Anger is for things we can change. Grief is for things we cannot.
Anger has been my fuel. It has propelled me forward. I felt I was doing something. The action kept my sanity.
I really didn’t feel like I was choosing to advocate on a systemic level. That type of advocacy chose me. I unknowingly had my ankle tethered to a long rope attached to a bull. The school district smacked the bull, and that bull took off.
Anger, when funnelled well, can be a beautiful emotion. Filled with love. We can run on anger. Do things we never imagined.
For me, as I advocate and navigate all different kinds of systems, I still find myself grieving. Every now and then, it sneaks up on me when I am not prepared. Why am I sad all of a sudden?
To process the reality of systems. What they are, and what they are not. Grief is about acceptance. The non-death loss.
Embracing times to grieve and acknowledging the sadness has been really beneficial for my mental health.
Naming emotions and being aware of them, I believe, will assist you in your advocacy. The more self-aware you are, the more you can regulate and know when you need breaks. You can catch yourself before you start to dip.
Crying is so beneficial for our brains. It triggers our parasympathetic nervous system and helps our body to lower our emotional distress. It’s soothing and releases feel-good chemicals.
Sometimes we need to take a moment and embrace the grief. It really is sad that the _______________ system does _______________. It is sad that all these people are stuck navigating it.
I may not change things today by 2 o’clock, but I am not helpless. I can do what I can in my corner of the world. I can help other people.
Grief, like weather, comes and goes.
However, my actions are consistent. I am optimistic; all I can do is try.