We have been through a lot. Western North Carolina, for those of us who live here, have seen a side of humanity that few ever will. Free pop-up food stands, makeshift donation centers, neighbors reaching out to others, seeing if they were alive and needed anything, local celebrities holding arena concerts for proceeds to benefit our area, volunteer work crews, with heavy equipment, coming in and getting things done were among some of the soul-enriching things to see. Later, seedier, more opportunistic people preyed upon groups of people who were so desperate. Others were critical of everything, from the amount of plastic used to serve free meals, the fact that disposable diapers were handed out instead of cloth ones, to “where is that money from the concert going” within 30 minutes of the concert ending. Every possible dimension of humanity we have seen here. 

For many of us, it is a lot, and attending candlelight vigils as well to our own basic needs is wearing on us collectively. Many of us can’t find a “positive spin” to put on any of this yet, and to be encouraged to, by anyone, shows an insensitive cruelty on an already difficult time. And yet, those who have been on the other end of this have to operate with a notion that these people probably mean well, or else we would all likely be wearing orange jumpsuits.

And yet, I have made comments which have landed poorly. It is part of being human. None of us are going to get it right all of the time. We are all walking through this. 

What I want to offer at this time is a space where you can say what you really think, knowing that all of our thoughts, feelings, emotions, and spirits will be in the presence of deep compassion, first and foremost. Sometimes that is all that is needed; sometimes there will be deeper work to do as well. Deep listening is a skill that I want you to first experience, and then I want to teach you how to do, so that you can get your emotional needs met, without going into the darker ways that you may have done before or have seen others do.

I have in-person space available to work with you, at your pace, to heal in longer-lasting ways, with integrity. Please click below to contact me.