It鈥檚 no secret that people are feeling drained, frustrated and anxious about 颅living through a pandemic. This fatigue comes because we鈥檝e been dealing with this for months, there are more cases, and the restrictions have been extended over the holiday. All of these things can bring a sense of sadness and more uncertainty.
For the past few weeks, I鈥檝e been hearing more horns honking on the roads than usual. This isn鈥檛 the cheerful honking we used to hear every night at 7 p.m. It鈥檚 grumpy 颅drivers letting others know they are grumpy. It鈥檚 become such a thing lately that I started to question my driving.
On the weekend, I was driving and the lane beside me had a turning green light, but my light was still red. I heard a loud honk, honk, honk. I looked in my rear-view 颅mirror and saw an angry woman laying on her horn. I wasn鈥檛 doing anything wrong; I was stopped at a red light.
The thing is, we are all tired and 颅frustrated. No matter how challenging it may be, I think we should try and keep our frustrations to ourselves instead of sharing them with others. It鈥檚 a conscious choice, but instead of honking at someone because you鈥檙e having a bad day, channel that energy into something more constructive.
Recently, I was gifted a beautiful 颅lesson from Beecher Bay First Nation Chief Russ Chipps. I knew of a family that was going through a hard time and I wanted to offer my support, but I also knew that it was a personal matter for their family and I didn鈥檛 want to intrude. I grew up in a 颅family where we gave people space who were going through hard times and I find it hard to do the opposite.
I turned to Chipps and said that I wanted to help, but I wanted to make sure I didn鈥檛 overstep.
He looked at me and said: 鈥淎lways 颅overstep.鈥�
I did overstep and I think the family and myself were better because of it.
I keep reminding myself that it鈥檚 OK for me to leave my comfort zone to assist someone who could use some care and support. We all know of some rendition of the saying: 鈥淵ou鈥檒l learn who your real friends are when you go through a tough time.鈥�
If you are an acquaintance, a co-worker or a neighbour, don鈥檛 get hung up on what you mean to someone. If your heart is in the right place, do it.
Right now, we are physically 颅disconnected from our friends and extended families. If you care about someone, let them know and brighten their day. It鈥檚 far better than spreading your frustration. Remember, being kind is something that is contagious.
At the same time Chipps taught me this lesson, I was dropping off food to a family at Beecher Bay First Nation to show my support.
I asked what they were serving so I could bring something to go with the meal. The response was: 鈥淎s long as it comes from the heart, it is good medicine for us.鈥�
What a beautiful sentiment, and 颅something that can easily be paired with 鈥渁lways overstep.鈥�
