This morning, a friend shared how heavy the news has felt lately—and how hard it is to keep taking it all in. She asked how I’ve been managing. I told her about two mantras I return to again and again when the headlines feel relentless.
First: See the darkness—AND limit my intake of it.
Second: Be the light—AND find ways I can offer light to others.
I call them mantras because I have to repeat them to myself, day after day, especially when the news feels overwhelming.
One place I find solace is in being a light through the We Are Resilient™ coach training we are offering to Ukrainian staff who work with children in bomb shelters and refugee settings. These women are carrying so much—often living and working in literal darkness, without reliable electricity or heat, under the constant threat of shelling. Their world is chaotic, and they also hold the stress and fear of the children they serve. One participant shared how crushed she feels by her job, yet knows she must keep going to pay the rent—because without it, she fears she would be forced to live under a bridge. What grieves her most is not just the exhaustion, but how hard it feels to be emotionally present with her husband and young child.
And yet, the training has become a lifeline. Participants arrive at sessions bubbling with stories of how Breathing Mindfully is helping them. In stressful moments, they now remember they can breathe through what is happening. One woman shared that her sister was having panic attacks at night while listening to the shelling. She taught her sister how to breathe slowly and steadily, helping her body calm in the midst of fear.
Another participant, who works with refugee children and teens, shared a circle activity where young people talked about times they felt bullied. Together, they named their responses—their Protective Patterns—and reflected on whether those patterns were helping or hurting them. The children’s parents were so moved by the changes they saw that they asked her to continue working with their kids.
As one Ukrainian participant said, “We know these practices—but we forget. I am grateful that you reminded us of them again. They help me think about my future.”
Even as I sit with their pain, I feel deeply privileged to witness how they are strengthening their resilience—together. As these women speak in Ukrainian, the AI translation offers me only partial glimpses into their world. Still, I am struck by the universality of their stories. We all experience stress. At times it grows so heavy that we struggle to be emotionally present with the people we love. And the tools Dovetail offers—like Breathing Mindfully and awareness of Protective Patterns—can bring light into even the hardest circumstances, including displacement, loss, and nights filled with fear.
Most of all, these women are strengthened through connection. Even in cold, unheated rooms, in snowy darkness, sharing their stories lifts them up and reminds them of their shared courage. Isn’t that where we all find our light? Perhaps light is not something we generate alone, but something we create together—when we pause, breathe, and share our stories in the dark.
If connection is where light lives, what small step could you take this week to reach toward someone—or let someone reach you?
With Resilience,
Meri and the Dovetail Team
Visit our resource pages to learn more about Breathing Mindfully and Protective Patterns.