I do not believe, “Everything happens for a reason.” There is no reason why one child is born into a horrifically abusive home while another grows up in a nurturing environment. I do not believe, “We all have our stuff.” Everyone struggles with their own personal adversity, but some suffer more than others. The world is not so simple that we have all been given an equal slice of the finite pie of personal hardship. I do believe that there can be positive outcomes from tragic circumstances.
There is nothing that I can write that could do justice to the cloud of darkness that Covid-19 has imposed on our world. The loss of life, mental health tragedies, isolation, strained work environments, exhausted medical staff and having our healthcare system pushed to the edge of collapse is hard to completely conceptualize. In my case, the major change has been the end of meeting in groups in public.
I am a peer support group facilitator for people who have bipolar disorder for an agency called OBAD, The Organization for Bipolar Affective Disorder. I remember when we had to adapt to doing our meetings online, I was doubtful that they would be as effective as being present with others in the same space but they have been a success. Plus, we have gained the capacity to support individuals who live outside of Calgary. Covid-19 forced us to create a service that we will provide in addition to our regular meetings in the future.
I am a member of Toastmasters International, a club that empowers people to improve their public speaking and leadership skills. When Covid-19 forced us to have our meetings online I was concerned they would be less meaningful but it has given us the opportunity to improve our speaking skills in front of a camera. In addition, we have new members who live in the UK, Ecuador, and the US. When it becomes safe to do our meetings in person, we will have hybrid meetings so our new friends who live in other countries can attend virtually.
Covid-19 has stung all of us in different ways and to varying degrees. I do not know what life has been like for exhausted healthcare workers or families who have lost loved ones and have not been able to grieve together, but I imagine the pain is enormous. Despite these challenges this catastrophic global disaster has allowed us to witness the emergence of human resiliency, strength and creative problem solving that we might never have experienced. My hope is that the discovery of these positive traits creates a momentum of change in our society that we will benefit from well into the future.
Hello Allan,
Yes working on line for me had been challenging to say the least . I’m having problems reading body language through a screen but I totally understand how important this support group is for bipolar people and to come together and cope through another week . I will try my best to communicate our hardships and our successes and I’m hoping through peer support that we stick together and make the best of our lives through this Covid crisis .
Thank you Allan for another heart felt blog and I wish you the best in the New Year
Well said Annette. I wish you all the best in the New Year too.
Hi Allan
Your beginning of your blog so so true. I have never believed “Everything Happens for a Reason”. So glad to see this in your blog. I will always prefer in person, face to face but have come to appreciate the positive of on-line most especially for those who can not be there in person whether they are unable to attend in person and the opportunity for those in different parts of the world. Thank you for the uplifting and inspirational blogs Allan. All the best in this New Year.
Thank you Patty and thank you for sharing your thoughts. I hope you have a great New Year too.