Portland International Rose Garden
After being rendered speechless for several days I must find words to communicate my thoughts about yet another catastrophe in the world. Paris. These horrific acts are becoming more and more frequent. Are they the new normal? This is the question I ask myself and the universe. Everything in my being screams, NO, NO, NO! Yet, there it is, another massacre of innocent people in Paris, in Beirut, in Kenya and beyond. We have constant visions of families fleeing homes with nothng, barely the clothes on their backs. We see homeless on our streets. We, who sit comfortably in our cozy homes, have no idea of the hardship and pain (physical, mental, and emotional) these people are enduring!
For me it is all too easy to internalize all this horror; it is omnipresent, whether out my front door, sometimes literally, or in far off lands. I go into self-observation mode, my first step in coping with crisis. Distration. Upon hearing the Paris news, I was distracted and found it hard to think about common everyday tasks. Every time I stopped being involved in a task or activity, I felt a cloud of darkness descend. My heart ached, but yet, I forced myself to move forward. I stopped and consciously exhaled and attempted to stay engaged in the present, here and now. BUT, the here and now included then and still does, being very aware of the aching world around us. No denial, no moving away!
To cope: (definition) to face and deal with responsibilities, problems, or difficulties, especially successfully or in a calm or adequate manner. As caring human beings, how do we deal with such horrific news which at the moment is “over there”? We must not deny the reality of these events, neither can we live each moment in fear. For the time being, I personally attempt to cope by paying attention to my own reactions and emotions. The being distracted, the breath-holding, the tense shoulders… all classic reactions during crisis and stress. I breathe and breathe again. I invite my shoulders to release. I encourage myself to remain aware of the world condition as well as my own environment. I move forward and cope, knowing I have no real understanding of what refugees and those forced to live on the streets must endure day after day. I also do not allow myself to sink into fear. I try to envision how I, in some small way might make a difference in my own small world.
Today was our weekly French lesson. As I expressed my sympathy to our teacher, I could see the pain and sadness come briefly Into her eyes. But, she moved on, as we all must. Breathing, being aware, being thankful. Coping and moving on in our world, trying to make a positive difference.
It took several days for me to be able to grieve at all. Most of my family and friends are either in the theatre or Police Nationale dog handlers. They drink in those cafes and bars, and the Bataclan; some live very close to St Denis, some were locked down most of the weekend. All are safe so far but there will be friends of friends. “It was like Vietnam here the other night” – hardly, but a powerful image. Police with Grenade launchers, helicopters, stop and search. all we can do is move on, breathing but we can also challenge behaviour of those around us, those we meet on the streets in our own towns. Extremism is never far from any door. Here in the UK the reaction is inflammatory on social media – help stamp it out. It may be arriving elsewhere before we know it. sad times caused ultimately by man desperate to be supreme and low at the same time. x
I answered this in a separate from the site e-mail, I know, but I am reading your comment again. I just want you to know I am thinking of you and all my dear friends in Europe, England, Ireland,and also here in the US as we all struggle with the times. All the best to you! Fay