Words of Wisdom from our New Board
Our EDRS team has had some recent additions and updates!
Our Board Members are amazing practitioners and healers in the field.
Below are words of wisdom and offerings of support from our team during this pandemic…
EDRS Board Members
Lindsey Wert
LMFT President
Historically, pandemics have force human beings to break with the past and imagine their world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway, a bridge from one world to the next. We can choose to walk through it, dragging the carcasses of our prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our data banks and dead ideas, out dead rivers and smoky skies behind us. Or we can walk through lightly, with little luggage, ready to imagine another world. And ready to fight for it.
Dr. Elissa Woodruff
Past President
“Life is hard. Right now it’s more challenging than I’ve experienced in my generation. It is true that all of my predecessors have experienced FAR tougher – The Great Depression, world wars, slavery, genocide, things more horrific than I can wrap my small mind around. But comparative suffering doesn’t serve us. Things are difficult, right now. Our nervous systems are on mega-overdrive. And the future is completely unpredictable.
I am sending all of you all of my love and compassion, this pain is universal, regardless of anything superficial that divides us – we are in this together. Please hold onto love and hold onto what you know is ETHICAL & right. Our ancestors are holding us up right now and trying to remind us that they have survived worse. Let’s make them proud. We can get through this and we absolutely will. It won’t be easy but we will transform and evolve, I know it. But LOVE must be our guiding principle. Love. Period.“
And a poem shared from Mary Oliver:
I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers flow in the right direction, will the earth turn as it was taught, and if not, how shall I correct it?
Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven, can I do better?
Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows can do it and I am, well, hopeless.
Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it, am I going to get rheumatism, lockjaw, dementia?
Finally I saw that worrying had come to nothing,
And gave it up, And took my old body and went out into the morning and sang.
Supportive Quotes:
“Before you rush back to normal life, pause to think what parts of life are worth rushing back to”
“It’s OK to not do it all”
Dr. Marcella Raimondo
Past President
I read these incredible words from Be Nourished to manage this pandemic, “You do not need to earn rest”.
It conveys the same sentiment we give our clients for recovery – “you do not need to earn your food”.
This pandemic has turned everything upside down. And with all this uncertainty comes stress and then exhaustion. This is a time for rest. We may be getting messages about doing all kinds of activities and learning new things we have never done before. It is always enriching to explore our selves through new activities.
Yet there is a difference between enriching ourselves and feeling a pressure to be productive. Be curious about yourselves and rest. Give yourselves these things.
Dr. Theresa Carpinito Kira
Treasurer
My advice during COVID-19 is to take time to get outside and connect with nature, even if it is just admiring the flowers on your street that you’ve seen a million times before.
It can also be helpful to connect with loved ones, do things that make you laugh and smile, practice gratitude, and be kind to yourself. This is a challenging time for both our psyches and our nervous systems and they could use a little extra love and kindness right now.
Michelle E Minero
MFT Co-founder, Past President of EDRS
This is a time to be gentle with ourselves. We are all experiencing more fear, anxiety and helplessness than usual these days.
Take time to develop your inner observer. By being aware of your thoughts, you can consciously choose to focus on the things that bring you joy, calm and love.
When you are aware of uncomfortable feelings:
#1: Name them.
#2: Accept them and invite them to sit next to you. Let them know you are listening. Tell yourself that feelings come and go.
#3 Give yourself a hug, and talk to yourself like a loving mother. Tell yourself, “It’s going to be OK” “This will not last forever.” “I love you.” or any other loving statements.
Corinne Dobbas, MS, RD
Secretary
Right now, collectively, as a group of humans, we are going through something very hard and for almost everyone, something that we’ve never experienced before. There is no “right way” to feel. Instead, there is just how we’re feeling in the present moment.
It’s important to remember that you can still hold space for these challenging feelings AND still choose actions that are aligned with what’s important to you and your recovery, whether that’s resting, eating, showing yourself compassion, getting outside to go for a walk, or calling a friend when you need support.
Hold onto your values and know that simple things can make this time a little more manageable – structured eating, resting, fresh air, self-compassion, or whatever is calling you. You know YOU best. Be gentle and kind to your body and yourself.