There is always something to worry about

There is a global IT outage currently affecting airlines, banks, and airports. A tragic humanitarian crisis is playing out in Gaza. I just scheduled my next oncology scans, and as I write this, we are still unsure if we actually have a democratic candidate for the 2024 US elections. There are plenty of things one could be worried about or even stressed about. It's safe to say Xanax and Ativan scripts are being filled at higher levels right now across all pharmacies. Emotional support animals are reporting for couch cuddle duty and preparing for long shifts. Wine is flowing, and many of us are only allowing ourselves to watch the news for 3 minutes at a time.

At the very same time as all this chaos is unfolding, the sun is shining brightly outside my window. My coffee this morning is tasting extra delicious, and I am feeling grateful for all the precious little things that are going right in my world. It would be easy to forget the good stuff if I got too lost in the mess. And while I don't want to be too blissfully unaware, I know that In order for me to process what is going on in the world, I need to be able to come back to my happy place at the end of the day—the place with the precious little things that are in fact going right as rain. There will ALWAYS be something to worry about, and if I want to be informed on the status of the world, I need to be able to balance out my emotions afterward. My goal isn't to forget about the crisis happening around us; it's to be grateful for the beauty of what I have and use that as a therapeutic reset. If you want to speak up and be a voice for change, I hope you will care for yourself through the process. Keeping your mental health in check is the best way to be at full capacity so you can educate yourself and be well enough to take it all in without falling apart. Just as there will always be something to worry about, there will always be something precious around you waiting to be noticed.