For many, the concept of family has expanded beyond bloodlines to include friends, neighbors, colleagues, and others in the greater community. With so many lives around the world experiencing traumatic events due to hurricanes, floods, wildfires and other disasters, now is a good time to remember the wise words of Louise Hay: "We are all family, and the planet is our home."
For those who are experiencing traumatic events, a simple act of kindness, respectful listening and compassion from others can bring hope.
Ask a few trauma-informed individuals. I just spent two days at a conference in Portland called Preparing People for Climate Change in the Pacific Northwest. The workshop was buzzing with mental health professionals, trauma experts, climate, and community activists. The task at hand was to learn how to help our communities heal from persistent toxic stresses caused by climate change.
A visionary network of individuals and organizations - International Transformational Resilience Coalition (ITRC) - are proactively working on building trauma-informed, resilient communities able to cope with climate disruptions.
At the conference I learned about the different types of trauma caused by historical and cultural violence, racism, poverty, or manmade and natural disasters. I learned that adverse experience is a common thread that runs through each of us.
Healing begins with practicing self care, regulating our own emotions, and understanding cultural differences so that we may help others. To build transformational resilience and mobilize communities we'll need to support natural leaders in local communities through collaboration, creative resourcing and changing narratives to rewrite the future.
For those of us who are able, practicing gratitude for life helps us tap into our compassionate selves, cultivate joy and laughter, and ultimately sow the seeds for community wellbeing throughout the world...
To continue reading, please go to Hundredgivers:
https://hundredgivers.org/2017...-planet-is-our-home/
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