Right now, healing starts with the basics—ensuring we have a safe place to land, a meal to share, and people to turn to. If you’re in a position to help, offer a hand. If you need support, ask. These moments of connection—no matter how small—are what hold us together.
For our children, this experience is confusing and overwhelming. Some are struggling with sleep, anxiety, or feelings they don’t yet have words for. The best thing we can do is create a sense of safety—by being present, by listening, and by reminding them they are not alone.
Resilience isn’t about pushing forward without feeling. It’s about honoring the hard moments while knowing that they won’t define us. Healing doesn’t happen overnight, but step by step, together, we move forward.
Here are three key takeaways to help you, your family, and your community navigate the journey ahead 👇
COMMUNITY IS MEDICINE: Healing isn’t something we’re meant to do alone. A small gesture—a shared meal, a quick check-in, a moment of understanding—can be the very thing that helps someone through the hardest part of their day. When we stay connected, we remind each other that we’re not alone in this.
GRIEF & GRATITUDE CAN CO-EXIST: It’s okay to feel relief that your home is still standing while also mourning what’s been lost. It’s okay to smile at a small moment of joy while still carrying the weight of what’s happened. Our emotions are layered, and giving ourselves permission to feel both is part of healing.
HEALING ISN’T LINEAR: Some days will feel manageable. Others will feel overwhelming. There’s no timeline for when things will start to feel “normal” again. What matters most is taking small, intentional steps forward—whether that’s getting back into a routine, reaching out for support, or simply allowing yourself to rest when you need to.
We’ve been through hard times before, and we will rise again. Together.
-Dr. Navarro