Seeking Energy

Energy in hand…

A young friend of mine – which is becoming a larger and larger population at this point – was baffled at her lack of energy over the past few weeks. She was generally struggling to find her “oomph”.

 Of course, my peers chalk it all up to our age – we’re no longer spring chickens, or even summer chickens for that matter.

But for this young woman, it was baffling. She turned to the internet to seek out knowledge and stumbled on sites that discussed seasonal changes and their effect on energy.  In other years or eras, I would just accept that and say yes – shifts from winter to summer through that stage called Spring does elicit energy shifts.

In this era, however, we’re learning about the properties of energy in a variety of ways – and of how we as humans experience energy.

Since early in 2020, we’ve all experienced the energy suck of living with fear, anxiety, and uncertainty brought on by an emerging viral pandemic. A low constant hum of awareness that is still with us.

And by mid 2020, we had experienced the systemic shock of the impact racism has on our nation. The range of emotions were an added drain on our energy stores.

Today I wake up every morning to check if World War III has actually begun – watching a megalomaniac attack a sovereign neighbor just because he can. A palpable daily energy zap.

If I were a physicist, I’d be focusing on the various forms or properties of energy. Energy is simply the ability of an object to do work. And I know that 2020 did a number on my ability to do work – despite the demands of the work I was called to do that year. It was truly a challenge to dig deep enough to find what was left.

Energy exists in a variety of forms – potential, kinetic, thermal, electrical, chemical, nuclear – there is light energy, mechanical energy, sound energy, and gravitational energy.  

Then there’s our human energy – mental, physical, emotional – all being depleted by the stresses of the 2020s so far.  

How do we replenish our minds and souls? Most of my friends and family have survived COVID. We are relatively comfortable. And none are living on a border with Russia right now. So where is the energy? Where do we find it? Ideas?