The Unexpected Gift: Appreciating Life's Nice Moments

 

While in midtown on an errand, I had the pleasure of running right smack dab into a 10-foot high 6-foot wide fresh floral display in the middle of the sidewalk on Fifth Avenue. NYC is a wonderous place but this was an atypical sight. I guessed that the display was a remnant of the prior day's Easter Parade. On a busy block full of people, only 4 other individuals had stopped to look. It seemed other folks were buried in their thoughts or phones. Perhaps many were in a rush to their next appointment. 

They missed out on one of life's nice, unexpected moments. And it smelled nice, too.

Here's hoping you'll stop to smell the roses when they pop up in front of your nose....

Spring Ahead

"It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart."

Rainer Maria Rilke (1922)

Sonnets to Orpheus (Part One, XXI)

As always,take good care.

Happy Lunar New Year! May the year of the Dragon bring wisdom, good luck, innovation and honor to all who celebrate!

Yes, the Psychologist is In! (Back at the Office)

The Doctor is in (and it's been a while, I know.)

With the end to the Federal Emergency COVID Protocols in May, I've returned to the office to see clients in person one day a week. That may increase in the months ahead.

Health insurance companies are continuing to cover remote psychotherapy sessions even after the end of Federal Emergency protocols. Where it is appropriate I'm also continuing to meet with clients over video using the HIPAA compliant platform:  Doxy.Me

Current research indicates that the treatment outcomes are generally similar when comparing the delivery of services through telehealth vs in-person.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8595951/

However, I recommend that clients starting in therapy or coaching come in-person if possible for at least three sessions. 

If you have any questions or concerns about COVID 19 precautions please feel free to give me a call.

I look forward to seeing you IRL soon.

Until then I hope you'll take good care.

Update in Year Three: It's Not "New Normal"; It's Just "Now"

The phrase "new normal" is frequently applied as we approach May 11th when the COVID-19 National Emergency will end.  But,"normal" implies steadiness and the COVID-19 virus has shown that it doesn't stand still. So, where are we "now?"

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a treacherous journey for many. As of this April more than one million Americans didn't make it, while more than six million people world wide have succumbed to this virus.  Another 15 percent of us (though probably many more) have devloped Long COVID, a syndrome where inflammatory processes continue after the initial acute viral infection and create a separate burden.

Beyond these physical manifestations, there are emotional and psychological responses to the pandemic that continue to this day. Researchers have found that the stresses of lockdown as well as the restrictions to usual routines heightened levels of loneliness, anxiety, depression and aggression as well as alcohol and substance use.

One of the few fortunate outcomes of the pandemic is that getting help for mental or behavioral distress no longer required going to a physical office. Through this national emergency clinicans have been permitted to provide telehealth services reimbursable by health insurance. Often, this made the process of getting treatment more convenient and provided safety and security for the client and the clinican as the COVID-19 infection cycle continued. The good news is that--as of this moment--this situation is not expected to change after May 11th. Insurance companies appear satisfied with this option for providing counseling.  

Another fortunate outcome of these challenging years is that the importance of nurturing the self and connecting to others became clear in the face of isolation, loss and disruption. Clients in my clinical and coaching practices reported reprioritizing their time and energy toward relationships in their work, families and social networks. The "stuff" our consumer culture promotes doesn't ground us the way our alliances and interconnections do.

Here's a wish that those of you reading this post "now" are investing in yourself and in the communities--both personal and professional--that encourage you to take good care. 

There's only one of you and, of course, you matter.

Making a difference in Year Two with You.

Life is dynamic, not static. 

Change is happening whether we wish for it or not. If two years of these extraordinary times have taught us anything it is that we can be resilient and can adapt to change, even when it's dramatic. 

I hope we can all take that resourcefulness and use it to make a difference in our self-care. The action towards self-care can be small, but see if you can chose one that you can keep up with.  

Journal a few sentences in the morning. Do a one minute meditation/breathing cycle. Take a walk around the block. Put down your phone for the first three bites of your meal and just focus on the taste of your food and the way your body feels as you eat. At the end of the day think of three things that you are grateful to have experienced. Make your bed a place for sleep and affection but nothing else.

If you start with one goal and it doesn't feel "good enough" after a week, try another.

The point is to take a small incremental action that you can integrate easily into your day (or night.)

Here's a start:  When in doubt---breathe in, breathe out.

Take good care.

Image credit: ABEUTY

"The Great Outdoors": It's a Fact

 To feel in the pink, think green (or ocean blue or woodland brown).

The multiple physical and mental health benefits of a "nature connection" are well-documented in numerous public health research studies. Here's one that was touted in journal, Scientific Reports. The title says it all:

"Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing"

(Mathew P. White, et al., Scientific Reports, June 13, 2019; v. 9; art. 7730)

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3

The results apply to all age groups and the process requires very little other than some access to a few trees or shrubs, an  expanse of grass or garden, a path near a lake or pond.  120 minutes of outdoor time each week is ideal, but, please don't be intimidated if that seems out of reach. Just like any other change that you want to fit into your lifestyle, you can start low and go slow to get to your goal. 

Plus, you don't have to go it alone. Instead of meeting friends at a restaurant or bar, invite them to  a stroll in the park or even packing a lunch or takeout for a park bench mini-picnic to get your minutes in. Just two hours a week, by yourself or with a friend, child or family member. 

After 18 months, pandemic fatigue is setting in for many of us.

As we change seasons, we can change our ways of taking good care of ourselves.

Until next time, wishing you good health, a good autumn and a good time with Mother Nature.