Hyphenated-Homestead

A Normal Friday—Until It Wasn’t

It was supposed to be just another Friday. One of those productive, get-it-done kind of days. The contractor was scheduled for a long-awaited home project, and the grass, thriving from recent rains, desperately needed mowing. I aimed to wrap up these tasks before the forecasted storms rolled in.

Both of us were working from home—me juggling home priorities upstairs, my wife immersed in her projects from the basement. Time was tight, and so was our lunch: a rushed salad and a quick fix sandwich, before diving back into work.

Then, at 2:32 p.m., the sky darkened. Not just cloudy—dark. The kind that makes you pause. The kind that makes you check your phone for alerts or look out the window twice.

Within minutes, the rain came down hard—almost sideways. Hailstones pounded the roof and every side of the house like a warning we weren’t ready for. Oddly, no tornado sirens yet. It felt… off. Too much drama in the sky, not enough in the airwaves.

At 2:42 p.m., they howled.

The sirens. The ones that make you stop whatever you’re doing and find the nearest basement wall. We checked the alerts and saw the words you never want to see pop up on your screen: Tornado. On the ground. Clayton.

Wait, what? Clayton? Where I used to work? That’s like seven, maybe eight miles away, north and east.

The next fifteen minutes were a blur—nervous glances, hurried steps, a kind of quiet that fills the space when adrenaline’s doing the talking. And then, as fast as it started… it stopped.

By 3:15 p.m., the sun was out like nothing had ever happened. Blue skies. Birds. Calm.

But not for everyone.

The Aftermath: A Tale of Two Realities

The videos started rolling in. The damage reports. Neighborhoods I recognized were now unrecognizable. Trees uprooted. Roofs gone. Streets littered with debris and disbelief. Entire lives rearranged in minutes.

One of my ex-colleagues (@Katie D-B) posted this video on FB the next day. It makes you numb. It is raw, real and heartbreaking to watch. The most important part – she and her family are safe, yet the damage and road to recovery is equally hard. [https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CUSEP2y8s]

And here I was, standing outside my home—dry, intact, untouched—trying to make sense of how a storm could hit that hard and skip this close. Just fifteen minutes earlier, I was in the basement whispering silent prayers. Now, I was in the driveway checking for roof shingles like I was inspecting a mystery.

It hit me: we always think disasters happen to “other people.”

Emotional Awareness in a Desensitized World

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to become desensitized. We hear about wars, natural disasters, and tragedies, but unless they touch us directly, they often become just another headline. This tornado was a stark reminder that life can change in an instant, and it’s crucial to remain emotionally aware and connected.

A simple check-in can make a world of difference. Whether it’s reaching out to a friend, a neighbor, or even a stranger, these small acts of kindness and connection can have profound impacts. They remind us that we’re not alone and that someone cares.

This storm, brief as it was, stirred up more than just wind and rain—it stirred something inside. It made me reflect on how easily we absorb these jolts, file them away, and keep going. But over time, these moments—big or small—can quietly pile up, weighing on us in ways we don’t always notice. It got me thinking about mental health, and how external events often become the mirror that shows us our own emotional weather.

And that brings me to: Today. May 18th, Mental Health Awareness Day. It’s a day to recognize the importance of mental well-being and to acknowledge that everyone faces their own battles. The recent events have highlighted the need for emotional intelligence and the importance of supporting one another.

Let’s use this day as a reminder to be more empathetic, to check in with those around us, and to prioritize our mental health. In doing so, we not only support others but also foster a more compassionate and understanding community.

Action Steps: Cultivating Empathy and Awareness

• Check In: Reach out to friends, family, or neighbors. A simple message can mean the world.
• Stay Informed: Understand the events happening around you, even if they don’t directly affect you.
• Practice Empathy: Try to put yourself in others’ shoes. Understand their feelings and perspectives.
• Support Mental Health: Advocate for mental health awareness and support initiatives that promote well-being.

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