IBlog II: Finding Our Way Forward to a Post-Pandemic World This week, I would like to begin by sharing a brief personal story about behavior befitting a pandemic. Just following New Year’s, a couple of our “bubble friends” came for dinner. Despite a snow storm in full force, they arrived safely and we spent a lovely evening together. It wasn’t until we were saying our good-byes that we realized their drive home might not be very pleasant, and possibly even a bit challenging. Normally I would have hugged our long-time friends as they were leaving; however as “hugging” was not permitted, I raised my elbow for an “elbow bump” farewell and blurted out “Thanks from the bottom of my elbow for coming out on this stormy night.” Now, a few more thoughts from the bottom of my elbow. As the winter of our shared discontent begins to recede, our hopes and thoughts are increasingly turning to the future and newly emerging realities. Lots of questions and concerns are in the air, coupled with the sense that addressing them will require new strategies and priorities. New beginnings. Today I would like to begin the dialogue by briefly reviewing some of these questions and concerns, especially as they relate to the healthy living agenda in a post pandemic world. Let’s start with a couple of key questions: • Do you recognize this period we’ve just been through as an important “time out”, a time both for reflection on what brought us to this point in our history and for re-imaging what our future can look like? • Assuming the answer is yes, what are some of the insights we’ve learned about ourselves, both personally and collectively, that can assist in framing a new narrative about values and priorities going forward? I’ll leave it to future blogs to begin the deep dive into formulating a response, but here are a few personal observations (from an Atlantic Canadian perspective) to kick off the discussion: • Our current model for caring for the elderly has been seriously tested and found wanting. • Similarly, our current system for supporting people with serious mental health issues is crying out for a fundamental overhaul. • And special attention needs to be given to our young people, many of whom have been traumatized by the extended and stressful period of living under the threat of Covid-19. At this point, I should mention the recently published book, "Neglected No More" by André Picard which speaks to the crisis in eldercare as revealed by the coronavirus pandemic: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/669793/neglected-no-more-by-andre-picard/9780735282247?ref=PRH21BE93181C&utm_source=RH_Canada&utm_medium=Advertising&utm_content=&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Neglected_No_More_by_Andre_Picard_-_Google_Search&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-aGCBhCwARIsAHDl5x_XQbHlhZaKRwj7ixeuezi3jBz9Xu0eiFqWyRR3ofjMTrUO_jhq2G8aAmmnEALw_wcB As well, living through these stressful, anxious times has provided us with plenty of challenges when it comes to our personal health and well-being. But it has also demonstrated the amazing capacity for self-awareness, resilience and inner growth that is available for each and everyone of us. And this is the theme I would like to turn to next. Maggie A Healing Gift, Cognitive Energy Healing by Maggie McLaughlin is available online through Indigo/Chapters, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Balboa Press www.cognitiveenergyhealing.ca
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AuthorMaggie McLaughlin is the author of A Healing Gift, Cognitive Energy Healing, CEH founder, practitioner and instructor. This blog is dedicated to exploring well-being within the context of current health and wellness concerns, including insights gained from readings and research on a broad range of health-related matters. Where relevant, insights from a CEH perspective will be shared. |