What a Ghost and Disney Taught Me About Being Human

By Deborah Blackwell

The day before Sir Husband and I headed to Disney World — our second trip there this year, this time for his birthday — I learned I was being laid off. It wasn’t a complete shock; layoffs have loomed at Harvard for the last two years, driven by political hoopla. But still.

I had 60 days’ notice, so we went to Disney with our mouse ears held high and had a magical time. For us, Disney is pure joy. Soon enough, though, we were back in a less-than-magical reality: the ongoing fallout from my mother’s complex estate matters; the physical complications of my Long COVID; my need for work; and the world coming apart at the seams. Homo sapiens are in crisis, and I’m pretty sure most of us are feeling it.

I’m doing my best to strike a balance between taking helpful action to manage the long list and simply hiding in my house. But a lot is going on both inside and out, and it’s not only confusing, it’s exhausting.

When my friend checked in with me recently, she suggested I “let loose and trust.” Excellent advice, but how? How do I navigate this crazy time?

People are struggling.

Jobs are scarce.

So much is unstable.

My face is so tightly clenched.

And I live with a journalist.

Sir Husband has spent 30 years documenting the world around him, and that news mindset really stuck. Whether it’s staying informed about hair-raising global disruptions or worrying about paying the bills, there’s a cost to health and well-being, and we both need relief.

That usually comes from places you least expect.

I believe in ghosts. My sister died when I was 3; she was only 3 months old. While I remember little, her imprint has stayed with me, and I’ve tried to maintain a relationship with her as best I can. I imagine what it would be like if she were still alive. What would we talk about? What would we do? Would we be close? How would it all feel? I’ve had plenty of “can’t explain it” experiences over the years, but this one is the best:

Whenever I go to acupuncture and get a pin in my third eye — a common spot in the center of the forehead called Yin Tang — something magical happens. I can “see,” “hear,” and “feel” my sister as if she’s in the room. It happens fast. She pops up on my right side and starts talking a mile a minute in what sounds like a confident little girl’s voice.

She shares a lot, mostly information and guidance, and whatever it is, it makes sense and feels comforting. Her unfaltering tone and sparkling vibe are light, playful, and free. I know it’s her because even in my relaxed, nearly hypnotic, eyes-closed state, I feel a huge, uncontrollable smile on my face; I actually feel myself beam.

There are a million reasons not to trust that it’s real. But I know what I know, and she always proves right. Her words last week are worth sharing, and I’ll keep it short and simple:

No more wasting time. What truly makes you happy? What truly brings you joy? How do you really want to feel right now?

But here’s the best part. These words came loud and clear as if they were shouted from the heavens:

ENJOY BEING HUMAN.

Then, boom. Awake. Sister gone. Acupuncture over. I couldn’t wait to tell Sir Husband. Her words made so much sense! In that instant, I realized how easy it is to get caught up in a joyless vibe. It’s in the air everywhere, and it hits like a violent mist. I need to protect my sanity and, most importantly, myself. And it may be easier than I thought. The world may not be all rainbows and unicorns, but I’m in it, I’m human, and there are real benefits to that.

Now, Sir Husband and I put those words into action as often as we can, especially when things feel icky. It’s complicated, yet so simple.

Enjoy being human. It’s everything we’ve got.

Check out our Disney trip vlog — we’re really enjoying being human!