Slow Deep Breaths
Slow deep breaths is all I could tell myself this morning as I opened eyes and thought about the families impacted by this week horrific act that took place in Uvalde,Texas. On May 24, 2022 twenty-one individuals started their day filled with hope, opportunities and a willingness to live until it was ripped from them by someone with opposite characteristics. It immediately makes you wonder #WHY followed by so many other questions however, before we even try to unpack that, let’s take a few slow deep breaths and examine how we’re feeling.
Now, let’s get back into the sadness that literally shook the world as we watched the news take over every news channel, radio station and social media platform. This incident is listed as the second most deadliest shooting in the United States yet no immediate signs of change has been shared for implementation. It makes you wonder what are our leaders doing to invoke change?!! Too many lives are being loss due to senseless acts and we can’t continue walking around with our eyes wide shut.
I couldn’t imagine being a parent waiting in the civic center near the school with a sense of uneasiness erupting throughout their bodies. I’m already typing 60+ wpm (words per minute) when the school notifies me of a school lockdown. The thoughts around children safely at the schools is something that should be talked about. Gun laws should really be moved to the forefront of everyone’s mind because not having the necessary conversations are only allowing things to get worst. I usually don’t share my thoughts about politics however, I feel everyone voted for a candidate with hopes that the dialogue they shared before election would be implemented once they took office.
One thing that I know for sure is this senseless crime really made me pause, examine and rationalize life as I know it. I’ve said this before, we honestly never know what someone is going through despite the resting smile upon their face some people are on the brink of metal warfare. Let’s carve out time to intentionally examine our mental health and how we are truly feeling beyond the outward appearance. Too often people are silently suffering. If you or someone you know are dealing with an easiness that makes you feel weighed down find someone to talk to.
The thought that Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will potentially plague everyone that was present at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022 is overwhelming. PTSD is a mental disorder that one can develop after exposure to a traumatic event. Yes, someone can experience this without serving in the military. Did you know that 7-8% of the population will have PTDS at some point in their lives? I know it’s hard to believe however, it’s very real and the best way to manage PTSD is by talking with someone that is able to help you navigate this space.
In this time I want to encourage everyone to make time for yourself because you deserve it. Remember to show others the same level of grace that you want to experience in life. Take in the world that we live in however, don’t allow it to harden you. Continue nurturing relationships and loving without reservations. Give thanks often because you never know when things could shift in a different direction. Check in on your friends and family when they seem a little distant however, allow them space to breath because believe it or not, when they are ready you will hear from them.
Signing Off A Concerned Parent that’s navigating #MentalHealth & #PTSD