The Power of human connection: Learning to heal, love and find joy again.

I have been finding it particularly difficult figuring out how I was going to start this blog post. Not only because it has been a minute since I have written anything down, but also because it has been an incredibly difficult few weeks; that I am only now starting to come out of and recover from. Even as I sit here with you now – writing, I am not really sure where this piece will end up, but i am hopeful that, with the help of the Disney piano music currently in my earphones, I can give you an idea of where I am at, where I have been, whilst also giving myself the chance to reflect and process the journey that the past month has taken me on.

I am not writing this entry from the easiest nor most comfortable of spaces, which if you have read some of these in the past, i am sure is a phrase you have heard before. I can tell you though, that the challenges that I may allude to in this ramble, have taught me a lot about the power of human connection within the process of healing and rediscovering yourself.

So just a little bit of recent background, it’s the end of August and I am starting another year at the college I have spent nearly a decade of my life working at, but this time, after a lot a hard work and perseverance I am returning in the position of Deputy Head of House. Now before you ask, am I excited? Definitely. Am I nervous and anxious? God yes, new challenges ALWAYS scare the hell out of me, and this new role comes with responsibility. But, I get to go into a space and looking after supporting young people in the way I always have and I am so excited to discover all the new adventures this year will take me on.

Now as I am sure a lot of you will know and understand – working with young people can be challenging, rewarding and often bring with it – the entirely unexpected. If I have learned anything though – all we want for our students and young people is to see them thrive, learn, grow and find joy in their lives. So when that plan or those wishes, don’t always work out the way that you expect them to, it can really hurt. I can often hurt so much that it just doesn’t seem like there will be a way out. But, what have recently discovered, particularly in a job like mine, is that in the most difficult of times, because of the community we have and the relationships we build, there is a strength of human connection that is completely unique and individual, but still so strong.

I am writing this as I am just starting to find my way out of an incredibly difficult two weeks that will, I imagine take some time to make sense of. However, these two weeks have also shown me how much love, and support exists within my world and how lucky and grateful I am to know and love the people that I do. Because, even in my lowest moments of this period, the human connection still existed. People came together, reminded me, as much and as regularly I did them, that my feelings and experiences were valid, no matter how small. I saw the strength and resilience of so many of those whom I have the pleasure to work, but I also so saw and experienced a space of pure humanity – in which emotions were not only accepted, but respected and treated with love and care. It made feel proud to be a part of this special community – because even in the most challenging of times, we seem to find each other and make it through.

So much love exists within my wider world too, the support and love from my family, remains strong and ever constant, for this I am truly thankful.

I am also incredibly lucky and thankful to have the partner that I do now – he has seen me at some of my worst points and most difficult times, having chosen to stay every time. He has baked with me, cooked with me, played games (of the computer and console variety), taught me the joy of puzzling and taken me on so many adventures just because he could. There a level of love and deep routed connection in our partnership that I never expected to find, let alone feel i deserved, but I am so glad we found each other, because in accepting me fully, he has been restoring pieces of me that I thought I had lost so long ago.

So much has happened so quickly recently that there was stage that I was not sure if I would be able to bounce back fully. But the difficult times have shined a light on so much love and support that I now know I will be and am able to face the day again.

Take it from a girl who knows, a girl who was off anti depressants and is now back on them, a girl who has experienced many things in life. Whatever you are going through right now, I promise, there is a way to find the light again. There are no rules in the world of healing, but I believe that you will find joy again. Wherever you are at in your heart and mind right now, I am proud of you. You will make it through again.

Be kind to yourself, lean on those you love and take it one day a time.

All the love,

Lucy 🙂