By Graeme McCarrison, NZPI Board (Northland/Auckland).
I (like many of you) spent a few moments over the last 4 weeks of this amazing summer thinking about 2022:
2022 to me is looking like another furious and exciting year for me with the following in focus:
“Our identity is a fusion of stories, myth, genealogy and personalities.” (Owen Eastwood) Knowing and learning my Whakapapa is part of understanding my sense of belonging.
All this in background of “Covid”, creating small talk to avoid the inevitable cycle back to covid especially the “impending doom” of omicron – the media feed of fear about “not being prepared”, “here in 2 to weeks”, “cases will double each day”, “great NZ illness”, “expect supply chain failures” etc. Covid is beyond our control, but we can individually take personal responsibility for how we deal with this in 2022. For instance, getting vaccinated or having your booster, scanning QR codes, appropriately wearing masks, being mindful for when you are out and not putting myself in the situation where there are large crowds. Living in fear of covid is just not healthy for me or you. I need my energy focused on me, my family, work, volunteering, to create a positive vibe, not feel destroyed or under threat. How do I not live in fear and look for the good?
I have been reading and/or rereading 4 books:
I mention these books because they are easy reading with practical actions which I have find useful in my concussion recovery, wellbeing, transition to the next stage of work/life, finding my value as I slow, slow down in my world of increasing expectations.
I generally have gratitude for the opportunity I have in my recovery from a brain injury/concussion and support from Spark. It’s also created some of my most frustrated and darkest moments, which is a fairly normal experience of those recovering from long concussion. in fact anyone going through a major life changing event will experience a range of emotions – and that is ok!
What I have learned and relearned about looking after me in 2021 (and where I am focussing to develop or refine more in 2022) are based around these principles:
Doings include:
13 months ago my brain injury (concussion) ripped my world apart as I learnt and accepted that recovery is a slow process with an unknown end date that is specific to me and what I do. While I am back at work full-time and successfully delivering on projects I still have concession symptoms in that I fatigue easily, recognition function/memory can be slower, light sensitive in my left eye and I need breaks during long Teams meetings. I know I will recover especially if I don’t get another hit to the head. The art of slow structured life, being realistic about what I can achieve each day, and being 100% respectful of myself when I fall short are all critical to my new normal.
I of course tried to push hard to get back to “normal Graeme”, but 2021 threw a few serious challenges during covid lockdowns. Brain injury and stress/frustration are not an excuse, they can trigger that dark side of the brain – the art is learning how to always manage myself to stay in the light side or ‘green level’ (self-regulated, sense of belonging, trusted, safe & calm). I have a box of tools for living life at a different pace and potentially more fulfilling where work is not the central determinate of success.
What is ‘normal’ or ‘new normal’ that we each search for or cry out for, demand the government to restore. What I know for myself is 2022 is going to be furious with amazing opportunities. My challenge is “achieving Balance” this may feel like fear/anxiety but I’m doing it anyway (Susan Jeffers).
We have limited time each day or week, maybe now is a good time to reflect on how we use our time and ask is it enabling our “why” for 2022. My work related time has changed from 40% per week pre concussion Dec 2020 to 30% currently.
2022 for me is about living in “Balance”
Simple ah.
How are you approaching your Wellbeing during 2022? It’s time to take time out and reflect your “why” in 2022 and beyond. Small and consistent things cumulatively create change.