There is so much in the world that is not okay right now. There is so much that induces rage and fear both locally and globally that we can easily fall prey to believing in hopelessness. My news and social media feeds are full of the atrocities of the genocide in Gaza and the rallying cry to Free Palestine 🍉. I know less about the genocides in the Sudan and Congo but they are also ever present and need our attention. I am…
For those of us living with a chronic illness, there are bound to be days (and maybe many of them) where we feel fatigued and depleted. That tiredness can include both physical weariness and mental exhaustion from the challenges of day to day life and disease management. So what do we do when we are tired? The simple answer, of course, is: we rest. Yet life is rarely that easy and often we need to include purposeful ways to promote rest even when…
Here in BC, covid restrictions are loosening and there is a semblance of normality that is unfamiliar after so much time within more structured protocols. For some, it feels like a celebration that we are entering post-pandemic life. For others, the effects of Covid-19 linger on - perhaps from personal loss, long covid, or ongoing vulnerability to the illness meaning there is no "back to normal". As the articles below describe, not all people have been affected equally by this virus. Why Covid-19…
In remembrance of Thich Nhat Hanh (Oct 11, 1926 - Jan 22, 2022)
As we begin a new year, our thoughts may turn to how things have changed (or not) since last year. Many people will speak of resolutions and intentions for the year ahead. Others choose to stay the course without "New year, new me" aspirations. Whichever path you choose, it's helpful to recall that change is rarely linear. For the most part, when a person states a desire to make a change, the journey is almost always one that includes stops, starts, setbacks, and restarts along the…
September always has me thinking about changes and transitions as I see children heading back to school. This year with the changing pandemic landscape, the nature of transitions seems even more poignant. I am a person who needs quite a bit of time to adjust to transitions. Whether a change is good or bad, expected or sudden, wanted or unwanted, I know that I need to allow myself time, space, and purposeful attention as things unfold. This is a common theme among clients and friends. Although…
Although I've been attempting to scale back on my Instagram time, one beautiful account that I've recently discovered is buddhas.in.jeans. buddhas.in.jeans It's a lovely and heartful respite in the social media world where you will find words of inspiration and opportunities for guided meditations that remind me of what is really important in life. Being here, now, with presence and love. Kunal Nayyar (of Big Bang Theory fame) is the creator and content provider.
As regular readers know, I regularly utilize mindfulness both in my personal and professional life. It is often a beneficial practice for people with health conditions as it allows us to attend to the present when our minds get pulled into the past or the future. However, mindfulness exercises are not always positive. For trauma survivors, some of the common practices, such as meditation, can exacerbate post-traumatic stress and and create feelings of shame and distress. David Treleaven is a trauma professional and a mindfulness practitioner…
Today I'd like to introduce you to the Declaration Deck. This deck is a valuable tool for both clients and counsellors - it invites you to discover more about yourself and your own journey as you explore the themes and words of empowerment on each card. Theresa Thomas at In-Power Counselling uses a trauma-informed, feminist, non-oppressive, decolonizing framework in her therapeutic approach. When she noticed that the available resources to support her clients were lacking, she developed the Declaration Deck. For those of us coping with…
We are all feeling some fatigue from the pandemic, whether we know it or not. It's been a long haul and though there is an end in sight, it is further away than any of us would like. For some tips on how to cope, check out these helpful recommendations from UC Davis Medical Center: Done with COVID-19? 9 ways to help cope with COVID fatigue I particularly like the idea of letting myself laugh as often things feel rather heavy in the world. Reflect on…