Feeling the love — Forget-me-not
Today is my son’s birthday. It’s a beautiful day and the outpouring of love has brought me to tears a few times. We’ve had many video calls with terrible singing (a fun family tradition), messages from around the world, a special call out from his teachers and school mates during an online class lesson and two cake deliveries to the door (I swear he’s going to turn in to a cake at this rate!). The love is real and the love is tangible.
I think birthdays in this world of COVID-19 isolation have a remarkable effect on us! It’s the extra effort and actions people take to show their love; to show up, to knock on the door, to mail tokens, to show you that you mean something and are worth their time and effort; It’s these small actions that show someone you have not forgotten them. And to a little boy; well you should see the cake smudged smile on his face today!
This time at home has provided many opportunities to reflect and reframe what’s important. The labels that we identify with and the ceremonies we practise are all under scrutiny. It warms my heart that love breaks down the walls of fear and vulnerability and that people are taking action to grow and connect when we are collectively most vulnerable.
I wanted to share this as a reminder of the value in the small gestures of care, of connection and trust. Because after all, trUSt is about us; you and me, us and them. trUSt is context in which we all operate and develop or manifest our sense of personal identity.
Don’t hesitate to make the most of the opportunities you have to build connection, show up in anyway you can or to walk down that driveway to knock on someone’s door. You should never underestimate the impact that may have on someone’s life. Some say this time is for quiet reflection and I agree, but it is also a time of action. A time to fight for the things and people you believe in, a time to cherish and grow your own identity and cultural ceremonies that you hold dear. Besides, you never know what smiling face awaits you at the bottom of that driveway…
These actions taken today will build my son’s sense of identity; his feeling of worth to his family and friends, his compassion and his empathy. His internal narrative is developing and he’s growing up surrounded by people who move mountains to make him feel valued. For that I will be eternally grateful. My hope, as he grows, is that he will never question his right to happiness, that he will always trUSt he is worthy of love and connection. I hope that he will always have the strength to journey through a wonderful life that only he can create.
