On September 27th, the day Hurricane Helene devastated Florida, North Carolina, and several other states, I was supposed to be traveling to Asheville for a Fundamentals Practicum at Horse Sense of the Carolinas. I have family in Florida, who evacuated to Texas and some who braved both hurricanes. Having lived over 10 years in Central Florida with hurricanes and 10 years as a young child in the Panhandle of Texas with tornadoes, my heart and body ache for those whose lives will never be the same.
I feel it. My body remembers, which is a powerful, and sometimes painful, path to empathy.
This is a hard time. . . I think there is likely a much more eloquent way to communicate just how hard it really is right now, but, without simply adding cuss words to the front of “hard time,” this is all I’ve got at the moment.
I know. . .it’s heavy.
With elections looming, fires raging, and hurricanes wreaking absolute havoc, there are moments that I feel like the world is spinning out of control.
As healers and helpers, this feeling of overwhelm can hit even harder—because we’re not only trying to manage our own emotions, we’re also holding space for others and for ourselves in unique ways. We helpers are often particularly sensitive and empathetic, and we seek day by day to be present and to deeply feel with others – to stay in it. All of it.
I regularly fight the urge to just put my head down and pretend none of it is happening, but I know this isn’t what the world needs from me, and when I choose to check out I know it goes against everything that we teach and everything that we, at NL, stand for.
Healing is found in the present moment. Period. And sometimes the present moment is painful.
Our world needs people like us, who are deeply attuned to it all, so we can decide how to truly help. (Right now, as I write, I find the need to take a deep breath. I invite you to pause and take a deep breath with a slow exhale with me.)
Finding Power in Kindness
How do we stay in it and keep feeling without getting swept up in the enormity of it all? When everything seems out of control, what is within our power? What can we possibly do to make things better?
I love this quote, which is on a magnet on the refrigerator in our kitchen, from Rebecca Hubbard’s book, Kindness in a Scary World, one of my favorite children’s books: “Every small thing a person does is just as important as every big thing a person does. If we all do a little, then those little kindnesses add up to a huge amount of help.”
I have come to realize that many of the things in this world that are true – Big T True – have a tendency to also sound trite. They can sound trite until they’ve trudged through the fire and flood and drought (both literally and figuratively), and come out on the other side as a Truth etched into every inch of our being. This, my friend, is how a mission, worth making major sacrifices for, maybe even worth dying for, is formed.
“Every small thing a person does is just as important as every big thing a person does. If we all do a little, then those little kindnesses add up to a huge amount of help.”
This is Big T True.
Kindness, to ourselves and to others, becomes our power. Dare I say, SUPER POWER.
Rebecca Hubbard’s book, Kindness in a Scary World, was originally written to empower children when facing scary news events. But, like many children’s books, it offers wisdom that applies to all of us—adults, too.
Children see things on the news or experience fear directly, and they start to wonder, What can I do? What could happen? These same questions are on our minds as adults. The answer is simple: we can each do something kind.
Kindness Toward Self and Others
As therapists and healers, we are accustomed to being the support system for our clients. But now, more than ever, we need to ensure we’re taking care of ourselves as well, because the stronger we are, the more we can offer to others. Listen to your body, and take time to pause so you can repair from the stress of the day or the moment. Walk, stretch, sit in a rocking chair, talk with a friend, and then mobilize again.
Move, act. . .REST.
Move, act. . .REST.
Move, act. . . REST.
Allow time for your nervous system to repair and strengthen. Be kind to your body.
Can we, as a community, commit to doing at least one kind thing for ourselves each day and then – not only for the sake of others, but for our sense of purpose and power – do one kind thing for someone else each day? Kindness with a slightly different intention – kindness to help others and to empower ourselves.
As we all know, acts of kindness can take many forms: eye contact with the person checking us out at the grocery store, a deep breath in a group setting, a kind prayer for the person who cuts us off in traffic, for we know that each of us is fighting, an often unseen, battle.
Connect with others. We can even donate our time or money to a cause that aligns with our values. These acts help us remember that we are not powerless, and when we are empowered, trauma is less likely to become embodied, so that we can continue to do the life-giving and life-changing work we have been called to.
When we each do a little, we are participating in something much larger than ourselves. Imagine if every therapist, healer, and helper in our community committed to one kind act toward themselves and toward others, each day. Imagine the energy and the momentum that would build.
We can find solace in knowing that our individual actions, when combined with others, can shift the energy of an entire community. It’s a ripple effect of kindness that can grow and grow.
We may not be able to stop hurricanes or fires, or even heal the wounds of a divided society overnight, but we can start by extending kindness.
Final Thoughts: Turning Powerlessness into Action
No matter how overwhelming the world feels right now, remember that you are not alone and you are not powerless.
As EAS practitioners, we are uniquely positioned to create positive change, both for ourselves and for our clients. By committing to kindness, we can take small steps toward healing—both personally and collectively.
In the coming days, let’s come together as a community and commit to doing one kind thing for ourselves and for someone else each day. And let’s remember Rebecca Hubbard’s words: “Every small thing a person does is just as important as every big thing a person does.”
Kindness isn’t just an antidote to fear—it’s a powerful force for good. Let’s wield it well.
It’s important to remember that we have the power to make a difference, no matter how small it may seem.
Consider donating to Heart of Horse Sense, where your contribution will go directly to supporting those who have been affected by Hurricane Helene in Asheville and the surrounding areas. Natural Lifemanship will match donations up to $2,000, doubling the impact of your generosity. Simply mention Natural Lifemanship when you donate.
To purchase Rebecca Hubbard’s Kindness in a Scary World or to donate to Heart of Horse Sense, please visit the links below. Together, we can make a difference.
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