Does the evening news lately leave you in a state of toomuchery? Someone I know, occasionally expresses her state of mind as neither overwhelmed nor underwhelmed but just plainly whelmed. We no doubt all have had our own moments of being whelmed during these seemingly endless days of COVID. Here we are in the summer and finally our state of being whelmed is lessening. With fewer new COVID cases being reported, we are cautiously beginning to feel that the pandemic is backing off. Still, it’s not over ‘til it is over.
Just as we are beginning to catch our breath, sensing we are finally coming out of the tunnel, the wind is knocked out of us again. Dawning upon us is the unnerving realization that we are entering yet another tunnel. It is all toomuchery! While offering words of gratitude for the blessing of vaccines, we hear medical experts warning us of more contagious variants. While mask mandates are gradually being lifted, there are recommendations for their reinstatement. Media sources inundate us with daily reminders that the pandemic is ongoing. It is overwhelming to hear that this newer Delta variant is now rapidly spreading! On top of that, we hear of multiple other variants raising their ugly heads in some parts of our ailing world.
As if all of this pandemic drama were not enough to keep us off balance, there are the recent wildfires, the heatwaves and droughts endangering people’s lives and their property in parts of Canada and the USA. Unheard of flooding has caused havoc in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and India. Deeply disturbing turmoil in Cuba, Haiti and South Africa bombarded our hearts, no matter their distance from us. How much more can we absorb?
““Toomuchery” – When everything starts to feel like too much”
We struggle. A way to cope is to follow the wise adage, “Where your focus goes, your energy flows.” When overwhelmed, we seek ways to calm ourselves so the energy can flow. Recently, we found a helpful tool to cope during these challenging days. On Google, you can find “The Brief Guide for Navigating Toomuchery” by Brad Montague, a writer, and the creator of the popular Kid President web series. During these depressing times, Montague wrote a poem about how to handle things when it all becomes too much. With the help of his children, he hopes to bring some much-needed joy and relief to people around the world. (goodthingsguy.com/fun/toomuchery-guide)
In his guide, Montague, recommends the following beneficial antidotes to counter feeling overwhelmed.
Pause and take a deep, deep breath. Listen to how it sounds.
Reach out to your friends.
Absurd times call for absurd amounts of love. So, give lots of it.
When you experience a case of toomuchery, why not try these antidotes which can be self-administered as often as needed.
-Sr. Nancy Wales, csj and Sr. Magdalena Vogt, cps