Isn’t it interesting how the holiday season, a time of year that is meant to be happy and festive, can sometimes evoke feelings that are far from celebratory?
The world is a dark place these days. As I scoured various news outlets and entities today, the majority of the headlines and items were focused on topics that were not only heavy, but downright depressing.
Here are some of the headlines I read today:
“Hackers threaten U.S. movie theaters”
“Debilitating outbreak sweeps Americas”
“14 injured on flight”
“Pakistan school attack kills 145, mostly children”
“14 arrested in meningitis deaths”
“Australian standoff results in deaths”
Add to those horrid headlines other sad news like the death of a loved one, the single parent who heats their home with a stove, or the elderly woman who works 12-hour shifts despite her excessive back and leg pain.
Let’s not forget about the many, many people who are struggling financially, despite working 40 hours a week at a low-paying job.
It can all be a bit overwhelming for most people — especially those living the nightmares as their own personal reality. I understand why holidays tend to be the most stressful time of year for most Americans.
A friend recently asked me when I thought things in this country would return to normal. When I asked her to expand her question, she asked when will all the random shootings, craziness and despair end in this country and around the world.
My response to her was, “this is the new normal.”
I began using the term “new normal” after my mom’s death in 2002. Immediately after she passed away, I was so busy planning her funeral arrangements and hosting family members that I didn’t have much time to absorb the enormity of her death. I was in true action-mode.
But that all changed once she was laid to rest and all of my family went back out of town. It seemed like everyone just seemed to forget that my mom had just died. It also seemed like I was living in a constant out of body experience. Nothing seemed normal anymore. A couple weeks after my mom passed away it hit me: nothing will ever be “normal” again. Instead, this was the new normal for my life.
That’s the approach I have today. I sure hope all these random killings, acts of violence and tough economic times will end, but it doesn’t seem like that day is coming anytime soon. It seems like this current state of affairs is our new normal.
While this editorial may sound a bit pessimistic and depressing to you, that’s not my intent. Instead, I want to encourage you to grab on, hold on to the positives even in the midst of darkness. Even when times are tough, realize the blessing of your current situation. Now is the perfect time of year to simply reflect on life – where yours was and where it is headed in the future.
Reflect on the experiences in your past that were incredibly challenging, but also remember how you were able to come out of those situations and be victorious. Channel that energy and understand that even if you are at the loneliest, most hurtful place of your existence you can overcome it in God’s time.
Although there is so much negativity, sadness and injustice around us, use the weeks ahead to rejoice in the fact that you are alive and there is probably someone who is worse off than you. A lot of focus during this time of year is on material things like gifts under the tree.
While gifts are certainly nice what matters most are the intangible things such as a hug, a wink of the eye, or even telling someone you love them. Those types of memories will endure forever. The feelings that those actions elicit will give you strength to get you through your darkest hour.
