Hello OOMPH students,
I hope you have (or had) a happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and that you can take some time to learn more about the tribes in your communities, such as their land, history and cultures.
You are now in the middle of the semester, and I’m sure that many of you are facing some daunting challenges and juggling important obligations. On top of that, the news! Wars and climate change-related disasters are at the top of my mind right now. I personally am trying to be more proactive in acknowledging my stress, trying to understand what’s going on, owning it (i.e. connecting to my personal values linked to the stress) and using it as much as possible through linking it to my goals and with the things that matter most. There’s some science behind this too. If you are experiencing stress, I also recommend getting outside as well as spending time with your friends and families; social support is pretty essential in our ability to cope with stress.
Last week in an OOMPH meeting, we started off the meeting with an icebreaker, “name a public health intervention that you are most thankful for”. Listening to my colleagues rattling off several pretty incredible movements and interventions left me feeling grateful for the career that I’m in, and thankful for my awesome colleagues. This month, I hope you can tap into knowledge and ideas, relationships and activities that inspire you and keep you moving forward towards the goals you’re aiming for.
Gratefully, Jay
Faculty Director, BPH Online
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