Thank you for sharing! Now more than ever we need to stay connected as much as we possibly can. I appreciate your insight and your honesty in this beautifully written essay…
So many good points as always. I'm very guilty of doing this and have to constantly remind myself to reach out when I'm going through a rough patch or dealing with mental health struggles. What you said about the difference getting out of the house and having any kind of interaction makes rung so true. It doesn't always have to be some big sweeping social event. I went from hating phone calls to really liking them because I'm not close geographically to most of my friends anymore, so that's the easiest way for us to connect. Sorry you've been dealing with a lot of big stuff. Let's have another call soon!
This is such a lived-in, well put together toolbox. Thank you for sharing all of it!
This line jumped out at me, big time: "So we soldier on alone, waiting for things to get better. Then, when they don’t, it reinforces the negative script playing in our minds." In addition to focusing on connection during times of isolation (or reconnecting), I've found it helpful to make a habit of breaking apart my habits. The idea being to basically force myself to switch things up. Go to a new grocery store, walk down a new street to get home etc...
Beautiful and so true from an MD cousin with FSHD. I’ve found that different online groups have been a great way to have more community without having to leave home.
As always, deeply enlightening and helpful. Thanks for sharing your journey and your insight with the world. It's so needed. I've felt this myself and it's honestly so hard to not isolate when everything feels so dark inside. It takes so much love and safety to let ourselves be helped and loved by others. I've also seen this so many times working in chronic pain units. Helping someone get out of the paws of inner pain requires so much love, patience, and even silence - but always in togetherness. And since the world can feel even heavier in such times, human connection is the world's healing balm.
Excellent piece, Chris! And very timely for me. Sometimes expending energy to stay connected feels like a huge challenge, but it always pays off. Thank you! 🙏
Thank you for sharing! Now more than ever we need to stay connected as much as we possibly can. I appreciate your insight and your honesty in this beautifully written essay…
So many good points as always. I'm very guilty of doing this and have to constantly remind myself to reach out when I'm going through a rough patch or dealing with mental health struggles. What you said about the difference getting out of the house and having any kind of interaction makes rung so true. It doesn't always have to be some big sweeping social event. I went from hating phone calls to really liking them because I'm not close geographically to most of my friends anymore, so that's the easiest way for us to connect. Sorry you've been dealing with a lot of big stuff. Let's have another call soon!
This is such a lived-in, well put together toolbox. Thank you for sharing all of it!
This line jumped out at me, big time: "So we soldier on alone, waiting for things to get better. Then, when they don’t, it reinforces the negative script playing in our minds." In addition to focusing on connection during times of isolation (or reconnecting), I've found it helpful to make a habit of breaking apart my habits. The idea being to basically force myself to switch things up. Go to a new grocery store, walk down a new street to get home etc...
Beautiful and so true from an MD cousin with FSHD. I’ve found that different online groups have been a great way to have more community without having to leave home.
Very well said.
This is so personal, Chris. Thank you for sharing your ongoing journey with your readers, and for your vulnerability. It's truly a service.
As always, deeply enlightening and helpful. Thanks for sharing your journey and your insight with the world. It's so needed. I've felt this myself and it's honestly so hard to not isolate when everything feels so dark inside. It takes so much love and safety to let ourselves be helped and loved by others. I've also seen this so many times working in chronic pain units. Helping someone get out of the paws of inner pain requires so much love, patience, and even silence - but always in togetherness. And since the world can feel even heavier in such times, human connection is the world's healing balm.
Excellent piece, Chris! And very timely for me. Sometimes expending energy to stay connected feels like a huge challenge, but it always pays off. Thank you! 🙏
Thanks for sharing and always being vulnerable in what you share...your posts always make a difference and are a source of encouragement.
It’s so hard to reach out when darkness encloses, but this reminder really helps. ✨