Grieving Local, National and International Changes and Uncertainty
When it comes to the political transformations, that have been happening around the world, admittedly I went from being informed to being consumed, with news specific to either side of the 49th parallel.
In reflection, I can see now, that my voracious appetite for the many updates, opinion pieces, and directives from the American White House, became both engrossing and exhausting.
This tunnel vision has resulted in my being:
painfully unaware of what the current situation is in Gaza,
uninformed about the war on Ukraine,
trying to get my head around “prepping essentials”, bomb shelter not covid version,
browsing articles about ‘How to Move to Costa Rica’.
Nor have I checked in on Mexico, does anyone know if they are okay?
Trying to be a political analyst, vetting which sources to trust, weighing how decisions impact Canada, all while ignoring the tumultuous stock market (I just couldn’t stomach it).
The news I woke up to, was completely upside down before noon, then more of the same, throughout the business day.
Like trying to drink from a fire hose.
Grieving The Many Losses
Grief is the normal and natural reaction to loss, of any kind. Grief is the conflicting feelings caused by the end of or change in a familiar pattern of behaviour. ~The Grief Recovery Method
Additionally, grieving the losses we are anticipating, with more and more changes, happening in mine, yours, their and others countries.
Because grief is an emotional experience
Even knowing that I or you, have zero direct influence on the chain of events, that even binging news 24/7, can’t help you to control.
It bears repeating that…If you are experiencing grief due to ‘the end of or change in a familiar pattern of behaviour’, wherever you live—it is a normal and natural to feel that way.
The impact of these events may be 99% responsible, for how I and perhaps you, are feeling, the 1%, is our individual responsibility, to work on our reaction to the loss.
Because that 1% is all that you and I, can work on.
As for me, I’m being more discerning about the when and what political news I consume—and being gentle with myself when I fall off the proverbial wagon.
Consciously making decisions based on what I know and what I can discern, rather than from a place of fear.
I can so relate to this Sherry, it's truly exhausting!