In the midst of this week’s horrible sadness, I received a call asking me to don my clown costume and join in the holiday party at the assisted living home (where my father had been). Without a second thought I said I’d be there.
I thought to myself what perfect timing for such a request. What can be better than doing, giving, helping, supporting at a time like this. I had been sitting here feeling helpless, having a bit of an insane idea to drive to Newtown, Conn and set up a {Lucy} stand – “The Doctor Is In”,
like a crisis hotline stand, to talk, cry, emote, vent. But instead I decided to go the saner route and call up the American Red Cross to apply as a disaster mental health volunteer. And so my applications are in for that.
By the time today came to get into my clown attire I was psyched. I put on my energizing music, got into ‘state’ as Tony Robbins says and sang and bopped behind the wheel for the 20 minute drive. And for the next two hours we danced the mid-afternoon away around the tables in the festively decorated dining room, gently guiding people up and moving however slowly to the beat of the music, with walkers and without, the staff boogying like there was no tomorrow. The energy in that room was palpable. And the smiles and joy on the faces of the residents were glowing.
Now if this doesn’t get you out of yourself, nothing will.
So once again I am actively reminded that a huge remedy for feeling down, low, saddened by things is to step outside oneself and do for others; to enter somebody else’s world and be with them.
Helpfulness is the antidote to helplessness.
When the world feels like it’s spiraling out of control, reaching out to touch someone brings us back to our humanity, our goodness.
As I write this I am reminded of an oldie but goodie song from the 60’s: Reach Out of the Darkness – http://youtu.be/dqLRd4neGGE
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