#AtoZchallenge (2018) H is for feeling Heartbroken

My theme for this challenge is “feelings” of a sexagenarian and the influence of social media.

My tema vir hierdie uitdaging is “gevoelens” van ‘n sestig-plusser en die invloed van sosiale media.

English (Afrikaans below):

Heartbroken: suffering from overwhelming distress; overcome by sorrow, grief or despair. Is heartbroken and brokenhearted the same thing? The two words seem to be interchangeable. In my younger days, this referred to a romance gone awry. Just that. Young love was so vulnerable.

Young love was also so fickle and hearts were easily mended. This is probably still the case, as evidenced by these words of a young lady in today’s world:

Your feelings so are important to write down, to capture, and to remember because today you’re heartbroken, but tomorrow you’ll be in love again. Taylor Swift

As one gets older, one realises that there are myriad factors that can cause distress, sorrow, grief or despair: death, disease, divorce, political unrest, abuse, violence, xenophobia, racism, financial setbacks, poverty, to name but a few.

The role of social media: Social media has introduced me to the concept of online support groups. There are many people who have suffered through the same agonies and who are reaching out a helping hand. Finding emotional support and advice is so much easier than before. Getting involved in these movements is an emotionally rewarding experience and it is with gratitude that I notice how many professional people with experience in various fields are making their services available online. Others pledge donations or, where possible, make themselves available to lend a helping hand in a physical environment. There is really no longer any excuse for not getting involved in assisting with the uplifting of society. Today’s emoji: 😢

Afrikaans:

Gebroke hart: ly aan oorweldigende angs; oorval deur smart, hartseer of wanhoop. Is hartseer en ‘n gebroke hart dieselfde ding? Die twee begrippe blyk uitruilbaar te wees. In my jonger dae het hierdie term verwys na ‘n romanse wat skeefgeloop het.  Net dit. Jong liefde was so kwesbaar.

Jonge liefde was ook so wispelturig en harte het maklik weer geheel. Dit is waarskynlik nog steeds die geval, soos blyk uit hierdie woorde van ‘n jong vrou in vandag se wêreld:

[Vertaal uit Engels]: Jou gevoelens is so belangrik om neer te skryf, vas te vang en te onthou, want vandag is jy hartseer, maar môre sal jy weer verlief raak. Taylor Swift

Wanneer jy ouer word, besef jy dat daar talle faktore is wat angs, smart, hartseer of wanhoop kan veroorsaak: dood, siekte, egskeiding, politieke onrus, mishandeling, geweld, xenofobie, rassisme, finansiële terugslae, armoede, om maar ‘n paar te noem.

Die rol van sosiale media:  Sosiale media het my voorgestel aan die konsep van aanlyn ondersteuningsgroepe. Daar is baie mense wat dieselfde pyn en angs beleef het en wat bereid is om ‘n helpende hand uit steek. Om emosionele ondersteuning en advies te vind, is soveel makliker as voorheen. Om betrokke te raak by hierdie bewegings is ‘n ervaring wat emosionele vervulling verskaf en dit is met dankbaarheid dat ek bemerk hoeveel professionele mense met ondervinding in verskillende velde hul dienste aanlyn beskikbaar stel. Ander persone gee donasies of, waar moontlik, stel hulle hulself beskikbaar om uit te help in’n fisiese omgewing. Daar is regtig nie meer ‘n verskoning om nie betrokke te raak by die opheffing van die samelewing nie. Emoji vir vandag: 😢

Read all my entries for the #AtoZchallenge (April 2018) here.