Does anyone else know a thing or two about walking through the fog?

It’s day five of 2022, and all I can say is, ‘Phew … thank you, Lord, for carrying me through the past two years!’ Am I the only one?

2020 started off with anticipation. My dad had just undergone a surgical procedure after several months of declining health, and he expressed excitement about our upcoming travel to Mexico. See he and I planned annual daddy-daughter international travels, something we started in 2013. Unfortunately, just two months later – on March 23, 2020 – he died alone in a hospital (due to the arrival of COVID-19) as a result of heart failure.

Naturally, this thrust me into a bit of a tailspin. Not only did I experience physical health challenges, but I also began to question many aspects of my life. First and foremost, WHY this was happening again dominated my thoughts. Just 8 years prior, my mom died in her home as a result of Stage IV pancreatic cancer. I felt as if I’d never experience long-lasting emotional relief.

By the grace of God, however, I walked through the year with more ups than downs. This is not to say my relationships, physical health, and emotional well-being didn’t take any hits. They definitely did! Nevertheless, it became clear to me again that I too could ‘die’ alongside my parents or take steps to live. I chose life. I quit a full-time job in the pursuit of freedom and began to make myself a bigger priority.

Then came 2021. Need I say more? More COVID-19 and dis-ease on a global level. More necessary pivots. In addition, an understanding that change, unpredictability, and mid-course corrections weren’t going anywhere anytime soon arose.

Are you currently walking through the fog of life?

Friend, you’re not alone … even though it may seem so. This seemingly never-ending season has impacted each of us in significant ways. Life is not the same. Or ‘normal’ in any way. On the COVID-19 front, here’s a TODAY show write-up about what we might expect throughout 2022: https://www.today.com/health/health/will-life-covid-19-2022-rcna8700. In addition, I know this doesn’t even include the day-to-day struggles you face, including loss.

I want to encourage you, however. Partly because I’m an eternal optimist and fighter. Further, we can all use a little encouragement these days, right?

Walking through the fog isn’t easy.

As a grieving heart, I absolutely know how important it is to equip yourself with tools to get through the day-to-day. Here are the ones I consistently implement …

• First, REST. That’s right! Good ol’ fashioned nothing-ness. If this surprises you or stirs up doubt in your mind, you’re probably not prioritizing it. Ha! Sorry, not sorry. Taking time to be still and recover from life’s ups and downs is critical. I’m an Enneagram 8 who is wired for activity, control, and striving, so I get how challenging this can be. However, rest is necessary and can position you to not only feel better from a physical perspective, but also help you see life situations more clearly.

• Second, SELF-CARE. Stay with me here. I’m not talking about traveling (though this is lovely), getting manicures or pedicures, or any other mindless thing to shift you away from your problems. I’m talking about LEANING INTO the parts of your experience that feel overwhelming. Taking steps to actually WALK THROUGH the fog, not run away from it. While not the most popular approach in our stress-avoidant society, making choices to face life’s challenges is essential for whole-body and whole-mind care and wellness.

• Third, SUPPORT. Let’s face it, my friend! We’re not wired to journey through life alone. Even when we feel alone, we recognize our inter-connectedness – if even on a spiritual level – to other people. And that’s a good thing. It’s not necessary to have a tribe of 50 friends or acquaintances. Heck, your tribe may be 1-2 people. Mine is! Whoever you have for emotional and soul support is a gift. And gifts are meant to be unwrapped and explored. What would it look like for you to explore the support around you?

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I don’t share the tools and resources I’ve created to support other perfectly imperfect folks, like me, often enough. So here goes.

If you’re walking through the fog at the moment, take a moment to check out a few of my offerings. Simply click on each image below.

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I’d love to hear from you, so please share your thoughts below. ⤵️

XOXO,

M.

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If you’re interested in learning more about managing your lifestyle, love, leadership, and loyalties to God, self, and others, click here: https://mekelharrisphd.com/.