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(It’s Okay To Say) I’m Not Okay
A number of times, I tried to write a post commenting on the insurrection that occurred in Washington, D.C on January 6, 2021. However, as I read other posts, it was clear that there were people better qualified than me to write them. Instead, I wrote this, which seemed more natural, more authentic and made more sense.
I Just Don’t Know
On that day and in the days since, I’ve been able to make less and less sense of the events. In my mind, there seem to be a ton of contradictions between some of the insurrectionists’ stated intentions and some of what I saw. In the nearly twenty years since 9/11, there has been a lot of emphasis on terrorist threats against our national security. Then, those threats came from abroad. On January 6, 2021, I saw a significant attack from within.
I don’t remember who it was, but a friend was on a work call. One of the topics was discussing some of the lessons from 2020. They said how they learned that it’s okay to say that they’re not okay. They mentioned how pre-pandemic, when someone asked how they were doing, they would say, “ I’m okay “ even when they weren’t.
There is a ton of coverage on the constantly changing developments. More and more participants have been identified and charged. More details have been uncovered, possibly alluding to upcoming actions leading to Inauguration Day (January 20). With all of these things that have already or could happen, it’s easy to feel paralyzed by the fear and uncertainty.
For me, I had to make the decision (for me) to step away a bit from Facebook and check my news apps as little as possible. I think that I decided this because, after a point, I don’t benefit from finding out more. For lack of a better term, I reach point of MY information saturation. If I need to be present for myself, my family and my work, how can I be taken distracted with constant reminders of things that (right now) I can do nothing about?
I remember chatting with someone, after I decided to step away a bit from Facebook and the news apps. As I started to explain, they interrupted me and said, “You don’t need to explain to me. If that’s what YOU need to do to take care of yourself, then DO IT.” I realize now how it meant a lot to hear it at that specific moment.
