#242 A supportive community can mitigate the risk associated with adversity.
May 27, 2021
The science tells us that our community of support will protect us from the psychological risk associated with adversity. We have experienced adversity this year. Many of us have experienced limits this past year that have impacted us deeply. We don't even know how deeply yet.
I have never really considered a spa treatment as self-care unless I go with my bestie and make it a bonding experience. When I think of that level of nurturing care, I think of trips to Kitchener. Hanging out with my sister by choice.
There's nothing finer than people like Tracy going that extra step to make you feel like you matter to them. After a mani-pedi, a country drive is in order. We admire the old houses and start telling stories about what was going on there 50 years ago. A game that we invented on one of our summer drives. I've been doing this for forty years. We have history.
Somewhere along the way, we stop for ice cream - and the singing. Belting out half the lyrics to "save a horse, ride a cowboy" or "at first I was afraid I was petrified" would bring aching cheeks and smiles. Every now and then we hold hands and almost childlike share "I loves you sis". Oh those are the moments that nurture a soul and rejuvenate the spirit.
My heart yearns for this kind of care - shared care. That's what we need right now.
Back to business - if you, like me, are prevented from getting nurtured, be sure to find a way to make it happen. You can't be tough every day. It's important that you surround yourself with the right people who will hold you up on those days when it's a bit of a slog.
