Literature Lessons: On Supporting Others and Taking Care of Yourself

This image of the ocean and sky makes me think of Beautemps -
the city in the clouds - where the angels live and shed light
on the ground below. There are shadows and sunbeams present,
as evidence in this picture. (Just because they're angels, doesn't mean
they're always good!)

When Angelica hears about her friend's unicorn getting attacked, she knows she has to do something. Marcie is distressed because her partner is hurt and is not healing. The doctors/healers at the hospital are unable to do anything and don't understand the mechanisms of the insidious parasite.

This leads Angelica to a rash but daring plan. She's encountered a similar energy before and she's willing to do what it takes to help the unicorn.

When our friends are going through difficult times, we often want to spring into action and let them know that everything is going to be alright. We want to take care of them and help them however we can. We put all of our energy into it and we can feel exhausted after it all ends.

Giving and receiving are both important.

Giving our time, love and energy to others shows compassion, but we also need the reminder to give that same time, love and energy to ourselves.

So Angelica heals Marcie's unicorn and she passes out. She falls ill, feeling drained and sluggish because of how much work she put forth. This can often happen after we're activated. Our bodies are hyper alert for dangers, then they shut down from exhaustion and can lower our immune systems.

People that are "carers" and want to give the world to others may find themselves often exhausted and stretched thin. They give and give and give without receiving or giving to themselves. It's the plane analogy that drives an important concept home. When air pressure falls in the cabin and the masks drop down, you have to put your mask on first before you put on someone else's. While helping others can make us feel good and is beneficial to others, it can also be taxing on our health.

Angelica just gave lots of energy to helping Marcie and so it's no wonder that when she welcomes the help from Keith that she begins to feel better. Someone else is now giving to her and taking care of her which furthers the cycle. When we all look to aid others, we foster a community of people ready to look out for one another and support each other. However, it's not wrong or bad to be on the receiving end of aid and being open to help from others benefits the community too!