Once there was a Village, now there is Selfcare

Meet Jane
Jane is struggling to keep things together
Jane reaches out looking for help
The People shake their heads and say I know it’s tough isn’t it?
It’s normal,
We’re all struggling.
The People say Selfcare is the answer, are you looking after yourself?
Jane asks What is selfcare?
The People tell her to go away on a weekend alone, go on a date, take up yoga, a hobby,
meet up with friends… at a day spa
Jane wonders Don’t you get it? If I could do these things, I wouldn’t need help

Now Jane feels even worse, her to-do list just got longer,
I see now it’s all my fault, she thinks.
She needs to be more responsible!
The jumping in her gut starts again.
The greyness in her head with flashes of red,
Sighing, irregular breathing, panic.
I’m a failure, she thinks, I even fail at failing
It’s all my fault, she thinks
The People have told me so.

A Person says Let me know if I can help.
Jane thinks I don’t know what help I need?
I don’t know what help there is,
My mind’s too shattered to make basic decisions
Don’t ask me to make decisions for you too!
Jane says, No no that’s ok, I’ll be fine.
Well you look after yourself, says The Person as they walk away,
feeling good for making the offer.

One day Jane moves away from The People and goes to The Village
Jane reaches out looking for help
The Village says, We will give you authentic support, not advice
We’ll take your kids out for a few hours when you need.
The Village says We will bring you fresh food and some cooked meals
Jane says No no you don’t need to do that.
The Village says Shut up, we are doing it.
One day, when Jane is injured
A Villager comes to her house, and quietly cleans it
They didn’t say Let me know if I can help!
They said Shut up, I’m coming.
Jane feels at home in The Village
She can breathe normally and her head feels a healthy shade of pink
She decides to stay.