Image by John Hain from Pixabay, CCO

For the last several weeks I have been hearing a common phrase on television and radio, in teleconferences, and among friends – “We’re all in this together.”

This is meant to encourage people to feel better about the situation we’re all in. It’s a way of saying that, as difficult as this may be, you are not alone. And we need to hear this occasionally. We need to support one another because these are unprecedented times. I text or email friends and coworkers just to say hi and to check in on their health. And I have been looking for other words or phrases of support.

If you hear something too often, it becomes a cliché. A word or phrase becomes cliché when it has been used so often that it becomes nearly meaningless. And, while I don’t wish to demean anyone who rightfully states, “We’re all in this together,” this is a blog about the proper use of English. There are many other ways to express mutual support!

Famous Quotes

• “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” Theodore Roosevelt
• “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” Albert Einstein
• “It’s not whether you get knocked down. It’s whether you get up.” Vince Lombardi
• “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Nelson Mandela
• “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill
• “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” C.S. Lewis
• “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” Ronald Reagan
• “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Attributed to Aesop
• “The sun himself is weak when he first rises, and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on.” Charles Dickens

Not everyone is going to want to quote a famous author or historical figure when speaking words of encouragement and support, however. Sometimes, you just try to say the right thing. Here are some other ways to express solidarity in these difficult times.

• You’ve got this!
• Hang in there!
• There are better times ahead.
• We’re all doing the best we can.
• Just take it one day at a time.

That last phrase is a variation on an old saying, “A little progress each day adds up to big results.” People who have abused alcohol and/or drugs use this philosophy in the belief that recovery is built on one day’s progress at a time. Life is measured by taking one step at a time on the journey through life. This way, the road doesn’t seem so long, the obstacles aren’t so numerous.

My father regularly told me to never worry about anything that I couldn’t control. I remember him saying, “Worrying never accomplishes anything.” And, he was absolutely correct. I have always tried to remind myself of that and to spread that message to anyone who needs to hear it.

I know that this has been an odd blog post. I certainly didn’t set out to philosophize or to theorize about serious issues in any weighty or ponderous manner. In fact, though, it is difficult to see or read about people who are having a difficult time dealing with a worldwide pandemic. Anything you can say to another person to help them cope is always going to be welcome.

And, if you can’t find the words, try singing!