When we are physically hurt, it takes time for our bodies to heal. The deeper the wound, the longer the healing process. Sometimes the injury cannot be easily seen, but the damage is no less real. The recovery process can be a painful one. It requires the body to grow new tissue, and often, leaves a scar. It’s important that we don’t just look at scars as a reminder of injury, but of the ability to heal.
Health is more than physical well-being. It is also a state of mental and social well-being. The death of George Floyd has hit close to home here in Houston. And at a time of when it is more important than ever to come together as a community, social distancing has only exacerbated the separation and the anxiety that many of us are feeling right now as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
We are dealing with a deep wound, and It will take time to mourn and heal not just as individuals but as a community. Now more than ever, we need to recognize our shared humanity, to honor different experiences, to realize the ways in which we hurt each other, and seek ways to help each other heal. When there are so many voices competing to be heard and to be right, sometimes the most powerful thing that we can do is to listen.
Be well and be kind.