The VIEW From Above 11

What does support mean to you? Since mid-March supporting each other during the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic crisis, and the escalation of racial tensions globally has become a daily part of our lives. How we support each other has manifested itself in acts of kindness, thoughtfulness, and selflessness. Too often before, supporting others had been pushed aside in a frantic attempt to get more accomplished at the expense of ignoring concerns and needs around us. For all of the technology at our fingertips, our pre-COVID world was less connected personally. We were not stopping to “smell the roses.” We didn’t even see the “roses” in most cases. Now, from behind our masked faces we are hearing more and seeing more, while talking less in public. It’s led to some interesting changes. Do you find yourself looking into a stranger’s eyes when you pass her, distanced at 6 feet, on the sidewalk or the grocery store? Are you “talking” with your eyes and a nod of the head, rather than looking down when you approach someone on the street? Are you picking up sounds in your home and neighborhood that you previously never heard? Are you a calmer person for living in a quieter world? Could serenity be creeping into your life and easing the tension you too often feel as the day progresses? Are you actively finding ways to support family members, friends, and casual acquaintances?

Support from others has sustained my journey these past months. It has come in the form of a weekly uplifting picture/cartoon from a friend in California. It arrives as regular emails from Pennsylvania and Wyoming friends “checking up” on me just because they care and recognize the added stress these crises have exacted. A Florida friend even sent a gift box of jigsaw puzzles, zucchini bread and flamingo imprinted cocktail napkins designed to transport me to my deck in Virginia, if only for a short respite. Every act of support, received, in turn, has unleashed a desire to connect in a meaningful way with someone else. For me that has been through really getting to know those staff members who have physically worked from the Headquarters building throughout most of the pandemic. While many staffers work from home exclusively, these few support our members by performing those tasks that must be performed on the premises to maintain DKG business as usual: opening the mail, processing dues, paying bills, and maintaining the building itself. This is selfless support that as members you may not realize is occurring…support that you are benefitting from every day.

How are you supporting others and yourself during these days of flux? State organizations and chapters continue to reach out to members, as is evidenced by postings on Facebook and email messages. Even the phone, as a tool for talking and not just texting, has taken on new prominence in the effort to connect personally, to offer cheer, to offer encouragement. Closure to the pandemic and resolution to the other crises of the day are certainly the goals we seek. However, we cannot discard supporting each other on a regular basis when these crises are behind us. Rediscovering the worth of meaningful support is too important to lose sight of again. Whom will you support today?

Comments (cathyd@dkg.org)