Former NFL star Marshawn Lynch once advised everyone to “take care of your body, your chicken (financials), and your mentals.” It’s actually a pretty good blueprint for living. Of course, other variables like gratitude, faith, and service to others are equally important.
Sadly, statistics show that since the onset of COVID-19, depression diagnoses have increased three-fold and are expected to rise even higher during post-pandemic times. The main factors being isolation, increased anxiety, and withdrawing socially. It’s even grown exponentially among physicians, nurses, and other public servants like policemen and firemen. Not to mention its stifling impact on schools, child care facilities, restaurants, gyms, and other service industries.
Not to mention the sad news dumped on us by the news cycle. Students and parents are confused and in a toss up deciding between virtual, masked, and in-school learning. As we march towards the end of year two fighting the pandemic, additional factors like inflation and a fragmented supply chain of goods has added even more weight on our shoulders. On a daily basis, it can be overwhelming and feel as though we’re trudging through a malaise with no hope in sight. Unfortunately, with this new variant, the numbers of deaths and infections continue to rise.
But despite this, hope has never left us. Yes, there is more sadness in our world right now, but sooner or later the storm clouds will be lifted. We do this by holding onto every sliver of joy, light, and opportunity we’re afforded. We cope and we move on moment by moment knowing we’ll eventually find ourselves on the other side of this storm. Faith will allow us to withstand this storm and hope will help us slowly begin to turn our world right side up again. Be grateful and take care of yourself and others!
Charles R. Butts Jr. 