There has been such tremendous and overwhelming loss to our Los Angeles community. Every single person has been touched on some deep level with their own loss and the tremendous and overwhelming losses of others. Lost homes, lost lives, lost pets, lost belongings, lost wildlife and Nature, a lost sense of safety and personhood. Those who have not lost their homes may feel blessed and yet deeply grieve for those who did, fearing that they could be next. Belief systems have been tested. How could this possibly be happening? It’s hard to feel safe anymore. We may not personally know someone who has lost a home but everyone’s heart has been broken from the pain, sorrow and tremendous suffering on such a huge scale.
What do we do now? How do we survive and recover? It’s a huge task and feels overwhelming. I do know that we will. This devastation and loss is huge… but we will come back. We will recover together as a community and as amazing human beings and souls… but how? The only answer I really have right now is… one minute, one day at a time… together in spirit and togetherness.
In the darkest hours, it’s so difficult to believe that any “gifts” can possibly arise from the darkness that is so horribly devastating and life changing. I was feeling so much deep sorrow, pain and confusion. Then, one of my group members posted this to a text thread. It gave me hope. We need to give each other hope and support. This group member’s spouse died about a decade ago. She has been struggling with depression since that time. This talks about the “gifts” that come out of trauma. We may not see much now… but they will be revealed. This is what she said to the group:
Can’t say how generous and kind people have been. Someone gave my grandson a surfboard yesterday. He lost 10 guitars in the house. But interesting enough the kids are handling the loss of their home very well. I’m very proud of them.
The entire family can suffer such a loss and move forward with grace. The kids will be better people because of this loss. Stuff can be replaced, not people. And one can hardly feel sorry for oneself when they look at the devastation around them. The Palisades are gone. An entire community. No one was spared. They are probably moving in here temporarily. My sister is here indefinitely.
With all this going on I haven’t been depressed at all. Upon reflection the grief for my husband and the appropriate leaving of my kids is what has swallowed me up.
So we move forward. I love being needed. Emotions are high but we’ll get through this.
Thanks. Got your texts and prayers. It means so much to have such extraordinary women behind me. I’m so grateful.
We will make this thing work and move on with gratitude.
I’ll be in touch. I love you all.
We are seeing amazing resilience, generosity and love in this large community. People offering their food, shelter, donating to those who have lost everything and supporting in so many ways. These are the most important gifts that come out of trauma… and it all comes down to heartfelt love, caring and support for each other.
“We’re not primarily on this Earth to see through one another. We’re here to see one another through.”