Sometimes you need a reminder

[Deleted User]WriterGF (deleted user)
in General

When someone has been through a loss -- a relationship ending, a layoff, whatever -- it is easy for them to start viewing themselves purely through the lens of what they have lost. After a while, it gets harder to remember who you were, what your worth is, and the positives that have been in your life.

For me, being out of work for some time has been rough on my self-image. I had a very successful career which has since felt very far away. So I was very fortunate this week to get an invitation to speak to an elementary school in the Philippines via Zoom. I was initially ambivalent about it -- my books came out before those kids were born -- but it turned out they are big hits in the school library there. So I spent an hour taking questions from these adorable kids and getting a badly needed reminder that, whatever my situation now, the work I did mattered to people.

If you know someone who has been through a loss, remember that they may be struggling in ways that are not obvious. Take a minute to remind them that they are more than what they have lost.

Comments

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel

    @WriterGF A beautiful sentiment beautifully expressed! Amazing too, how children, just through their innocence, enthusiasm and smiles can put the worst times into perspective.

    I am glad they bolstered your spirits and yes, you are much more than your past. You will find your next journey soon. I am certain of it.

  • [Deleted User]WriterGF (deleted user)

    Children are the best audience - if they like something, they like it, if they don't, they don't. This was actually the biggest audience (1000 kids) I have spoken to since 2002. The teachers are supposed to be sending me a list of questions that we didn't have time to get to.

  • BearBear

    @WriterGF that is a beautiful reminder of you are and what you hard accomplished. In someways, you are probably a hero or a pretty large authority figure to those kids. I can just imagine you made their day just as well.

    After my brother passed in 2023 and my dead last year, I was no longer a caregiver. I stopped caring about most stuff, including my job. Luckily my job is secure at work. Because I had become pretty ambivalent and don’t always make it every day of the week.

    I am just now starting to rebound a little.

    We always have to remember to practice self-care and self-love

  • KozyKimKozyKim

    Wow 1000 kids that's so amazing!!!

    I was just sharing with another cuddler on the site about how my teacher impacted me and how I found him 30 years later, and wrote him a letter to thank him for everything , believing in me, and not giving up on me. You honestly never forget the people that impacted your life you can think of them over and over again with happy tears.

    So glad that you have been making children all over the world dream and grow through reading.

    Just curious, where can I find your books?

  • Darkeyed_maleDarkeyed_male

    @WriterGF

    Very impressive and what a joy to get feedback from young minds! A perfect reminder to you about the impact of your work.

    Bow of respect.

  • TxTomTxTom

    Great post, @WriterGF

    I often minimize my difficulties by reminding myself that, no matter how hard I've got it, someone, somewhere else has it even worse.

    Your comment is a great reminder that a personal setback can provide us with a beneficial opportunity we might not have taken otherwise.

  • [Deleted User]gem7 (deleted user)

    @WriterGF Thank you for this thoughtful post.

Sign In or Register to comment.