What is love, my friends? There are a myriad of ideas that enjoy powerful cultural endorsement, but are they true? Is love an exciting feeling when you are around him? Is love simply having common interests and shared values with her? I know. You want him to look at you the same way you look at chocolate cake. I get it.

Honestly, do you find flaws in everything and nearly everyone? Yes, there is a boatload of negativity in the world. Humans can be selfish and cruel. He took advantage of you. She deceived you. Well, that is only one version of the world, sweet friends. I get it. Turn me over. I’m done on this side.

You may recall with ease a pleasant day at the beach with your family when you were but seven years old. Sure, call me on my shell phone. Memories of intense terror or fear, however, are oftentimes denied or hidden by our very mind to protect us. Is there a scale of awfulness on which we can even measure our trauma?

We have all just experienced the most dreadful and horrific calamity and catastrophe. Have you been able to adequately process or even understand this collective trauma? Some of us feel utterly devastated and crippled, but under pressure to carry on with our lives. We may not give ourselves time to reflect or to even mourn.