Self Care: One 'Step' at a Time

When the CVD-19 pandemic hit us in 2020 it was the quietest viral tsunami to hit human kind in the modern era. With it came an extraordinary number of conditions that have tested our personal and collective mettle.

When we were all sent home in the financial services sector we did a few high fives and said "see you in a month'. Little did we know it would be years until things got back to something that passes as 'normal'. I still see people on transit and in stores wearing masks and I don't even blink. Such is the post CVD-19 affect of normalization of extraordinary measures almost all of us took.

As the pandemic settled in and our isolation continued I saw, as a leader in our AML team, that people were having difficulty. This was observed by many so we ramped up our emotional and physical well being programming for staff and took the time to check in on people. But the last thing we need is to hash through that challenging time again. CVD is slowly receding and other equally nasty diseases and bugs are upon us...

A few years ago I decided to start posting on a regular basis my efforts to maintain emotional and physical wellbeing. I would run through different areas of my community and take a quick snap shot to show people the visual. In these posts I reinforced with my network the need to put themselves as a priority. By carving out time in super crazy schedules, we are investing in us. Keeping a hectic pace at work and home is not sustainable if we are not refueling and exercising our physical and emotional selves. Additionally we have to be aware that personal struggle is universal.

Moving forward, and on a regular basis, I started to post my workouts, with sound messaging about dieting and quiet time, and how we all needed reminders. The feedback was good and it also got my network talking about it. And the more people 'liked' it on LI the larger the audience would be. The posts got 'liked' more and more and the sub analytics showed me that lots of people were reading it. Which to me was most important.

As a former 'peer counsellor' while in law enforcement I really learned the value of taking time to see if people were ok. Some people won't ask for help for a variety of reasons nor will they overtly surf to get information if they are feeling blue, lonely or not caring properly for themselves. But if they saw information, like my health lifestyle posts, they would read them.

To me its about the numbers. As caring friends, colleagues and leaders we cant be everywhere all the time. That simple call, IM note or desk visit does absolute wonders for people. And it begs mentioning that visiting your Boss and asking how they are is equally important and valuable. Its that impromptu reach out that could be the critical one.

Over time I started to receive DMs in LI from my network. The messages were heartfelt and thanked me for the reminder that we have to take care of ourselves. But there were deeper messages. Ones where my contacts were struggling, fighting to stay afloat, feeling blue and other issues brought on, in part, by the pandemic. Within those DMs were people in every strata, all genders, many lifestyles and all with one thing in common...they were hurting.

In an effort to educate and inform my AML community on these issues I was able to team up with Dr. Dr. Katy Kamkar Ph.D. C.Psych , a well known and deeply respected clinical psychologist, and write an article in ACAMS Today entitled "Surviving and Thriving in Uncertain Times". The feedback was good and I was deeply indebted to the team at ACAMS Today, Karla Monterrosa-Yancey, MBA, CAMS in particular, for publishing the piece and putting it in front of paywalls for all to see.

I never stopped posting my workouts and even have fellow colleagues posting about their efforts. My dear friend Dwayne king , one of the finest AML minds in Canada and an equally compelling orator, took to LI and speaks of self care with passion and humour. You should see the guns on this guy. WOW!!!

I wanted to thank everyone for liking these posts but also for spreading the word. This age is not an elegant one. Its too fast and overwhelming. Mental and physical health are our first two casualties. Our greatest weapon to help is our humanity, our sense of community and our duty to each other.

As Christmas and News Year approach please check yourself and those around you. A call, text, IM, an actual mailed letter, anything...to see if someone is doing ok. These small gestures are life changing. I found that out with my posts.

Every community has mental health support numbers and services. To my law enforcement brothers and sisters Boots on the Ground (1-833-677-2668) is for you.

Please never forget you in the mix of life. The Holiday Season is stressful and fun all at once. Take time for you, the physical and the emotional. You are worth it...