|
Maybe you’ve felt the heat (or breathed the particulate matter) of the wildfires, or maybe you’ve felt some political stress, or perhaps financial strain has been getting to you. Summer grief can feel kind of like coming down with a summer cold - almost as if it’s the wrong time to be feeling low, when the sun is shining and vacations are happening.
If there are some things you’re feeling sad about that are hanging around in the recesses of your mind, you don’t have to spend a lot of time on them all at once. Making just a little space in your brain for a moment to acknowledge what you’re feeling can work like a pressure valve release. This can be as small and simple as letting yourself notice, “Gosh, I’m sad about those fires. That is a real shame. Whew.” A full-body sigh to accompany it can let your whole self know, “Hey, I see you, and yeah, that’s hard.”
Then, move on to something else that’s right in front of you, in the present, and notice that fully. This might be talking with someone, focusing on the road while you’re driving, or finding a tree in sight that has healthy, green leaves moving in the wind.
The only thing harder than feeling grief is avoiding feeling it. Letting grief come in little bits and pieces, and then refocusing on your life right now, can help.
| 
