A Week of Painful Moments and Blinding Clarity

There have always been moments in my life when the on-going stressors and crises in the world come together not only in my own house, but in my body and mind. Like an Oracle or a Cassandra, from ancient Mythology. Moments when Painful Truth and Blinding Clarity force me out of the shadows, complacencies, comforts and false sense of security of Plato’s Cave.

This past week was one of those weeks. I listened and watched as the latest UN Climate assessments and reports called us once again to urgent action, and knew the global will would fail because the wealthiest, most polluting nations couldn’t let go of their luxuries, and fossil-fuel addiction, because I actually participated in a global simulation of the same sort of global crisis at The Harvard Kennedy School and saw it fail.

While these reports came out, I also experienced firsthand a series of thunder storms and flash floods in my own backyard and neighborhood that knocked out the subway system and sent ambulances and helicopters scurrying around the city to address the fall-out.

Add to that the rapid and catastrophic withdrawal from and fall of Afghanistan coinciding with the complete demolition and gut renovation of a building next door, combined with the near explosion of the gas line in my own building, just as I’m trying to organize my whole life as calmly as possible to move homes and countries.

And finally, add to that the final straw of a good friend’s local shop being robbed of $30k worth of merchandise when she’s already behind on rent and a mentally ill and very drunk older woman threatening me and my neighbors on our own front steps that put me into a complete state of shaking panic…. I couldn’t avoid the painful and very clear truths all around me. The House of Cards and illusions of the “stable global leadership” by the EU, USA and other first world territories, along with the corresponding local New York systems of health, infrastructure, law enforcement mutual support and basic respect for the property of others have fallen.

Having grown up in New York under similar conditions, I’ve never been an idealist. But I guess I always did hope and believe we (and I) could overcome anything, survive and rise triumphantly from every ashy grave, like 9/11, and demonstrate our never-ending commitment to each other, just like we did last year during the first months of Covid. Simultaneously, I’ve always sought out opportunities for growth, collaboration and generosity during crises. Case in point, when Hillary lost in 2016, but I had survived my second round with cancer, I foresaw where my congressional district is now and committed to running for office to ensure an equitable and secure future for my neighbors and community. I believed so strongly that I and my community could make change happen… That we could prevent where we’ve ended up, that I put myself back in the hospital.

This week pulled the blinders away from my eyes and forced me to see the Truth, not just what I “hoped” would be “true” and reflect on a “Pain/Gain” exercise I had to go through during my training with IPEC.

And I had to finally own that all the effort and Pain I’ve put myself through in the hopes that New York and my community would Gain as a result was an insane and repetitive narrative that I had to let go of. For myself, my health, my future, and my own mental freedom.

So, for those of you feeling like I have been, here’s something to examine as you consider your own options and futures. And if you want support along the journey, you know who to reach out to.

Holly Lynch is a 20+ year communications veteran and life-long social impact advocate and strategist who has helped individuals and companies tackle the toughest challenges in their worlds. Having survived countless life setbacks and two rounds with terminal cancer, while seeing the country-wide collapse of the systems and safety nets for the most vulnerable in and outside our communities, she is now shifting her life and career trajectories to focus on coaching those facing down fundamental shifts and transitions as they try to navigate and rebuild their lives and businesses during these unprecedented times.