Adapted from my letter to the editor from April 2022

Elizabeth Hanke

Emotional pain, whether it manifests as hurt, anguish, or sorrow, often serves as a critical warning signal, yet we sometimes overlook its significance.

As Dr. Geoff MacDonald remarked in a Live Science interview, “If you stub your toe, for a brief moment, your entire world is that toe. Pain is incredibly effective at capturing your attention and making you singularly focused on stopping the discomfort.”

In my conversations with students and professionals, it’s clear that emotional pain and exhaustion are widespread. I believe that when we are consumed by our own pain, it can become difficult to recognize the suffering of others.

When we prioritize the pain of one group over another, we risk alienating others, exacerbating their distress instead of easing our own.

I also believe that addressing emotional pain requires a collective effort. Retreating into our own racial, political, professional, ideological, or gendered corners limits our understanding and hinders our ability to see our shared humanity. These issues are too significant to tackle in isolation.

Compassion and empathy should be mutual—shared by everyone, for everyone. By acknowledging and sharing each other’s pain, we may find that it becomes more bearable.

To the students: you are each a unique individual deserving of respect and love. If you need help, please reach out to a parent, neighbor, trusted friend, friend’s parent, teacher, counselor, or coach. While many adults may be busy and stressed, it doesn’t mean we don’t care.

As the political season begins, it’s crucial to remember that policies matter more than hurtful rhetoric. We all feel the impact of bad policy, but we must not allow pain to divert us from being effective advocates for the future. It’s essential to focus on policy discussions and avoid falling into name-calling. Our children are counting on us. This is a reminder to myself as much as it is a request to you.

For me, as a middle-aged adult, the stakes may not be as high, but for our children, the future is everything. We will make mistakes, and we must forgive ourselves and others who genuinely strive to create a better future for Mankato, Minnesota, and our nation.

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