this together. I know we will be okay.

BlogTeam sends its love to you. Please be well, be kind to others, and be extra kind to yourself. You’ve lived through 2020; you deserve it.