We are all living in a world we’ve never had to navigate before. People’s jobs are in flux, others are working from home, and anxiety is a regular part of our lives. Through all the chaos, Jesse Averna has been a calming voice on social media, so postPerspective reached out to ask him once again to address our readership directly. You can see his last column here.
Jesse is a five-time Emmy-winning ACE editor living in LA and working in the animation feature world.
Hey,
How are you holding up? I just wanted to check in and offer a few more words.
This sucks. It isn’t good for anyone. And it’s okay to admit that. It’s healthy. This isn’t an opportunity you’ve been given. It’s a crisis. Sure, you’re at home, if you’re one of the lucky ones, but your life has been rocked.
Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply survive. In case no one else in your life is telling you this: Give yourself a break. Please take a pause before you carve new ruts to fall into, and realize that your mental health is of the upmost importance.
How are you? Are you adapting? Are you alone and lonely? Are you having live video meetings and editing from home while juggling kids? No matter your personal situation, it’s uncomfortable, full of unexpected challenges and likely wearing you out.
If you need a hand, ask for it. If you need to talk to someone, reach out. If you need a moment of peace, go jump in the shower. Do whatever you need to do to find peace in your day. You deserve that. While you’re setting these new patterns to fall into, please keep yourself a priority. Because here’s the truth: You are very important to the other people in the home you’re now in all the time.
You’re important to your friends and family. You’re important to your coworkers. You are a wonderful, one-of-a-kind jewel that’s under pressure at the moment. This moment will pass. You will go on. This is a horrible tragedy. There is no downplaying that. Nor should we. Just know that we need you. We need you next month. We need you next year. Please take good care of yourself. You are looked up to. You are loved. You are missed. You are valued. You are the only “you” we are going to get. So, please, check in with yourself. Prioritize yourself. Be kind to yourself. You’re doing great. Hang in there.
Jesse
@dr0id
Jesse Averna, who was co-founder of the popular Twitter chat and Facebook group @PostChat, works at Disney Animation Studio and is a member of the American Cinema Editors.He recently edited is a primetime special for Sesame Street, which first aired on April 14. If you missed the special’s debut, you can catch Sesame Street’s “Elmo’s Playdate” on HBO and PBS streaming apps.
