Knowing when we are back!
As our communities continue to relax the pandemic safety precautions, are you breathing a little easier than you have been? Are you starting to notice that your surroundings are beginning to look vaguely familiar? Are many of your colleagues beginning to return to work? Are you noticing that the bleachers are once again filling up at the basketball games? Is it taking you longer to get to where you are going because of increased traffic? Are you now finding it necessary to call for reservations at your favorite restaurant?
Taking time to reflect on what we are noticing offers insights into what is important to us. One of the silver linings of the pandemic is the identification and magnifying of those things that we knew were important but didn’t quite know how important they were. The pandemic necessitated that we place on pause many important aspects of our lives. Those aspects could be small, like missing the candy dish at one’s hairdresser or large like celebrating a new family member’s first birthday. Whether large or small, they all signified a loss that was experienced.
Now, having this new level of insight of what is most important, offers us the possibility of experiencing these things in a very real way. As we once again experience these moments, it is important to live them totally. Be aware of the smile that they bring to you and others. Be present and listen to others as if they are the only person in the world at that moment and be mindful that these are the moments that we want to carry forward and protect, as best as we can.
In helping you to find your silver lining ask yourself this question: Thinking back over the past 24 months, what are those things that you now know are most important to you?
Make a list, either mentally or hard copy, so that in the future, should something like this happen again, these will be the things that you place your energy towards to ensure, as much as possible, they always remain with you.
Your reflections on this question will offer you valuable insights on actions that you might want to be taking now.
Key Takeaways
The past 24 months offers important insights.
Our world is forever evolving.
We are creating our tomorrows, today.
Best Practices
Focus on your silver linings.
Share your insights with other trusted family and friends.
Offer others the opportunity to share their silver linings.
Things to Limit
Getting too busy … again.
Thinking the past 24 months will never be repeated.
Believing that everything is going to go back to the way it was.
Quote of the Week
“We are the silver lining in any and every dark cloud we could ever find. There is no need to go looking for the light when you bring it with you.”
~Tyler Knott Gregson
In summary, as we emerge from the “haze” of the pandemic, we may want to use this time to place our energies on how we continue to navigate our future. We have changed and the places we are going toward, have also changed
Be well,
The paraDocs
Check our Welcome Greeting on YouTube
The paraDocs are Dr. Francis L. Battisti, PhD, Psychotherapist, Distinguished Psychology Professor and former Executive V.P and Chief Academic Officer and Dr. Helen E. Battisti PhD, RDN, CDN, Chief Nutrition Officer, at SpNOD, Health Promotion Specialist, Research and Clinical Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and former Assistant Professor.
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