Our community is hurting. We’ve experienced many tragic and unfortunate events over the years, but these last two weeks have been particularly difficult for a community as small and connected as Bermuda.
Out of respect for those who are healing and mourning, I won’t go into the details of any of the recent incidents. What I do want to say is that while words may not change circumstances or take away someone’s pain, I sincerely hope they can bring some form of comfort.
At a time when so many of us are already dealing with the everyday challenges life brings, I think it’s important to remember what connects us. Regardless of our salaries, the size of our homes, our intellect, our connections or our political beliefs, we’re all human. We experience love, loss, fear, uncertainty and grief. None of us is immune to life’s challenges, and none of us knows when we may need the support of someone else.
It’s a fragile time in our small Bermudian community, and I believe we need to lean on one another. Maybe this is a good time for us to slow down, reflect and give ourselves a little more grace. Be kinder to ourselves, recognize when we need rest and understand that we don’t always have to have everything figured out.
Sometimes we’re so focused on being strong for everyone else that we forget we need care and understanding too. Perhaps when we begin showing ourselves that kindness, it becomes easier to extend the same compassion to the people around us.
I’ve spoken quite a bit recently about our sense of community and what makes being Bermudian special. I still believe that one of our greatest strengths is our ability to come together when it matters most. But community isn’t just about showing up during a tragedy. It’s also about how we treat one another in the days, weeks and months that follow.
There’s a lot happening right now that’s beyond our control. We can’t change what’s already happened, take away everyone’s grief or prevent every unfortunate circumstance. But we can control how we respond, how we treat people and how much kindness we’re willing to extend to someone who may be struggling.
We don’t always know what someone is carrying emotionally. A little patience, a thoughtful message, checking on a friend or simply giving someone space can mean more than we realize.
My hope is that during this difficult period, we don’t lose sight of the humanity that connects us. We may not be able to make everything better, but we can certainly do our part to avoid making things worse.
Let’s be a little kinder to ourselves and to one another. Let’s give people grace, including ourselves. Let’s focus on doing good with what we can control.
