Acknowledging our pain is an act of self-kindness

Christine Grace McMulkin reflects on naming pain, remembering common humanity, and choosing a small supportive next step during difficult times.

By Christine Grace McMulkin

Published 2022-08-05T00:00:00+00:00

As our journey continues, many of us are wearying, from the weight of the layers of stress we are carrying. The layer of how long will this last, of watching for where and who next, of awaiting test results, of physically and fearfully avoiding people and places, of a nation in mourning and wondering how much more can one province bear, of the loss and sometimes tragic loss of family members, of too much togetherness under one roof for some, of to much at home aloneness for others, of cars breaking down and basements being flooded. Acknowledging our own struggle, pain, fear, grief is in and of itself an act of self kindness. Pausing to admit that ‘This is hard.’ ‘This hurts.’ ‘This is heart…