Remembering, feeling, caring, ten years after the flood

By Megan Kram Redstone Review

LYONS – When I saw the rushing, muddied waters of the St. Vrain the other day, my heart skipped a beat. I was taken back to the flood ten years ago, wondering if the waters would continue to rise, both marveling at and worrying about the rust-colored water, feeling nervous for my neighbors, and wanting the river to slow down.

Fortunately, it did slow down this time. But even now, I’m on the verge of tears just thinking about it as I write. I wonder if you are feeling the same.

may arise despite the best efforts to ignore or suppress them. If you find yourself or others more edgy, tearful or uncomfortable in the coming weeks, consider giving yourself and those around you grace and compassion, knowing that your feelings and those of the broader community are flowing stronger than usual.

How we cope with emotions is so important. When uncomfortable feelings strongly arise, our most unhealthy habits and addictions do, too. Over the next few weeks try to notice: are you drinking/using/eating/bingewatching/checking your phone more? Picking fights or bickering with others more than usual? Isolating and avoiding people?

you are feeling anger or the like, try getting to the root emotions underneath by asking, “What am I afraid of?”

Ask yourself, “What do I need?” and give that to yourself, whether it’s having a good cry, chucking rocks at the river, calling a friend, or seeing your therapist.

Sculptor Sue Quinlan and her grandchildren, Fiona and Gray Quinlan, are shown with Sue’s sculpture Cultural Pedestrians, sponsored by and recently installed in front of Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ & Brew. Cultural Pedestrians is part of the heARTS of LYONS – An Art Collection All Over Town, 2023 call to artists. Learn more about Sue and her work at https://www.sculpturebysuequinlan.com/.

The next few weeks will be a triggering time for many as we approach the ten-year anniversary of the flood on September 11, not to mention the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Please know it is normal and expected to experience a variety of emotions – fear, sadness, anxiety, grief, or anger. There might be a tendency to feel like one should “be done with it” or be able to “get over it,” especially for events that happened years ago, but these feelings

There is another, healthier way to cope. I bet you can guess what it is, even if it’s hard to do. That’s right – facing and embracing emotions, rather than turning away from them. I know, I know, I can hear your groans from across town. “Do I have to?” you may plead, “Isn’t there any other way?” I feel the same way, but this is the healthiest approach that I’m aware of. (I’m always open to ideas!). Here are a couple things to try: Name your feelings i.e., “name it to tame it.” Try saying to yourself, “I am feeling ___ because ___ ” If

Speaking of therapists, my coworker, Cherie Maureaux, and I are here for you. As LEAF’s Mental Health Therapists, we genuinely want to support the community at this time, and always. Our positions are grantfunded, which enables us to offer no- or lowcost mental wellness and addiction recovery services right here in our community. We just want to be of support. Please reach out if we can do so, and know that we hold your confidentiality in the highest regard, which is so very important in our small town.

As we remember the power of the flood and how it affected all of us, LEAF has made plans to offer mental health support in these ways: Cherie Maureaux and I will lead a Flood Support Group on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Lyons Community Church throughout September. Process your feelings about the flood anniversary and spend time with commu-