What we can do, beyond feeling overwhelmed!
So many images are available, images that rip my heart open to deep sadness if I can feel the depth of pain in the moment. I believe that at different times in our lives we can't and that's ok. As a young woman, I remember a moment in time at age 21 or so. I was already a mother of two sons. I was watching the news and I made a decision to quit watching because I felt so overwhelmed with the horrific acts and situations going on throughout the world. I think as a mother, it hit me especially hard. For several years I avoided watching the news. In retrospect, it may have been helpful for me to realize I had a choice beyond Fox type newscasts. Yea, I know this is laughable, but remember I was young, and a very busy mom who was emotionally parenting alone. I had a husband, who at the time, only understood his responsibility as bringing home the paycheck.
Now I am older, my four sons’ are out of my nest, I have a husband who supports me in all that I do. I want to know what is going on in the world. Painful images don't shut me down completely. Believe me they are painful--but I need to choose seeing the cup as half-full. I need to reach out to the hope-- or make it when I can. The realities of horrible life circumstances, through images, can indeed be powerful and are important to see so that we can respond. And as a social worker I see this as a deep responsibility.
Our professor brought tragic intense famous images to our class and talked about them in detail. Some had to get up and leave, I honor them being able to take care of themselves in the moment and it brings up the dilemma of being emotionally pushed to separate from our class discussion--which I think they would have liked to have been present for.While it's important to learn how to face realities so that we can respond and learn how not to shut down or become overwhelmed--I wished we could have honored my fellow classmates at the same time. These classes were very valuable for me. I have not had the opportunity to discuss the process of being overwhelmed or moving beyond feeling overwhelmed (taking action!). (Because this is precisely something I have struggled with) This was a powerful discussion so I personally appreciated these classes, yet my classmates are part of a group (our class). As part of a group we need the support to maintain cohesion. So, I am reaching out to my professor very directly to request the need to be flexible to honor my classmates when they are pushed beyond their limits so that they can contribute and be a part of our class discussions, while still making some very important points.
So many images are available, images that rip my heart open to deep sadness if I can feel the depth of pain in the moment. I believe that at different times in our lives we can't and that's ok. As a young woman, I remember a moment in time at age 21 or so. I was already a mother of two sons. I was watching the news and I made a decision to quit watching because I felt so overwhelmed with the horrific acts and situations going on throughout the world. I think as a mother, it hit me especially hard. For several years I avoided watching the news. In retrospect, it may have been helpful for me to realize I had a choice beyond Fox type newscasts. Yea, I know this is laughable, but remember I was young, and a very busy mom who was emotionally parenting alone. I had a husband, who at the time, only understood his responsibility as bringing home the paycheck.
Now I am older, my four sons’ are out of my nest, I have a husband who supports me in all that I do. I want to know what is going on in the world. Painful images don't shut me down completely. Believe me they are painful--but I need to choose seeing the cup as half-full. I need to reach out to the hope-- or make it when I can. The realities of horrible life circumstances, through images, can indeed be powerful and are important to see so that we can respond. And as a social worker I see this as a deep responsibility.
Our professor brought tragic intense famous images to our class and talked about them in detail. Some had to get up and leave, I honor them being able to take care of themselves in the moment and it brings up the dilemma of being emotionally pushed to separate from our class discussion--which I think they would have liked to have been present for.While it's important to learn how to face realities so that we can respond and learn how not to shut down or become overwhelmed--I wished we could have honored my fellow classmates at the same time. These classes were very valuable for me. I have not had the opportunity to discuss the process of being overwhelmed or moving beyond feeling overwhelmed (taking action!). (Because this is precisely something I have struggled with) This was a powerful discussion so I personally appreciated these classes, yet my classmates are part of a group (our class). As part of a group we need the support to maintain cohesion. So, I am reaching out to my professor very directly to request the need to be flexible to honor my classmates when they are pushed beyond their limits so that they can contribute and be a part of our class discussions, while still making some very important points.
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