WHEN LIFE IS NOT ALL PUPPIES AND UNICORNS
When Idaho went under stay-at-home orders in March, like many others I found ways to amuse myself and communicate with friends, choosing to create a weekly video. Since those who were not going to work were spending their days and nights at home in pajamas or casual wear I would get glammed up on Friday mornings and record a short, upbeat Facebook video about staying positive during those uncertain six weeks. “Formal Friday” videos ended on Friday, May 1, the day the stay-at-home order was lifted.
The month of May passed and we were all getting back to what parts of normal life we could or were comfortable with doing. This past Friday, June 5, 2020, I was inspired to post another video on my Facebook page. I had no idea how it would resonate or that by the end of that day alone it would be viewed by over 1,000 people with hundreds of comments.
My topic was somewhat a confessional. Like many others I’ve struggled mightily the past three months. Regular life stuff compounded by the uncertainty that lately has become a collective meanspiritedness, rude behavior and everyone trying to shout down everyone else.
For someone who far prefers to view the glass as overflowing and to laugh, it’s been truly exhausting. In the video I talked about my feelings of depression and anxiety and how challenging it is some days to put on a smile and simply walk out the door to face the public. But of course these are the things no one talks about on social media, which is where we wear a public face of puppies and unicorns and rainbows. Life is good. Yes, I believe that but right now life is really heavy.
We’re not all in this together, we’re each navigating our challenges in a way that is unique to us. As a wise friend commented, we’re all in the same storm but in different boats.
I’ve become short-tempered which is definitely not the norm for me. It seems nothing is the norm these days. But unfortunately in our society it’s not acceptable to talk about our emotional or mental health. We hesitate to tell those close to us that we’re struggling and even more hesitant to seek professional help. Admitting when you have “issues” might be perceived as a weakness.
Retreating only removes us from those who can lift us up and bring light to our lives. I know I’m blessed to have those people around me with whom I can be honest and who can be honest with me. But I still struggle. Every day I take a deep breath, and with a smile on my face handle my responsibilities. Except for those days when I simply cannot walk out the door.
The takeaway from the dozens of private messages and public comments on the video is that many people I know are struggling in their own unique way and were relieved to realize others were, too. Be gentle with yourself and with others. I’m confident things will get better but not knowing when that will be is a challenge in and of itself.
What I know for certain is that you’re not alone in your boat in this storm. Reach out.
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Resource: Northern Idaho Crisis Center, a nonprofit partnership of Panhandle Health, Kootenai Health and Heritage Health - 208-625-4884.
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Sunday is Flag Day and we celebrate the 243rd anniversary of the Continental Congress approving the design for our nation’s flag, which it did on June 14, 1777. American Legion Post 154 is holding a public flag retirement ceremony from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday at the Lions Club House in Rathdrum. The public is invited to bring a worn or tattered American flag to the ceremony or take it to the flag drop box in front of Rathdrum City Hall on Main Street before Saturday. American Legion Post 143 will hold its flag retirement ceremony on Sunday at noon at the post, 1138 E. Poleline Ave. in Post Falls. There’s also a used flag drop where the public can bring their flags all year around.
The respectful and proper disposal of flags is quite interesting and moving. If you’ve never experienced a flag retirement ceremony, I encourage you to attend with your family.
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Happy Birthday today to Chelsea Hough, Jared Mans, Taylor Gonzales, Lori Kaye Gaboury, Joan Crawford, Tanzi Hanson and Shannon Boston. June 11 birthday wishes to Deb Wheeler, Berkley Johnson, Kellie Palm, Eddie Bateman, Sandy Green, Gary Schneidmiller, Colin Evans, Tori Daily, Billy Anderson and Erna Rhinehart. On Friday John Imhoff, Nicci Cushman, Vivian Worth and Kamryn Peacock. Saturday Mark Tucker, Meg Andrews, Ann Heinen, Jacklyn Holovka and Dave Siroshton (70!) celebrate. Happy Flag Day birthdays to Oskar Owens, Christina Hatfield, Tiffany Morrett, Shawna Virgil (50!), Don Morgan, Chris Doyle, Lisa Odenberg, Carmen Myklebust, Brandon Bedwell, Susan Noble and Steve Bruno. On Monday Sharon Bruno, Jody Piper, Jeffrey Benjamin, John McMurray, Richard Wegner, Taylor Brockhoff, Bob Friske, John Hopper and Joe Hutchinson blow out the birthday candles. On June 16 Tim Shepperd, Jay Troy, Steve Smalley, Taylor Brockhoff, Bill Dick, Desiree Barclift, Darick Pope, Brenda Gabriel, Frank Bybee, Stephen Parmentier, Shelly Cunnington, Richard Wegner and Rebecca Morelli take another trip around the sun.
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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.