This is a different kind of blog post for me but it is my current situation and is weighing on my heart. I live in the Tampa Bay area and have been without power since Wednesday night. Now I have a better understanding of all the little things that people who recover from natural disasters go through.

First of all, the storm itself was a terrifying experience. The sounds of the howling winds, odd thumps, and bangs. And not being able to see anything as well with it being at night with no lights at all was frightening. Being afraid to sleep in my own bed in case the oak tree outside my window collapses on my house made for very little sleep on top of increased stress levels only made things worse.

Waking up the next day to see so much destruction in the place you’ve lived your whole life is devastating. I count myself lucky. We have a leaky roof, some downed tree limbs, and no electricity. I’ve seen pictures of so many businesses and homes flooded, trees on top of houses, siding and porch additions ripped off.

But I’ve also seen neighbors helping each other clear debris, bring sand bags and supplies because the flooding has not crested yet. In my case, two neighbors helped me get my generator running which has been a God send. Without it, we would have lost all the food in our refrigerator, we would not have been able to cook 1 hot meal a day, and our poor Husky Bane would have overheated without the fan. To say we feel blessed is an understatement.

What is weighing on my heart are all the social media posts bashing the people who are complaining about not having power. Just because things could be worse doesn’t make the current circumstances any easier to deal with. No one would tell someone with a flooded house, “it’s just a little water, get over it, it could be worse.” So why are they saying that to people with no electricity? The truth is you can’t understand what someone else is going through until you’ve experienced it yourself. Showing a little grace during a time that is stressful to all, goes such a long way.

The mental load added to people without electricity is incredibly heavy, no wonder they are complaining. Routines you do without thinking are suddenly impossible to do without problem solving. Just going to the bathroom takes extra steps ie. find a flashlight so you can see. Using a generator is helpful but adds more levels of thinking/problem solving. How long should I run it to keep fridge cold but still conserve gas? Which appliances do I use, when, and for how long? Having to constantly check on the generator to make sure it doesn’t run out of fuel. Then there is the refueling and going to get more gas.

Furthermore there is the lack of sleep starting with the storm but extending for who knows how long. I can’t sleep in my bed now because a lack of air flow, so I am sleeping in the living room which is not nearly as restful as being in my own bed. Things that would at one time help relieve the stress of not getting enough sleep or maybe help you get a good night’s sleep like a nice hot shower are gone as well. The first shower was ok. We had enough hot water to at least not have a cold shower. But now, showers are freezing and strictly for hygiene purposes only.

There is very little to keep your mind off the fact that you have no electricity too. We have been fortunate that my daughter bought a portable power station which has been a life saver in keeping our devices charged. My son and I are teachers so we don’t have work to distract us. My daughter works remotely. So she is constantly working on her hotspot and worrying about keeping her laptop charged. I find that I have very little drive to do anything and when I do, I have to plan to do it during to coolest parts of the day. Not knowing when life will get back to normal is taxing in itself. It is stressful with no real way to relieve it or escape it.

We know we can find relief for short doses of time. We can take showers at friend’s or family members. We can visit a restaurant for AC and a hot meal. We can charge our phones as we drive to gas or run errands. But in the end, it is still not the comfort of the home we are used to. Our home is still a place of safety and keeps us out of the elements for the most part but the emotional safety net, that feeling that being home gives us on a day to day basis, is altered. Our peace of mind is not quite complete.

For those of you suffering from the loss of a home, flooding, lack of electricity or water, I am so sorry. I pray that you find some peace in your new normal. For everyone else, please show some grace and understanding to those complaining about their situation. It could always be worse, but that doesn’t make it any easier.