“Having recently experienced a death in my family, a layoff, and five really serious adversities and setbacks all at the same time, I can relate.”
Like many, I found myself agonizing over the feelings associated with being sucked up by uncertainties, impolite anxieties, and physical pains. I found myself experiencing insomnia, often awakening agitated or wandering aimlessly through my days.
As one might imagine, I found myself asking, “Why is all this happening to me?” Like many human beings, I was overcome by the temptation to take short cuts.
Experts like Daniel Bonn (A researcher specializing in quicksand from the University of Amsterdam) may not be an expert in human grief. But, he says that it is certainly possible to get stuck and later unstuck when violently submerged by quicksand. “Really, quicksand deaths do not usually occur simply from being emersed. The mere prospect of dangerous currents flowing towards us from nearby bodies of water can cause flooding. So, drowning while you’re immobilized is really the main danger.” He goes on to insist that we cannot drown in quicksand because of buoyancy alone. “Just like being stuck in the mud, we can lift ourselves out of this one boot at a time.”
In the event that you find yourself submerged, this may be great advice.
Lean back so that the weight of your body is distributed over a wider area. And move deliberately and slowly. As, moving won't cause you to sink. In fact, slow back-and-forth movements can let water into the cavity around a trapped limb, loosening the quicksand's hold.
Simply stated, taking things one day at a time, one issue at a time is a very intelligent way to work your way out of your funk. By lying back in prayer and gently reaching out to trusted friends and collogues who may be able to connect or encourage us is a giant leap towards our emotional and professional restoration.
All said, please allow me to express my sincere gratitude first to my friends and family. And, to God, who has been with me every step of the way through this. I’m slowly working may way past worries of insecurity, or the inability to know or predict my future. Sure, there is still much to fear. Even more to avoid when it comes to the unknown. But, knowing that God is BIG, and that my truest advocates have always been with me through all forms of tragedy and strife is helping me cope. Today, I am confidently, bravely, and quietly doing my best to avoid the mythical serpent or suffocating juices at the bottom of my delta.
Please, please, please. I have both many resources and an empathetic ear to lend. So, reach out to me if you simply just need someone to listen or to help you in your journey past the types of submersions I’ve described.
Members only
17 comments