#like 2020 was all building towards something. the isolation the pandemic the general uncertainty of day to day life | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

silvestromedia · 3 years

Quote

Pope Francis: ‘We must save lives, not build weapons to destroy them’ A new book entitled “God and the World to Come” hits bookstores on Tuesday, in which Pope Francis grants a book-length interview to Italian journalist Domenico Agasso (Edizione Piemme-LEV). We publish here an excerpt translated from the original Italian. DOMENICO AGASSO Q: Your Holiness, how do you interpret the "earthquake" that hit the world in 2020 in the form of a novel coronavirus? "In life there are moments of darkness. Too often we think that they only happen to others and not to us, to someone else, in another country, perhaps on a distant continent. Instead, we all ended up in the pandemic’s tunnel. Pain and sorrow have broken through the doors of our homes, invaded our thoughts, attacked our dreams and plans. And so today no one can afford to rest easy. The world will never be the same again. But it is precisely within this calamity that we must grasp those signs which may prove to be the cornerstones of reconstruction. Speeches are not enough to solve emergencies. The pandemic is an alarm signal on which humanity is forced to reflect. This time of trial can thus become a time of wise and far-sighted choices for the good of humanity, of all humanity." Cover page of the book Cover page of the book Q: What urgencies do you perceive? "We can no longer blithely accept inequalities and disruptions to the environment. The path to humanity’s salvation passes through the creation of a new model of development, which unquestionably focuses on coexistence among peoples in harmony with Creation. We need to be aware that every individual action does not remain isolated, for good or evil, but has consequences for others, because everything is connected: Everything! By changing the lifestyles that drive millions of people, especially children, into the grip of hunger, we will be able to lead a more austere existence that would make a fair distribution of resources possible. This does not mean diminishing some people’s rights in order to drive downward leveling, but rather involves guaranteeing more and broader rights to those who currently have none." Q: Do you see encouraging signs? "There are already popular movements today which are trying to promote these notions and operations ‘from below’, along with some institutions and associations. They are trying to concretize a new way of looking at our common home: no longer as a warehouse of resources to be exploited, but a sacred garden to be loved and respected, through sustainable behaviors. There is also an awareness among young people, particularly within ecological movements. If we don't roll up our sleeves and immediately take care of the Earth, with radical personal and political choices, with an economic ‘green’ turn by directing technological developments in this direction, sooner or later our common home will throw us out the window. We cannot waste any more time." Q: What are your thoughts on finance and its relationship with government? "I believe that if we manage to heal it from the dominant speculative mentality and re-establish it with a ‘soul’, according to fair criteria, we will be able to aim at the objective of reducing the gap between those who have access to credit and those who do not. And if one day, in the not-too-distant future, conditions are in place for every person to invest according to ethical and responsible principles, we will obtain the result of limiting support to companies that are harmful to the environment and to peace. In the state in which humanity finds itself, it is scandalous to continue financing industries that do not contribute to the inclusion of the excluded and the promotion of the least, and which penalize the common good by polluting Creation. These are the four criteria for choosing which businesses to support: inclusion of the excluded, promotion of the least, the common good, and care of Creation." Q: We are facing one of the worst humanitarian crises since World War II. Countries are taking emergency measures to deal with the pandemic and a dramatic global economic downturn. What do you expect from government leaders? "Right now, it is a matter of rebuilding from the rubble. And that burden weighs heavily on those in government positions. In our concern for an uncertain future, for the jobs that are in danger of being lost or that have been lost, for the income that is less and less sufficient, and for the other consequences that the current crisis brings with it, it is fundamental to govern with honesty, transparency and farsightedness. But each of us, not only political leaders, is called to eradicate indifference, corruption and connivance with crime." Q: What principle can we be inspired by? "What is happening can awaken everyone. It is time to remove social injustice and marginalization. If we seize the current trial as an opportunity, we can prepare for tomorrow under the banner of human fraternity, to which there is no alternative, because without an overall vision there will be no future for anyone. By putting this lesson to good use, the leaders of nations, together with those with social responsibilities, can guide the peoples of the Earth towards a more prosperous and fraternal future. Heads of state should talk to one another, confront each other more and agree on strategies. Let us all keep in mind that there is something worse than this crisis: the drama of wasting it. We cannot emerge from a crisis the same as before: we either come out better or we come out worse." Q: What attitude of ours would waste it? "By closing in on ourselves. Instead, we can heal injustice by building a new world order based on solidarity, studying innovative methods to eradicate bullying, poverty and corruption, all working together, each for their own part, without delegating and passing the buck. Also by working to provide healthcare for all. In this way, by practicing and demonstrating social cohesion, we will be able to rise again." Q: Concretely, where might we begin? "It is no longer tolerable to continue to manufacture and traffic in arms, expending huge amounts of capital which should be used to treat people and save lives. We can no longer pretend that a dramatically vicious cycle of armed violence, poverty and senseless and indifferent exploitation of the environment has not crept in. It is a cycle that prevents reconciliation, fuels human rights violations and hinders sustainable development. Against this planetary discord that is nipping the future of humanity in the bud, we need political action that is the fruit of international harmony. United in fraternity, humanity is able to face common threats, without any more counterproductive mutual recriminations, instrumentalization of problems, short-sighted nationalism, protectionist propaganda, isolationism and other forms of political selfishness." Q: Women continue to bear the weight of all recessions: what do you think about this topic? "Women urgently need to be helped in caring for their children and not be discriminated against in terms of pay and work, or with the loss of work because they are women. On the contrary, their presence is increasingly valuable at the center of society, politics, employment, and institutional renewal. If we get better at offering them favorable conditions, they will be able to make a decisive contribution to the reconstruction of the economy and societies to come, because women make the world beautiful and make contexts more inclusive. Besides, we are all trying to get back on our feet, so we cannot overlook the fact that the rebirth of humanity began with a woman. Salvation was born from the Virgin Mary. That's why there can be no salvation without woman. If we cherish the future, if we desire a flourishing tomorrow, we must give the right space to women." Q: What would you specifically recommend to parents? "Playtime with your children is the best time you can have. I know of one family that has created an 'institutional' element in the home: 'The Program.' Every Saturday or Sunday, the mother and father take a sheet of paper and, with the children, agree and write down all the play dates between children and parents in the coming week, and then hang it on a little board in the kitchen. The children's eyes sparkle with contentment as they write down ‘the schedule’, which has now become a ritual. This mother and father are educating. This is what I said to them: "Sow education." By playing with their father and mother, a child learns to get along with other people, and learns about the existence of rules and the need to respect them. They also acquire the self-confidence that will help them as they step into the outside world. At the same time, children help their parents, above all, in two things: giving greater value to life, and remaining humble. For them, they are first and foremost Dad and Mom, the rest comes later: work, travel, successes and worries. And that protects them from the temptations of narcissism and an unbridled ego, which they risk falling into every day." Q: The violence of Covid-19 has ravaged the already precarious prospects of millions of young people around the world. Young people are trudging along under a cloak of uncertainty and reductions in educational, vocational, social, economic and political investment, which is depriving them of the right to a future. What would you like to say to the "Covid generations"? "I encourage them not to give in to the economic downturn, to not stop daydreaming. Don't be afraid to dream big. By working for their dreams, they can protect them from those who want to take them away from them: pessimists, dishonest people and profiteers. Perhaps never before as in this third millennium have younger generations paid the highest price for the economic, labor, health and moral crisis. But feeling sorry for ourselves leads nowhere. On the contrary, the crisis would only have the better of us. Rather, by continuing to fight as many are already doing, young people will not remain inexperienced, bitter and immature. They will not cease in their search for opportunities. And then, there is knowledge. In Genesis (ch.2) we read that the Lord, after having created the heavens and the earth, takes the man and places him in the garden of Eden, so that he may cultivate it and come to know it. He does not put him in retirement, or on vacation, or on the couch: he sends him to study and work. God made man capable and eager to know and to work, and to love. "You shall love your neighbor as yourself". There is no commandment more important than this one, Jesus says to the disciples (Mk 12:31). Young people have the vigor and strength to relaunch the fundamental tasks assigned by God, and thus become men and women of knowledge, love and charity. By opening themselves to encounter and wonder, they will be able to rejoice in the beauty and gifts of life and nature, emotions, and love in all its forms. Always moving forward to learn something from every experience, spreading knowledge and amplifying the hope inherent in youth, they will take the reins of life into their own hands and at the same time generate vitality that will advance humanity, making it free. Therefore, even if there seems to be no end in sight to the darkness, we must not lose heart. And, as Saint Philip Neri said, don't forget to be cheerful, as much as possible." Published by Piemme da Mondadori Libri S.p.A. © 2021 Mondadori Libri S.p.A., Milan, Italy © 2021 Vatican Publishing House, Vatican City

0 notes

vcds2 · 4 years

Text

Week3

DRAFT PROPOSAL

MENTAL HEALTH & COVID-19

Existing situation

Because of the global COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, many people are struggling more than ever with their mental health. Those predisposed to mental health issues may find the current situation to be the perfect catalyst for a mental health disorder. Those who already suffer from such issues may have found their symptoms have become more severe since lockdown. Due to the restriction on face-to-face contact, therapy and mental health support services have become more difficult to access despite more of the population in need of it.

There are various reasons for the increase in mental health disorders in recent times, including financial strain, unemployment, difficulty adjusting to new norms, isolation from social circles and family members, and increase in family violence.

ANXIETY DISORDERS

Anxiety is a mental health disorder characterised by excessive feelings of worry, anxiety or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one's daily life. Types of anxiety disorders include: PTSD, OCD, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.

Anxiety disorders can stem from genetic inheritance, a stressful/traumatic event, or a combination of both. In severe cases, sufferers are inhibited from living a normal life, as ordinary tasks and scenarios can be overwhelming, sometimes enough to bring about a panic attack.

Throughout the COVID-19 lockdown period, many are finding their anxiety is becoming worse.

Lockdown anxiety and the rise of agoraphobia

Although agoraphobia is not based on legitimate dangers, the real threat of a viral outbreak further exacerbates the phobia and paranoia.

Agoraphobics are struggling to adjust to daily life post-lockdown due to the legitimate threat of contraction.

"People are trying to cope by loving being in lockdown, by creating a cocoon of safety, a haven, to make the whole experience more tolerable....Ironically that can create problems later on because people can love their lockdown too much and become anxious about going outside." - Dr. Steven Taylor, BBC

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-52443108

“The condition has since become commonplace among numerous anxiety disorders that have been exacerbated, initially by the very real threat of the coronavirus, and now the intensifying fear, after weeks of Government messaging enforcing lockdown restrictions, that people are now being encouraged to go back outside.” - INews UK

https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/wellbeing/agoraphobia-in-coronavirus-lockdown-mental-health-430063

Desired situation/action & outcomes

Ideally we want more people with access to mental health support, both during lockdown and post-COVID, using a combination of digital communication and traditional therapy services. Mental health support can include, but is not limited to, therapy sessions, communication with other people (friends, family, strangers, licensed therapists), or self-help.

Mentally stable and psychologically healthy individuals make for a collectively smoother transition into life after lockdown. Going forward, we strive to reduce the number of people with lockdown trauma and anxiety, which may mean continuous mental support for an extended period of time.

Such unprecedented situations present a great opportunity to design and adopt new and improved solutions to mental health support for both the present and the future.

“The pandemic could provide the government with an opportunity to move away from existing outdated services and to adopt more innovative approaches to mental health” - Prof. Richie Poulton (Psychology, University of Otago), RNZ

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/420962/mental-health-admissions-will-spike-in-post-lockdown-environment-dhb

Hunch

Effective advice and treatment are available to those who do not want face to face/who are not equipped or able to travel to the medical centre. Even if people are not accustomed to using technology, they can still take an in-house consultation.

Online

Website: video-call, messaging

App: text message

Off-line

In house visits: half of the treatment as the beginning of the healing process, 2nd half may involve exposure therapy (for agoraphobics)

Telephone: consultations/appointments.

Audience

People who have to leave the house/back to normal life after the lockdown but cannot do so.

(https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-lockdown-made-many-of-us-anxious-but-for-some-people-returning-to-normal-might-be-scarier-138517)

Some people may feel particularly anxious about reconnecting. For example, people with social anxiety might experience heightened anxiety about the prospect of socialising again.

One of the main evidence-based treatments for social anxiety is exposure therapy. When social exposure is reduced, as has been the case over the last couple of months, social anxiety may flare up, making returning to social gatherings particularly daunting.

Anxious mothers and unemployed women who are feeling stressed.

(https://abcnews.go.com/Health/anxiety-depression-increasing-mothers-covid-19-pandemic/story?id=71605965)

More pregnant women and new mothers are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study.

The disruptions of the COVID-19 on daily life has left many feeling anxious or depressed, making the future seem uncertain, but these feelings are normal, according to a new study shedding light on the emotional toll the pandemic has had on new mothers.

Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder characterised by the avoidance of places where escape may be difficult, such as public spaces, large open spaces, and means of travel.

People with agoraphobia avoid such situations because they fear that escape or help may not be possible in the event of an emergency, such as if they were to develop panic-like symptoms.

Restriction to a small zone of safety, such as one’s home, is usually the way to cope with agoraphobia.

The condition has an array of possible causes, which will differ for each patient. Some include, a traumatic event (especially one that happened outside of the home), a death of a parent, an overprotected childhood. Heritability is reported to be 61%, meaning genetic disposition also plays a large role.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/nz/conditions/agoraphobia

Children/children with an existing anxiety disorder or mental health condition.

( https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/coping-worry-anxiety-about-covid-19)

(https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/children-increased-risk-harm-online-during-global-covid-19-pandemic)

Younger children are less likely able to understand the news and the relative risk to themselves, their friends and family/whānau. This can cause a sense of panic.

If the child or teen is already experiencing an anxiety disorder or mental health condition, they may be even more at risk of experiencing heightened distress and worry.

Separation anxiety is a disorder in which a child becomes excessively anxious when separated from parents/caregivers.

Children are especially prone to separation anxiety during times of stress.

Separation anxiety differs from normal clinginess. Children with the disorder are overly occupied with the fear of separation. They may have nightmares or regular physical complaints, and may be reluctant to go to school or other places. The child may be paranoid that something disastrous will happen to the parent or themself when they are apart.

Treatment includes talk therapy and possibly anti-anxiety medication.

Students who have been suspended from university due to the blockade of the port/ worried about Covid-19. (https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2020/05/23/25-million-students-on-covid-19-depression-anxiety-and-loneliness-hitting-peak-levels/#6efe109877b8)

COVID-19 has caused serious emotional challenges for young people.

Stress builds as well: health and medical stress, financial stress, even stress from being in close proximity for a long time with the same people during shutdown. These are all results of schools shutting down, jobs being lost, and college students’ uncertainty of when and how they will be able to resume classes and move towards careers.

Social anxiety (or social-phobia) is a chronic mental health condition where anxiety is induced by social interactions.

For people with social anxiety disorder, everyday social situations cause irrational anxiety, fear, self-consciousness and embarrassment. It is much more than just being shy – it's an intense fear that judgement, humiliation or embarrassment will come along with social interactions.

It can lead to withdrawal from contact with others and may lead to decreased self-confidence, as well as negatively affect one’s daily activities, relationships, and work or school life.

Like with all anxiety disorders, the cause of social anxiety is uncertain. Causes may include, a specific incident that occurred in a social setting, long-term stress, family influences, or genetics.

(https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/social-anxiety-and-covid-19#impact)

Needs:

Seek professional psychotherapy.

Seek help for others.

Seek help with mental health.

Ease social anxiety

Communicate and support effectively.

How might we?

How might we facilitate the recovery of people suffering from anxiety disorders?

How might we create a programme to do so?

5 ways to Wellbeing

LEARNING

Therapy is ultimately about problem solving and learning about oneself. Methods such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) allow clients to unlearn destructive thought patterns and learn ways of coping with negative self-talk. This learning (and unlearning) process is fundamental to overcoming mental issues.

CONNECTING

Clients and therapists are connected to each other and may form a secure client-therapist relationship. It is imperative that clients trust the therapist they are paired with and are willing to connect. In online group therapy, clients can also be connected to others who are suffering from similar problems. The online world allows for clients to be connected with more people, as they are not geographically limited.

TAKE NOTICE

Taking notice is a key strategy to improving mental health. In both therapy and everyday life, taking notice of our present state - emotions, desires, thoughts - helps us to be in control, rather than be unconsciously driven by unhelpful or perhaps even destructive thought patterns.

GIVE

Clients can help each other through sharing experiences and advice, perhaps through group sessions or forums. Because of the vast potential of digital connection, users can be connected to a wide network of people who are also going through the same therapy programme.

Additionally, the programme can include a charity initiative where users can volunteer to participate.

Precedents

https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/a-z/apps-e-therapy-and-guided-self-help/

Better help

It is an online (web-based platform) portal that provides direct-to-consumer access to behavioral health services. The online counseling and therapy services are provided through web-based interaction as well as phone and text communication. It allows patients to interact with counselors and therapists via a private online message board, live chat, phone and video conferencing and is the world's largest counseling service.

positivemindworks.co

Mentemia

mentemia.com/nz/home

Mental health app founded by former All Black, Sir John Kirwin, in 2018. The app features daily mental health reminders, articles, health and fitness trackers, mediation guides, and is personalized to the user. Mentemia is not a platform for one-on-one therapy and counselling with licensed therapists/counselors, but rather, a self-help based app for users to keep their own mental health in check.

Goodtherapy.org

Provides home-based therapy. Therapists and counsellors visit clients at home as opposed to in-office sessions. It can help people who have difficulty getting to private practices or mental health facilities.

Clearhead NZ

Clearhead is a free, online health support service designed by NZ doctors to help clients with understanding your challenges and find the help you need. Book available therapy appointments, listen to meditation guides. All personalised to your particular issue.

Just a Thought

Developed by clinicians and researchers, Just a Thought offers free Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) courses online. CBT teaches people how to improve their mental health through learning how to interact differently with thoughts and identify behaviours that enhance wellbeing.

The National Depression Initiative NZ

An interactive website with a focus on self management. It provides a self test and detailed information about depression and NZ options for management and treatment in the form of a journey that users can take to get through depression. It features video clips of New Zealanders who talk about their experience and what they found helpful.

Possible Clients

Capital coast health

Ministry of health

Wellington city council

0 notes

meditationandlifestyle · 4 years

Photo

During my first day of graduate school to become a psychologist, a wise, mischievous, provocative professor said to us:

Human suffering is often about freedom and containment. When we have too much containment, we scream for freedom. “Let me be me! I need space! Don’t tell me what to do!” But when we have too much freedom, we start to feel adrift. Fearful. Lost in space… and suddenly we are longing for containment. “Hold me close! I need to feel safe!”

My years of work as a therapist, professor, and community member—did I mention that I live in a cooperative household of eight adults?—have made the wisdom of this insight so clear to me. Our interpersonal upsets and inner pain are so frequently a form of rebelling against too much containment (“Don’t fence me in!”) or protesting not enough contact or security (“Where did you GO?”)

What does all of this have to do with a global pandemic, social distancing, and the disruption of everything?

Our everyday social structures have been altered, and some have even (temporarily, at least) evaporated. These structures normally create connection: in meetings and at the water cooler at work, in class and at the playground at school, at the gym and the coffee shop. Importantly, they also create distance: We say goodbye to our partners and kids in the morning, and we greet them again in the evening. All of this happens automatically, without much effort on our parts. And while we like to rail against these structures (“Same old, same old, every day”), when they are suddenly removed, people respond in interesting ways.

Three Ways People React to the Sudden Loss of Normal

Some may initially delight in newfound freedom—the removal of constraint. “I can do whatever I want to! Netflix, PJ’s, and chocolate all day!” It’s delicious—for a moment.

Others might be initially terrified by newly imposed constraints. Children home all day every day. Spouses suddenly inhabiting the same space 24/7. No more trips to the gym, a restaurant, a library; many of our local parks are even off-limits. “I gotta get out of here. I can’t breathe!”

Still others are feeling anxiety, or even terror, about the sudden, yawning horizon of solitude. No social events, no classes, no sports . . . just aloneness. “Is anybody out there? What will I DO with all this time?”

It’s normal to stagger when the old structures are swept away.

Whatever our first reaction, most of us are likely feeling the creeping presence of something we typically like to avoid. An emotion, a persistent mood, a relationship, a life challenge that is neatly tucked away into the background, until it’s not—and its emergence is unnerving, unwelcome, and sometimes downright terrifying.

Four Universal Elements of Health and Well-Being

It’s normal to stagger when the old structures are swept away. And today we have the opportunity (and, frankly, the imperative) to create new norms and daily habits. Intentionally. By design. For our well-being, and the well-being of our families and communities, we are called upon to actually generate sustainable structures that produce sanity, health, and human thriving.

How? At Open Source Wellness—of which I am Co-Founder and Executive Director—we start by creating daily structures around a “Universal Prescription” for health and well-being: Move, Nourish, Connect, Be.

Whether we’re in generally good health or struggling with chronic physical or psychological challenges, every person needs these four things, every day:

1. Move. Our bodies need to move. Every day. They need to stretch, reach, twist, bend, step, sweat, to whatever degree works for our unique shapes and constitutions.

2. Nourish. A balanced and nutritious meal sets us up for steady energy, mood, and motivation throughout the day. This doesn’t mean banning or outlawing the small treats that bring us joy, but rather setting up a daily meal structure that fills our bellies with nourishing, healthy foods.

3. Connect. We need to feel seen, heard, and understood by other people—and to extend the same to them in return. The developer and philanthropist James Rouse famously said, “A healthy community is a garden to grow people in.” We can create community as medicine for ourselves, our families, and our societies.

4. Be. Amidst all the “doing”—the preparing, protecting, adjusting, coping, responding, providing, procuring—humans need moments to simply BE. We need to pause, regularly and long enough to let our nervous system come back to baseline.

Take the Quiz: Where are you on a scale from frazzled to balanced?

How are you doing with each of the four aspects of the “Universal Prescription?”

First, grab a pen and your journal (or a piece of paper). Try rating each aspect (Move, Connect, Nourish, and Be) on a scale from 1-10, with 1 being “I’m nowhere near meeting my goals for this,” and 10 being “I’m feeling great about this, and my behavior is totally aligned with my values.”

Remember, the aim of this quiz isn’t to judge yourself—it’s simply to be honest about where you are, so you can make informed choices.

Also, as you do this personal wellbeing assessment for yourself, what do you notice? Which of these four practices do you incorporate effortlessly, as a part of your daily routine? Which ones might need a bit more attention, more practice, more cultivation? You might also add a line for each aspect about why you gave the rating you did, and one small, concrete experiment you could try to see if it makes a difference!

Where are you with your movement goals?(1 on your scale might be “Um… What movement goals?” while 10 might be “I’m rocking my daily movement practice and feel great about it!”

How are you eating lately?(1 being “Oh dear. Strictly gummy bears and soda for the past 2 weeks,” and 10 being “This is the healthiest I’ve ever eaten!”

How are you doing with connectingand finding strength in a sense of community? (1 being, perhaps, “I’ve completely lost touch with the people who are important to me,” while 10 could be “I feel connected, nourished, supported, and uplifted in my connections.”)

How well are you tuning in to your inner peace and caring for your well-being? (1 being “Pause? No way, I don’t have time for that,” and 10 being “I am checking in with myself regularly and using the practices or habits that give me space just to be here for me.”)

Now, take a look at your results

Where are you today, and where would you like to be?

If your scores fall between 1 and 5: I would invite you to start first with compassion. This is a crazy time, and it makes so much sense that wellness practices are not the top of your list! Bring as much kindness, gentleness, forgiveness, and even humor as you can to this moment. Then, see where you can get curious. What would a small next step towards well-being be?

If your scores fall between 5 and 10: I invite you to take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate what you’ve been doing—in a pandemic, no less! Take a deep breath, give yourself a smile, and when you’re ready, get curious! What small step would take your well-being from good to great?

This time is an opportunity to get intentional. To choose, rather than to drift.

As a bonus, try sharing your wellness assessment with a family member or friend. Share what’s true for you, ask about them, and see how you might provide some mutual support and accountability for your next steps.

And as an example, here’s mine for today:

1. Move: Where am I with my movement goals? 7

Why? I have a pretty good morning movement routine, but a minor injury has me feeling less strong than I’d like.

Next Step: Find a YouTube video of a 10-minute indoor workout, and try it tomorrow morning!

2. Nourish: How am I eating lately? 6

Why? I’ve mostly been eating foods that make me feel healthy and alive—and then eating some sugary things (hellooo, chocolate! )on top of that, which makes me feel exhausted later in the day. Room for improvement.

Next Step: I’ll eat a bit more protein (an egg?) for breakfast, and hold off on chocolate until after 3pm as an experiment, tomorrow.

3. Connect: How am I doing with connecting? 6

Why? I’m lucky to have housemates to chat informally with throughout the day, but I miss deeper connection. Also, being single and sheltering-in-place is not optimal!! (That said, my partnered friends aren’t reporting that it’s a cake walk, either!)

Next Step:

Schedule deeper, one-on-one conversations by phone this week with two friends.

4. Be: How am I doing at taking care of my inner well-being? 4

Why? I’m still doing my morning meditation and journaling, but the physical isolation from the rest of the world has my stress level elevated.

Next Step: I’d like to try instituting “Afternoon Veg Time”: 20 minutes of total rest and self-care!

Finding the Ground Under Our Feet

It’s a very, very strange time. And while we’re all (appropriately) focused on caring for the physical health of ourselves, our communities, and society at large, our mental, emotional, and social health needs are quickly emerging as profoundly important as well.

This time is an opportunity to get intentional. To choose rather than to drift. In the absence of everything that normally dictates our days, we are called on to create the freedom along with structure that will support our health and well-being in a time of profound uncertainty. And in case the term “Social Distancing” bums you out as much as it does for me, you might try on “Expansive Solidarity.” We’re in this together . . . spaciously.

Learn more about Open Source Wellness and sign up to participate in their community-building virtual program, The Well-Being Hour.

Sharon Salzberg Reveals Why Our Interconnectedness Is Our Greatest Strength

In her forthcoming book, Real Change, Sharon Salzberg explores how nourishing our essential goodness and compassion empowers us to be forces of change that both soften and strengthen us. Read More

Sharon Salzberg

April 19, 2020

Health

The Missing Wellness Ingredient is Community

How behavioral pharmacies could address the four wellness factors that fundamentally underlie health and wellbeing: Exercise, Eat Better Reduce Stress, & Connect More. Read More

Elizabeth Markle and Benjamin Emmert-Aronson

March 18, 2019

The post 4 Ingredients for Human Well-Being appeared first on Mindful.

from Mindful https://ift.tt/2Sm6lYB via Meditation and Lifestyle 4 Ingredients for Human Well-Being https://ift.tt/3d4kWzF

#Meditation and Lifestyle Management

0 notes

newstfionline · 4 years

Text

Headlines

Extra unemployment aid expires as virus threatens new states (AP) As public health officials warned Friday that the coronavirus posed new risks to parts of the Midwest and South, enhanced federal payments that helped avert financial ruin for millions of unemployed Americans were set to expire—leaving threadbare safety nets offered by individual states to catch them. Since early in the pandemic, the federal government has added $600 to the weekly unemployment checks that states send. That increase ends this week, and with Congress still haggling over next steps, most states will not be able to offer nearly as much. In addition to the end of the $600 payments, federal protections against evictions also are set to expire.

The pandemic has damaged the appeal of studying in the United States for some international students (Washington Post) Twenty-four-year-old Sehr Taneja, a master’s student at the Harvard Kennedy School, had always seen the United States as “the gold standard” for education. But now she’s more concerned about contracting the novel coronavirus or facing deportation than the rigor of her course load. Back home in India after leaving Boston in March, she’s deciding whether to defer her second year. Such worries over health care, immigration and visa status are drivers behind an expected drop in enrollment among international students at U.S. institutions, and have struck a blow to the standing of the United States as a coveted destination for overseas study, according to initial data gathered by organizations in the global education sector. More than 1 million international students studied or conducted research at U.S. universities last year, or worked through a postgraduate visa program, according to the New York-based Institute for International Education. In March, when the coronavirus shut down much of the world, around 90 percent of those enrolled remained in the country. In the months since, President Trump imposed travel bans and stoked uncertainty through whiplash student visa policy changes as coronavirus case numbers continued to spike.

Federal agents use tear gas to clear rowdy Portland protest (AP) Thousands of protesters gathered outside the federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon, into the early hours Saturday, shooting fireworks at the building as plumes of tear gas dispensed by U.S. agents, lingered above. The demonstration went until federal agents entered the crowd around 2:30 a.m. and marched in a line down the street, clearing remaining protesters with tear gas at close range. They also extinguished a large fire in the street outside the courthouse. Portland has been roiled by nightly protests for two months following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. President Donald Trump said he sent federal agents to Oregon’s largest city to halt the unrest but state and local officials say they are making the situation worse. The clashes in Portland have further inflamed the nation’s political tensions and triggered a crisis over the limits of federal power as Trump moves to send U.S. officers to other Democratic-led cities he says are violent.

Hanna's rain remains biggest threat to virus hot spot Texas (AP) South Texas braced for flooding Sunday after Hanna roared ashore as a hurricane the day before, bringing winds that lashed the Gulf Coast with rain and storm surge to a part of the country trying to cope with a spike in cases of the coronavirus. The first hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic cyclone season made landfall twice as a Category 1 storm on Saturday afternoon within the span of little over an hour. The first landfall happened at around 5 p.m. about 15 miles (24 kilometers) north of Port Mansfield, which is about 130 miles (209 km) south of Corpus Christi. The second landfall took place nearby in eastern Kenedy County. Hanna came ashore with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (145 kph). Forecasters downgraded Hanna to a tropical storm early Sunday. Forecasters said Hanna could bring 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) of rain through Sunday night — with isolated totals of 18 inches (46 centimeters) — in addition to coastal swells that could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Power and the space it takes (Bloomberg) Wind and solar generation takes more space physically than more traditional means of generating electricity, with 7.6 hectares per megawatt needed for wind and 1.7 hectares per megawatt needed for solar. Worldwide, there are 650 gigawatts of solar and 644 gigawatts of wind commissioned that cover an area of 52,000 square kilometers, or roughly the combined size of Vermont and New Hampshire. All told, about 8 percent of global electricity generation is from wind and solar, and with onshore wind and solar projected to account for 48 percent of global electricity production by 2050, the global area of land required will encompass something like 423,000 square kilometers.

Thousands of families evicted in Sao Paulo amid pandemic (AP) Jussara de Jesus never thought that her family would live in a shack. But work as a hairdresser dried for up after the novel coronavirus hit Brazilian metropolis Sao Paulo. She couldn’t afford $150 a month in rent for the small house where she and her three children lived. Three months ago, they were evicted. They moved to Jardim Julieta, one of Brazil’s newest favelas, or shantytowns. With more than 800 shacks of wood and plastic sheeting, there are already several thousand people living in what used to be a parking lot for trucks in one of the poorest areas of the city. The growing number of evictions driven by Brazil’s COVID-19 pandemic is worsening an already serious housing problem in the country. Before the pandemic, local authorities counted more than 200,000 families waiting for adequate housing in Sao Paulo, a city of 12 million. The human rights and research group LabCidade estimates more than 2,000 families have lost their homes in Sao Paulo state since March, with another 1,000 facing the same risk in upcoming weeks. It is a high figure for a state with 46 million residents, about the same population as Spain.

Mass resignations at Hungary’s largest news site as press freedom slides (Washington Post) The editorial board and 70 staff members at Hungary’s largest news site dramatically resigned Friday, as journalists battle to keep their editorial independence under the increasingly autocratic rule of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The mass resignations of almost the entire staff of Budapest-based Index.hu followed the sacking of editor in chief Szabolcs Dull, who warned in June that the site’s independence was at risk after changes to its ownership structure. It marks another blow to Hungary’s shrinking independent media. In his 10 years in power, Orban has been accused of systematically stifling the press, bringing news outlets under the control of his loyalists and passing laws that hinder critical journalism. Since 2018, Hungary has slipped 16 places on the World Press Freedom Index, making it one of the worst countries for media freedom in Europe.

Ancient Greek theaters return to life in pandemic (AP) Lights! Crickets. Birds. Bats. Action! The ancient theater of Epidaurus, renowned for its acoustics, has reopened for a limited number of open-air performances, with organizers planning a live-streamed event Saturday for the first time in the Greek monument’s 2,300-year history. Live concerts and events have been mostly canceled in Greece this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the Culture Ministry allowed the Epidaurus Theater in southern Greece and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens to host performances under strict safety guidelines.

Turkey and Greece exchange harsh words over Hagia Sophia prayers (AP) Turkey and Greece exchanged harsh words on Saturday over the conversion of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia into a mosque, a day after Islamic prayers were held at the ancient site for the first time in nine decades. Greek criticism of the move to convert the site from a museum has been scathing, underlining tense ties between Greece and Turkey. Church bells tolled in mourning across Greece on Friday as Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan joined prayers at the building. “Greece showed once again its enmity towards Islam and Turkey with the excuse of reacting to Hagia Sophia Mosque being opened to prayers,” Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a written statement on Saturday. The Greek Foreign Ministry responded with its own statement, saying “the international community of the 21st century is stunned to observe the religious and nationalist fanatic ramblings of today’s Turkey.” Friday’s ceremony sealed Erdogan’s ambition to restore Muslim worship at the site, which most Greeks view as central to their Orthodox Christian religion. Greece and Turkey disagree on a range of issues from airspace to maritime zones and ethnically split Cyprus. This week they also exchanged barbs over the delimitation of their continental shelves in the eastern Mediterranean, an area thought to be rich in natural resources.

How Syrians Are Reshaping German Society (Der Spiegel) There’s a problem with German bread. It crumbles when you use it to mop up fried eggplant or bulgur salad from a plate. It’s also difficult to fill with meat, hummus and sauces. t’s no surprise, then, that when asked what the most popular item in his grocery store is, Mohammad Hanawi, 20, immediately answers with “chubs arabi,” the Arab pita bread. Hanawi’s father opened his grocery store in January. He says it’s going great, and that beans, sausages and pickled grape leaves were also popular. “Syrian things. That’s what people were missing here.” Syrians now represent the largest Muslim minority in Germany after Turks. Since 2010, their numbers in the country have risen from around 30,000 to almost 800,000. Most arrived as refugees after the outbreak of the civil war, and they are reshaping the country, much like Turkish migrants did for decades. Between 2015 and 2018, Syrian women in Germany gave birth to over 65,000 babies. A lot of Syrians have now been living in Germany for so long that they will be able to transition their time-limited protection status into permanent residency authorization this year as long as they are deemed to be well integrated. At that point, they are no longer considered refugees.

The World’s Most Technologically Sophisticated Genocide Is Happening in Xinjiang (Foreign Policy) Two recent disturbing events may finally awaken the world to the scale and horror of the atrocities being committed against the Uighurs, a mostly secular Muslim ethnic minority, in Xinjiang, China. One is an authoritative report documenting the systematic sterilization of Uighur women. The other was the seizure by U.S. Customs and Border Protection of 13 tons of products made from human hair suspected of being forcibly removed from Uighurs imprisoned in concentration camps. Both events evoke chilling parallels to past atrocities elsewhere, forced sterilization of minorities, disabled, and Indigenous people, and the image of the glass display of mountains of hair preserved at Auschwitz.

#headlines #news

0 notes

edivupage · 4 years

Text

The Necessity of Community

March 13th, 2020 was the last day I walked the halls of my school with students still in attendance. I’ll remember this day well since it was supposed to be the day we had a big event for our male students called March Dadness. March Dadness is an event intended to foster relationships between male students and significant adults in their lives. We had speakers lined up, team building activities, and plenty of food and fellowship. It was a great event in 2019 and many of our students were excited to participate again. Sadly, we had to cancel the event at the 11th hour due to the emerging crisis.

Upon reflection of the event in 2019, it was a small sample of what was right in our community. We had male students show up from all different backgrounds and neighborhoods. We had a generous faith-based sponsor provide money for food and a t-shirt for each participant. The most important aspect of the night was that it cultivated a sense of belonging for our stakeholders or in other words, community. This made cancelling this event such a disappointment. We weren’t just canceling an event, it felt like in a strange way we were canceling community.

After being quarantined for the better part of six weeks, it feels as if March Dadness and interacting with students and teachers is a distant memory. I don’t want it to feel that way and I am still in touch, but it is difficult to maintain these relationships when you are not saying “good morning,” walking through classes and having tough conversations that are not a part of your regular routine. As I reflect, I am reminded that these routines cultivate community in our schools. Students and teachers want to feel “known” in their school community and it makes them know they are valued.

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, my community has shifted. I exercise, in socially distant manner, with a small group of men in my neighborhood four days a week. We push each other in our workouts, crack jokes and talk about the latest events. We even have a text change that extends the banter beyond our early morning workouts. Since we can’t go anywhere, we have been brought closer together simply as a result of increased time together. After comparing my school and my small exercise group, I have been reminded of some basic truths about community through this recent experience:

We were created to be in community. It really doesn’t matter what your community is, but you were made to be in one. I have shifted some of my community focus from my school to my exercise partners. I have also involved myself in Zoom calls, webinars and group texts. There is a desire that exists to be a part of something with others. It also doesn’t matter if you’re an introvert or an extrovert. We want to be with others and we want to do life with others. As school leaders, we must capitalize on this desire for all stakeholders to belong to their community. What can we do more of to help students feel that they are a part of something?

Healthy community pushes you to be a better version of yourself. I don’t exercise as hard by myself. If I am with others, I am encouraged to do more exercises, different exercises and harder exercises. I get better physically. Within the context of the school community, I am asked challenging questions that push me to dig into solutions. These experiences happen within the context of community, not in isolation.

Community makes life pleasurable. When I talk to parents and scholars, many have lamented that this experience has increased their stress and they are yearning to return to normalcy. Students want to be with their friends. They have stated that it’s not fun to be stuck at home by themselves. They want community because community brings them joy. When I exercise with my neighbors in the mornings, it has brought great fun and enjoyment in the midst of a time of great uncertainty in our country.

Community reminds you of truth. Human nature already assumes that the way you think about something is true and correct. It is not until you are challenged by someone outside of yourself that you begin to think differently. You are challenged by what is true through your community. Recently, one of the guys in our exercise group made a joke towards another guy that was considered offensive. He meant it in jest, but the damage was done. It was until other guys stepped in and reminded him that the joke was indeed inappropriate that he apologized. We need community to make us aware of these missteps. When we are in a school community, we constantly do the same thing. If a student doesn’t act appropriately, if a teacher isn’t professional or we analyze data in a way that isn’t accurate we have others to point us to the facts. We need community to remind us of this.

As we continue to trudge through a new normal in American public education, it is important that we remember the importance of community in quality schools. There is little doubt that if and when schools return, they will look quite different. However, the cultivation of strong community should remain an emphasis in the next phase of our country’s education history. Community is not just important for our schools and our neighbors, it is important for us as humans.

Biography:

Dr. Eric H. Tornfelt is an Assistant Principal at Sedgefield Middle School in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Tornfelt was honored as Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Teacher of the year in 2012. He has a proven track record of instructional leadership success in a variety of school settings. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Furman University and his Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Wingate University.

The post The Necessity of Community appeared first on The Edvocate.

The Necessity of Community published first on https://sapsnkra.tumblr.com

0 notes

tobinifesi · 4 years

Text

The Word I Needed To Know Right Now

How Tom Hanks called my attention to the word that emphasizes the essence of these crazy times

Words are capable of demystifying and filling blank spaces.

If you walk into an empty hollow hallway in a forgotten and mysterious building in the middle of nowhere, your eyes will capture the nothingness that surrounds you and your brain will calculate the probability of something - someone or some creature - springing out from one of the hollow ends of the hallway. However, the moment you make a sound or utter a word, an echo fills the hallway, detaches you from your anxiety and reminds you that you are, in fact, safe; thus weakening the mystery of the empty space.

Sometimes, our minds are filled with such empty spaces. When this happens, there are gaps in our thought, comprehension and interpretation of our reality. Things don’t add up. The details don’t make sense. It becomes increasingly difficult to control the narrative. We are thrust into a world of uncertainty and unknowns. So much might be said but none of it resonates with you. This goes on until you stumble on a word - somewhere and somehow - that bridges the gap and fills the blank spaces.

Amidst the realities of the world today, I recently stumbled on a word. The word doesn’t necessarily solve the issue at hand but it gives me some much-needed perspective on the state of things as they are and have always been. Most importantly, it sets me on a path towards having a deeper understanding of the nature of our societies during pandemics like the COVID-19.

Before January 2020, I had never heard the word ‘coronavirus’ despite my academic background in the sciences. I may be wrong but I do not believe that it has ever been a popular term amongst laymen and biology undergraduates. Keep in mind that the word ‘coronavirus’ isn’t the word I’m referring to in my last paragraph (or in this article’s title and subtitle) but I found it interesting when I heard it. It was a novel word to me and so, as I lay in my bed on the evening of January 23, I googled the word ‘coronavirus’.

The first two Wikipedia pages I read agreed that the coronavirus wasn’t exactly a virus. It was actually “a group of related viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds” and the novel coronavirus (now known as COVID-19) just happens to fall into that group. Suddenly, the news article I had been reading earlier that day about the Chinese government imposing a lockdown on Wuhan, the capital city of the Hubei province, began to make sense. The news made sense but the idea of locking down an entire city didn’t make much sense. I marvelled at the thought of a lockdown. At the time, I could barely imagine what that would look or feel like.

It seemed crazy to me.

I needed some clarity on the current situation meant for us in the long run. I wanted to know what the world might look like after almost half of its population are either advised or forced to stay within closed doors and away from each other.

As of March 23, I had been on a province-wide lockdown in British Columbia for 12 consecutive days. By this time, the World Health Organization had labelled the novel coronavirus a pandemic. Even after 12 days of staying at home, I was still a little bit confused about what all of this meant - and how it could affect our societies. There was no news of a possible end date for the stay-at-home mandate. Later that week, an article written by The Atlantic’s Joe Pinsker suggested four possible timelines for the pandemic. His best-case scenario was one to two months and his worst-case scenario was 18 months. Neither of the two timelines made sense to me. I needed some clarity on the current situation meant for us in the long run. I wanted to know what the world might look like after almost half of its population are either advised or forced to stay within closed doors and away from each other.

The 13th chapter of the biblical book of Leviticus describes the mosaic law regarding skin diseases - specifically, leprosy. The law is quite straightforward: once an individual has been diagnosed with a skin disease, “the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days.” (Leviticus 13:4 NIV). With the proclamation of the mosaic law, isolation became the ideal response for dealing with skin (and many other forms of) diseases in those times. By the time Jesus Christ arrived on earth, isolation was still the norm. In Luke’s version of the gospel, as Jesus “was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” (Luke 17:12-13 NIV). Notice the verse suggests the lepers stood at a distance. They did so because they knew they ought not to come in close contact with others. Hence, isolation.

By the 14th century, isolation was still a thing. At the time, the bubonic plague was ravaging cities and communities across Europe and Asia. Measures had to be taken to curb the continued spread of the infection. One notable measure was taken by the port authorities at Ragusa (now known as Dubrovnik in Croatia.) The officials established a trentino that ordered the isolation of ships arriving at the port for a 30 day period. Within the next century, other European communities - like Venice, Genoa and Marseilles - began to introduce similar laws. During this time, the 30 day period was increased to 40 days. In other words, the trentino became a quarantino.

Quarantino (or Quarantine) is derived from the Italian word for 40, quaranta. Many historians have suggested that the introduction of the 40 day isolation period was inspired by the biblical or Christian references to and significance of a 40-day period. The observance of Lent, the great flood in the days of Noah, Moses’ stay on Mount Sinai, Jesus Christ’s fasting period in the Judean deserts and the period between his resurrection and ascension have one thing in common - they all happened in 40 days. Just as many historians believe there is a correlation here, many others dispute it.

Nevertheless, the term ‘quarantine’ was born from the terms ‘quarantino’ and ‘quaranta’ in the 14th century. Since then, many quarantine laws have been passed in several countries around the world and the outbreak of any major diseases always calls for such laws to be invoked. Quarantine laws were invoked in the 18th century when the yellow fever epidemic hit Philadelphia, in the 19th century when cholera epidemic arrived in Canada’s Quebec City, in 2003 during the SARS pandemic as 30,000 Torontonians were quarantined (although in Canada, the law was actually introduced in 2005, its stipulations were observed in 2003), in 2014 when the Liberian government ordered the isolation of a local neighbourhood called West Point during the Ebola outbreak, on January 23, 2020, in Wuhan, and on March 25, 2020, when Canada’s Minister of Health, Patty Hadju, ordered all travellers entering the country to be isolated for 14 days.

Despite being such a significant term over the last seven centuries, the word ‘quarantine’ and its fascinating history don’t shed much light on the essence of the times we are in. One thing is for sure: history is being written as we speak. Generations will speak of the plague that caused at least half of the world to stay indoors. The stories that are being lived out right now will inspire the creation of books, artworks, movies, documentaries and music that will ensure these moments aren’t easily forgotten. Yet, you can’t help but wonder what the world will look like then.

Like most people, when I heard about the coronavirus in January, I didn’t think much of it. I knew it was a tragedy in Wuhan but I didn’t think it would become a global tragedy - one that would have large-scale disastrous impacts on global healthcare systems, economies, infrastructures and laws. On March 1, I was on a phone call with my friend - Solace - and we agreed that a pandemic was coming. 10 days later, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, charactered the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. Later that day, an NBA player - Rudy Gobert - tested positive for the disease and as a response, the NBA 2019-2020 season was suspended. The next day, Tom Hanks, his wife and Sophie Trudeau (the wife of Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau) all tested positive for the disease.

That day - March 12, 2020 - was the first day I heard the term ‘flatten the curve’. I heard it while listening to a live broadcast of British Columbia’s Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry’s daily coronavirus update. She had urged British Columbians to avoid large gatherings so we could ‘flatten the curve.’ Another novel term that didn’t make much sense to me and although I now understand the message behind the term, it does little to help me understand the depth or importance of the situation we are in. It wasn’t until four days later that I found the word I had been looking for.

Four days after announcing he had tested positive for COVID-19, Tom Hanks shared an Instagram post. In the post, the Cast Away actor attempted to encourage his 8.7 million followers by sharing a picture of some toasted bread slices covered with spreads of vegemite, accompanied by a caption that read:

“Thanks to the Helpers. Let’s take care of ourselves and each other. Hanx”

There it was. The word I needed to know.

In Hank’s caption was one word that put the puzzle together for me. The caption references a famous quote from one of the longest-running children’s television shows, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. On the show, the host - Fred Rogers - is quoted as saying,

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

Decades later, this quote - specifically the line, “Look for the helpers.” - continues to be repeated and referenced during times of discomfort or shared crises.

Tom Hanks must have been acknowledging the helpers when he gave a nod to Rogers’ quote in his caption. By including the word ‘helpers’ in that caption, he was calling attention to the individuals around the world who have been and continue to risk their lives or provide essential services or assist the elderly or make key and life-saving decisions or share messages of hope and comfort or obey the law and stay at home to help curb the rapid spread of the diseases he had just tested positive for.

The word ‘helpers’ is the word I was looking for.

I am a Christian. I believe my help from God and the ultimate helper - the Holy Spirit - lives within me and gives me more peace than I can actually fathom. According to my belief, the Spirit of God in me counsels and comforts me - and for that, I am grateful. However, just as I believe there is a helper within me, I believe that there are even more helpers around me. Some are within my reach and others are far from it but, as Rogers said, I must look for them and acknowledge them.

As you read this, there are healthcare professionals around the world who are risking their lives to care for and treat patients who have been infected with COVID-19. The majority of these professionals are working without adequate resources, information, time or physical and mental energy. They are being stressed and stretched by the influx of patients storming into their workplaces. Many retired professionals have come out of retirement and the elderly amongst them - who are highly susceptible to being infected - are knowingly putting themselves in danger. These are the helpers.

There are community and world leaders who have been forced to make key decisions despite the fact that they can’t guarantee the outcomes. Presidents, prime ministers, premiers, governors, government officials, religious leaders, activists and heads of organizations and families who, despite being personally affected by the pandemic, must still lead and speak to and for their communities. They must listen carefully to experts, make the right calls, invoke the necessary laws, enforce orders, inspire hope in a seemingly hopeless situation, mourn the loss and sufferings of their community members and continue to do this regardless of how long the pandemic lasts. These are the helpers.

There are employers and employees who should be at home. If they had their way, they would be with their families indoors all day and far away from scenarios that could get them infected with these diseases. However, our communities need their services. As such, they risk their lives by continuing to work at the grocery stores, deliver food and essential items to our homes, protect our communities by maintaining law and order, work in call centres for healthcare and emergency services, be first responders to emergency situations, work as caregivers for children, the elderly and individuals with disabilities, serve in organizations that support vulnerable populations, immigrants and refugees, manufacture goods and provide services necessary to keep our infrastructure and industries in good condition, and document and share information through media outlets. These (and many other essential occupations not referenced here) are the helpers.

Yet, there you are.

You are baffled by this crisis. It has affected your daily routine, income, wellbeing, peace of mind, plans for the future, family and fellow community members. You are not sure what the future holds for your family, career or immediate plans or what to do while you’re home or how you will fend for yourself after being laid off or what will happen if you get infected. Despite this, you listen to healthcare experts, obey the laws invoked by your government, stay at home as much as possible, practice physical distancing if you must go out, encourage people in your communities by sharing messages of hope and refocusing their attention on information that edifies them, work or live in uncomfortable conditions for long periods of time, donate to or volunteer with organizations supporting vulnerable populations, check in on family members, friends, and those in isolation, pray and virtually support those who are anxious, ill, mourning the loss of loved ones or in need, and maintain your sanity in these crazy times. You are the helper.

No words can describe how much the world is hurting right now but I realize that I don’t need such adjectives. I need a noun that defines who we are, have always been and will be after the pandemic subsides. We are helpers and this is a call to the helpers. Humanity can’t survive without human beings and human beings can’t survive without help. The good news is that, in many ways, we are the help we need. Each and every human being is the helper we need right now. Humanity needs us to do our part. More than ever before, it needs us to unite and stay united. This is the essence of the times we are in - to remind us that we need each other.

By acknowledging the word that defines us, we can weaken and demystify the mystery of this pandemic. The echoes of our daily, and sometimes seemingly small, decisions and actions can fill the void and remind us that we are not alone. We are safe because we are helpers and are surrounded by helpers.

I believe that my help comes from God and a helper lives in me. Yet, it is equally important for me to acknowledge and call on the helper that I am and the helpers that are around me.

Helpers, help!

#COVID-19 #help #Pandemic #Canada #History

0 notes