One Small Thing

It’s been a long while since I published a piece of writing. I’ve had a few blog articles started, but then something else tragic happens in the world and I turn my attention to listening to the activists (and, admittedly, to too much doomscrolling) and find it hard to carry on with business as usual. But to honor my favorite astrological season, Sagittarius season, I thought I’d pop in to say hi and share what I’ve been musing about lately before we officially move into winter.

.
There is a lot of grief in the collective right now. Even just in the last couple of weeks, when I pop on my social feeds, I see tribute posts for moms, mother-in-laws, a husband, dear friends, beloved furry family who have died. We see footage of children and members of our human family in Gaza who are being killed. Heck, even the dead ash tree outside my office window in our neighbor’s front yard got cut down the other day and it felt only fitting for the time we are in.

There is loss and heartache in the microcosm of our personal lives. And there’s a loss and destruction in the macrocosm of the world and our planet.

It’s a lot to hold and be witness to! I just read a post yesterday from Portia Richardson, a Minneapolis based writer and healer, “it takes a fraction of a second to somatically register threat. And about 15 seconds, at least, to register connection. Count to 15 - to get a sense of how long that actually is…” So it takes very little time for our nervous systems to take a hit, while it takes more effort to feel grounded and resourced. In order to not burn out in hard moments like these, finding the connection is essential.

I appreciated a post awhile back by Nora McInerny, an author and creator who writes about grief, where she raised money just in her Instagram stories with her Instagram community for a mom who was having trouble finding housing for her and her girls. She said, “When things feel too big, do something small.”

I’ve been trying to keep that in my mind and heart lately.

When it feels helpless, do one small thing.
When the world feels wild, do one small act of kindness.
When it all feels too much, feel just my feet against the floor for a moment.

So that is my wish for us! Simple, sweet, small.
As we move into the last couple weeks of the year, and as we approach the start of the winter season with the solstice on Thursday, may we find one small thing in each moment that we can show up for to move us closer to connection.

.

And, to continue with my women writer muses in this post, Rachel Cargle shared the other day about lighting a candle for all of the beings who aren’t here this holiday season and she invited folks to put their loved ones’ name in the comments. Reading through the long list made me realize how not alone we are in missing and loving important people who are now among the stars.
If you are experiencing recent heartbreak from losing a loved one or noticing how the grief flows this time of year for someone who’s been gone a short time or a long while, I’ll be lighting a candle for you and yours.