Quarantines provide covering for our vulnerabilities (health,etc). We are not moving around in our communities, cities, nations or anywhere in the world as we would usually travel about in our day to day lives. In an effort to minimize sickening ourself or others, we are quarantined until we flatten the curve. Being under quarantine makes us vulnerable to ourselves - our thoughts, our dreams, our hopes, our insecurities and unfortunately, sometimes our fears.
I have turned to creating more collages, more abstract painting, watching Netflix movies, reading books and taking classes on Coursera, in order to NOT consume the barrage of news about the coronavirus (Covid 19). I have the luxury of working from home and simultaneously helping my son with his class work. It’s uncomfortable, but therein lies the opportunity for growth. Vulnerability makes us feel uncomfortable and at risk. It’s important we learn how to capture any negative thoughts or frustrations that arise during our most vulnerable moments and pivot towards our hope, faith and the people/things we love.
If you’re enjoying your extra time with family, or time spent cooking in your kitchen, indulging in your passion projects or just anchoring yourself in prayer, mediation and gratitude, hold on to these good memories. Reflecting on the positive take aways from this experience will be critical for our collective social and emotional well-being.
Some quotes on vulnerability:
⚡️ “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” – C.S. Lewis
⚡️ “The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for.” – Bob Marley
⚡️ “The strongest love is the love that can demonstrate its fragility.” – Paulo Coelho
⚡️ “Courage is vulnerability. Vulnerability is courage. Like shadow and light, neither one can exist without the other.” – Wai Lan Yuen
⚡️ “…and that visibility which makes us most vulnerable is that which also is the source of our greatest strength.” – Audre Lorde
⚡️ “What makes you vulnerable, makes you beautiful.” – Brené Brown
“Vulnerable, But Love is My Shield”
Handcrafted collage Heather Polk 2020 - @artcuresall