Safe in the Storm

(Original appeared June 1, 2016)

There is a bit of anxiety with the thought of entering back into the real world following the events of the last 7 weeks. The feeling might be similar to someone who has been in prison for years only to be released into the ‘real’ world. We had become so used to the routine of visiting the hospital, maneuvering our schedules, worrying about the latest medical reports, making tough decisions, while at the same time enjoying the fact that several others were taking care of the routine daily tasks for us at office and home. Now, we find ourselves released into the real world again. Others rely on us to perform, and what used to be a joyful duty seems as though it is almost frightening.
This process will hopefully come easier as time goes by. It just seems so odd that we almost felt ‘safe’ in the storm of anxiety, worry and stress and now feel new anxiety that the storm has passed. Maybe it is because we have no more excuses and are thrust once again into our roles of work, parenting, and volunteerism. I have every confidence that we will rediscover the same passion for these things over time. -R