This past Sunday, WES members gathered for our annual new year’s service–letting go of mistakes we had made, and setting intentions for the year ahead. It was good to gather in that way, to be a community as we dreamed for the coming year. And at the same time, we acknowledged the ways the world was already in so much pain this year. We held in our collective care those lost in the Australian wildfires, and the damage caused around the globe by climate change, and those American service members and people around the world caught in international violence. 
2020, it turns out, is starting rough. 

Sometimes when people come to share the challenges of their own lives with me, I say I wish I had a magic wand to fix it. I wish I had a really big magic wand right now, able to right everything that feels so wrong in the world. I wish I had answers, too, about how we can live with it–how we can endure and tolerate and continue to celebrate life in the midst of anxiety and fear. 

As with so many things, we don’t have answers. We just have each other. 
We have each other to hold onto, and to empathize with. Almost every meeting I’m in–and this has been true for several years–begins with someone talking about the state of the world. That’s not just chatter, it’s us sharing pain with each other and seeking support. We have each other to accompany to rallies and action, to encourage each other to volunteer. Mr. Rogers famously said, during tragedies, to “look for the helpers.” It makes such a difference to read the stories of those who are seeking to alleviate suffering, and it makes even more of a difference to be a helper ourselves. I believe you that taking any simple action–making a donation, going to a rally, volunteering with Cedar Lane’s sanctuary effort or with Washington Interfaith Network or even with your kid’s school–will increase your capacity to emotionally manage the news. 

And finally, we have each other to remind ourselves to breathe. To do the things, like walks and meditation and time with pets, that help us to feel grounded and centered. We have each other to remind ourselves we are loved. 

As always, if you are having trouble managing your stress, anxiety, or depression–whether it’s because of the world around you or because of challenges in your personal life–please don’t hesitate to reach out to Laura Solomon or to me. We would be glad to be part of your “each other.” 
Sometimes, we don’t have answers. We always have each other. 

~Amanda