It's okay if you can't

Ever grateful to the farmers. (Library of Congress)

There’s a lot going on right now. Many of us have experienced dramatic changes to our lifestyle and livelihood.

Any one of these changes would be a lot to get used to and would require a period of adjustment, and they’re all hitting at once.

On top of that, many of us are sick. And people are dying. That’s reality.

So it’s okay if you’re having a hard time. It’s okay if you’re feeling tired, irritable, and overwhelmed.

It’s okay if you’re not coming up with Pinterest-worthy homeschooling activities or nailing it at work. You might be in survival mode, and that’s allowed.

In entrepreneur circles, some folks are already trying to pivot to new business models and find new opportunities in the midst of the crisis. Some artists are sharing new work. That may be what’s necessary for their survival, but it’s not some kind of standard to live up to.

I’m writing to you every day because it’s become the activity I look forward to most right now. It’s keeping me grounded when virtually everything else in my life feels up in the air. But I’m not over here “producing content.” I’m just writing an article. I’m not able to accomplish much more than doing the work that’s in front of me each day, and I’m barely able to do that.

There are moments when I have a little more vigor. I try to make the most of those. But keeping up with everything that’s asking for my attention is close to impossible right now. Can you relate?

There will be a day, in the unknowable future, when you might wake up and see a glimmer of possibility. When the grief is less intense and the burden of your days is a little lighter. You might feel ready to try something new or do something differently. But it’s okay if you can’t right now.

It’s not the time to measure yourself by your progress toward your goals, to compare yourself to others, or to feel guilty that you’re not doing more to help. What a waste of precious, scarce energy. Instead, I invite you to focus on your health and safety and that of the people in your care, follow through on your responsibilities as best you can, and, as you feel able, to widen the circle in the way that feels right to you.

You may find that giving yourself permission to slow down actually provides you with the enthusiasm you need to be of service to others — and once you let go of thinking that you need to live up to a certain vision of yourself, you might contribute something different than what you thought you would. But it’s okay if you can’t today. Rest up for tomorrow.