To my fellow human being,

One day, your future child will be flicking cereal at the back of the cereal box. And on the back of that box, will be a trivia game. Coronavirus: trivia knowledge.

And you can lift your baby to the ceiling and tell them that it is a better world now, because Covid-19 did not win. Because, ultimately, you made it.

And this moment does not exist without love, hope, and humor. And you will find yourself having all of these things in such a short amount of time.

You got this.

These times are tough

You probably feel alone

Don’t be scared to reach out

Go pick up the phone

Get yourself out of bed

I know it’s hard to do

Accomplish one small task

Find purpose in you

Take a walk outside

Don’t hide in your room

Know this now isn’t your forever

And it’ll be over soon

The bucket may look half full

Most of the time

And the light might not shine as bright

As all the stars in the sky

Your hope may be hanging

On the thinnest of thread

But there is peace and joy

And beauty in this world

Yes it’s hard to find

If we don’t look around

But if we look through

The dark we’ll see the stars

Because even in the dark

There is beauty unseen

Just look for it my dear

For you will find

Even in the darkness

You are the light

Pratchett’s metaphor, not mine

a gravitational well impossible

to escape, whose brim eludes

each so desperate to ascend

blind to those deposed in their quest

none escape collective desperation

Forget the bucket.

The bucket never got anyone anywhere

good, it just made a prison

from a pail

Forget the bucket walls

aren’t always for scaling sometimes

they protect us, remind us

where we belong

safe-shielded instead of churning

that sometimes rest is better

than unheeding action we forget

to pause before we grab

we grab tight, forgetting we pinch

Forget the bucket.

Some things are not meant to be kept.

Let’s start by detangling these thoughts, shall we?

Digging deep to why you care.

The ebb and flow dragging both directions,

I get it, life isn’t fair. 

Taking on weights of others’ worlds,

I can’t help but wonder what you try to prove. 

The death of a loved one is still valid pain, 

Even if it’s you.

Is it death we crave sometimes, 

Or the freedom it leaves?

Believe there is a delicate plan involved, 

Heart destined for sleeves.

Keep your head up in clouds, 

Breathe, my dear. 

You may not know me,

But we can both conquer fear. 

Take your time to feel, your feelings are valid. Don’t push them away. Let them flow. Be open. If you’re sad then you’re sad. It’s alright. Let yourself mourn and grief. It’s all part of the process.

Reach out to your loved ones. They can share your burden. You’re not alone.

Be compassionate to yourself. Tell yourself you’re going to be fine. You’re doing your best. Get back on your feet when you feel like it. Recovery takes time and isn’t linear. Sometimes you take 2 steps forward and 3 steps back. It’s alright. You’re doing fine.