Pandemic experience calls for resilience

DEAR AMY » I think this is a tall order, but I am asking for your thoughts about how to process the experience of the last couple of years.

I am overwhelmed by all of the sadness, division, dislocation, and loss, and I wonder if the pandemic has scarred me permanently.

I’m curious about your perspective on this.

— Distressed

DEAR DISTRESSED »

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to try and tackle your very big question.

In response, I’m offering up two of my favorite modern philosophers: Viktor Frankl and Dolly Parton.

Frankl, a psychiatrist, was imprisoned at Auschwitz concentration camp, where all of his captive family members (and over 1 million others) were murdered. He survived.

His important book about this experience, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” (current edition: 2006, Beacon Press) offers indelible lessons about resilience.

Boiled down, Frankl’s belief is that human beings can find meaning and the motivation to persevere through suffering by unlocking their sense of purpose, and by developing a rich inner life.

On to Dolly, who said, “Storms make trees take deeper roots.”

At some point, we in North America seem to have absorbed the belief that life was supposed to be easy for us.

It is not.

Surely the pandemic experience has connected us to other humans throughout time, who have experienced war, hunger, trauma, and dislocation.

This is tough, but it is not the worst.

Personally, you can see your scars as evidence that you cannot heal, or you can emerge wounded, but determined to grow.

Surely the pandemic experience has connected us to other humans throughout time, who have experienced war, hunger, trauma, and dislocation.

I say — lead with your scars; they are proof of your humanity.

DEAR AMY » Many people suggest that those who are isolated or alone over the holidays should volunteer.

This sounds like a great suggestion, but organizations are flooded with requests to volunteer around the holidays. Many need to prescreen and train volunteers, which is time-consuming.

However, during the rest of the year, especially the winter, many such organizations really need more volunteers.

Maybe you could suggest it?

DEAR VOLUNTEER » Absolutely! Thank you.