How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Soulful Distance or “Health Consciousness in a Time of Epidemics”

PULL TOGETHER

As we pull together as humanity around the world it may have a positive effect on the intense nationalism and divisiveness that we have seen in the last few years; we can realize that we are all human. 

– Janet Fouts

TAKE THE TIME

The current situation:

1. Allows people to slow down and spend time with family and tune into their own health and wellbeing.
2. Thinking of others instead of only yourself. Taking time to attend to your own health. Taking time out from our constant state of 'busyness'.

– Stephany Sherry

BENEFITS OF SOCIAL DISTANCING

I think social distancing provides numerous benefits for society. People are so busy running from one place to the other the they rarely give themselves time to process or truly feel their emotions. Families are rushed in so many directions that parents & children have no idea which end is up. People don’t get enough sleep or exercise and constantly put themselves and their self-care last.

- Bridget McMillion

A CHANCE TO TALK

We are given a chance to talk about powerful topics such as how vulnerable we all are as a society collectively, and individually. We are all reminded of the importance of a healthy body and of thinking of others in the way of social distancing. We are reminded that some people are physically less able to handle this from an economic standpoint as well as from a physical standpoint (elderly, immune compromised, etc.) needed in order to help with feelings of safety during this time. Establishing proper sleep hygiene will be important for people as well so as to try to maintain some normalcy during this time.

- Cynthia Conigliaro

SILVER LINING (TIME TO RECONNECT) We have time to re-connect with our families and the people who mean something to us. We might actually put down some of our technology (but this could go the opposite direction, too). I might have the most amazing landscaping that I've had in years since I don't have to commute anywhere. Less toxic air due to a decrease in pollution from our cars. Decreased energy usage from those bigger places like colleges and schools. Sleep........ In 9 months, we'll have another baby boom. Maybe more violence since we have to stay home with each other all the time -- haha - I hope not! Opportunity to eat better since we aren't driving to every fast food restaurant. - Cathy Herndon

SILVER LINING (CHANCE TO START OVER) COVID-19 presents a "silver lining" because we can clearly see how hysteria plays out publicly--especially in grocery stores; when we remain so reactionary, we don't leave ourselves room to notice and sense what is actually present. We create stories about things that may not even be happening, and we start to trust fewer people and become suspicious of someone's motives. We tend to get tunnel vision and forget about things in our periphery, including positive ways to cope, or even more useful ways of being. this pandemic is giving society a chance to start over

-- Lisa Godenick

SILVER LINING (PERSPECTIVE) The "silver lining" includes many things, but some of the first that come to my mind are these: a) We are reminded we are not invincible, and that our general health is of utmost importance all the time, so that we remain in the best health possible when a threat arises. b) Like the Boy Scouts have taught for over 100 years, a great strategy for life is to "Be Prepared." We should all have a pantry or small store of long-shelf-life foods and basic household goods on hand, like our parents and grandparents did. It's not new, it's just a common sense attitude that went out of fashion in our "everything new is better" world. Wisdom and experience have been discounted in recent decades, and that has been a grave mistake. c) Our leaders are doing the best they can in a bad situation; it is NOT helpful to demean, criticize, denounce, and second-guess their efforts. Unless you are an infectious-disease expert who works at the CDC or NIH, we don't want your opinion on the disease. Leave that to the experts. Rather, share your coping strategies, your wisdom, your experience in getting through similar situations, or your hope and prayers. Negativity makes everyone more stressed!

-- Heidi Postupack

OPPORTUNITY Because the pandemic affects everyone across society, this gives a huge opportunity for people to learn how to wake up, level up, and tune up. After the virus dissipates, the training given now can become part of the everyday toolbox of those who went through it. Much as the hard lessons of the Depression affected not only the ones who went through it, but also their descendants two and three generations removed, the hard lesson of COVID-19 can transform society--for the better!  

- Barbara Wilson

THINGS TO DO

1) Tell our loved ones that we love them
2) Journaling, gratitude journaling
3) Spread positive contagion - kind, caring words of affirmation and encouragement to everyone we encounter (especially grocery store clerks & others on the "front lines")
4) Watch for Major Triggers: Uncertainty & Anxiety, sense of existential threat, emotional pain and not sure how to know what we're feeling and how to cope well under the circumstances
5) Use Discernment: Responsibility lies at three levels. Self (do what we can to take care of ourselves, our families and community), Society (local governments, corporations, health care system, federal government), Workplace (taking care of our people on a new higher level).

-- Lucy Hoblitzelle

MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES

We need to stop and breathe so we can face whatever comes next and make sound decisions.

• When we are forced to stop and smell the roses, will we actually?  Will we take this time to our advantage-  to spend time with our children? spend time with our families? read helpful books? meditate? relax?

• OR will we make unhealthy choices and cope negatively?  We’ve learned that if we don’t choose to cope positively there will be a negative tension release.  Will we spend too much time on social media ?  Self-medicate? Panic and fight over toilet paper?                           

  • We can’t forget that stress makes us more even vulnerable to disease.  All the more reason to practice our stress management techniques. 

– Trinity Faucett

RESPECT, INGENUITY, SOLITUDE

1. Respect for our invisible elders and vulnerable.

2. Ingenuity is magical

3. Dial down anxiety, what are we consuming ie media, food, etc. Solitude can give one a break to level up

– Molly Sigman

RENEW, RECHARGE, RESTORE

We can actually come out of this better than we were before. More aware of the impact of our holistic health and wellness on that of others. We can become more compassionate and more empathetic. We can use this time of social distancing to reconnect with ourselves and our spiritual core, , etc.. We use this time to learn and to grow. To heal ourselves and to mend fences with others. Health Consciousness tools can be useful when people understand how to use them and in what contexts.

-- Michele Richardson

SLOW DOWN

Slowing people down; our entire planet is healthier in a very short time; learning to take time to make decisions; enjoying simple pleasures

– Nancy Chabot

WAKE-UP CALL

1. This challenge presents an opportunity for making a positive choice. I can choose to take personal control over my responses, physically, emotionally and mentally. The world is being presented with a chance to unify and connect in new and different ways.
2. This could be a wake-up call to one's awareness of their health and an opportunity to instill mindfulness.

- Laurie Krupski

HEALTH CONSCIOUSNESS

Empowered health consciousness provided strategies to recognize triggers with anxiety, activities to promote health, and checking in with yourself that I found to be very helpful.

– Felecia Johnson

STAY LEVEL HEADED

For those of us who are staying level headed it’s an opportunity to help others from spinning out and provide a different lens thru which to view things: saving money on gas because of working at home, more time in the day to do what you want because no commute. A change in environment. Cultivation of appreciation for when there isn’t a media induced mob mentality and you can readily buy toilet paper.

- Jennifer Lange

WATCH FOR TRIGGERS

Notice what raises anxiety. Is too much information a trigger? Identify what sources of information are most helpful. identify what is your motivation for change. Be a part of a collective action.

- Mary Lay

INTENTIONALITY

1. We have the opportunity to be more intentional with our personal interactions and more conscious of how we affect others.
2. Intentional time spent with family, roommates, etc - we can sit on the couch and do nothing or we can go on a walk, play a game...

-- John Steakley

CRITICAL THINKING

The more ways we can find to open up this space for (to, with, on behalf of) our neighbors in Miami and surrounding counties, the better the odds to model critical thinking and behavior change when it's most truly needed (yes, prevention works!). How do we take advantage of the idleness experienced because of COVID-19?

 - Austina Reed

SHIFTS THAT CAN STICK AROUND

Throughout my network, I'm seeing an increase in compassion, care, and concern for others. I am also seeing an increase in humility by those in power who previously portrayed hubris. I hope these shifts stick around - we need more of it.
Regarding resilience and health consciousness tools, people need them now.

– Michele Studer

HUMAN RESOURCES

How to establish workplace systems relating to policies "working from home" and communicating with employees. That will expand to things like 'how to pay' employees and 'how to get reimbursed' by the government once their systems have been established. 

- Cheryl Brown Merriwether

SOCIAL WORKERS

Social Workers and Community Health Workers in our schools are looking at creative ways to reach out and provide resources to our kids-food being delivered to students via bus stops, the adjustment being made by CMS to exercise enforcement discretion and waive penalties for HIPAA, for people that serve patients in good faith through technologies such as FaceTime, Skype etc. These are adjustments that serve our communities in a more realistic manner when a social isolation is now what is expected. It is an opportunity to empower those who serve to better empower those who receive, our messaging is important, our self-care, and care of our neighbors.

 -- Wendy Madson

APPLY POPULATION RISKS AND STRENGTHS

1) Discuss high-risk groups and ways for them to stay healthy during this epidemic.
2) Discuss the strengths of Federal, State, and Local Government guidance and recommendations around COVID-19

– Sandy Miller