With Hanukkah now behind us and Christmas just ahead of us, I wanted to take a brief moment to wish everyone a very happy holiday season. 2020 has been a year like no other. Due to Covid-19, our worlds were turned upside down overnight. From a world where we gathered, connected, gained strength and comfort from each other, many of us were suddenly separated, alone and physically isolated. We spent a good part of our year learning to recreate our professions, resocialize a
nd seek out some sense of community through a computer screen. The pandemic has caused our world heartbreaking losses; loss of those we love dearly, loss of jobs and income, loss of opportunities, loss of traditions, loss of social connections, loss of many of our physical and emotional outlets and most of all a loss of normalcy. Throughout this year, we have experienced this collective grief and observed political and racial turmoil.
And yet, despite this pandemic, we have seen communities come together to support each other. We have seen healthcare workers face this pandemic with a selflessness hard to describe. We have seen teachers redevelop their entire profession in order to help a child through a screen. We have seen communities come together to support local businesses and restaurants. We have seen people, despite the pandemic, organize themselves to bring about social, racial and political activism. We have seen real love and compassion for one another. We have seen unprecedented resiliency.
2020 was a year of great loss AND a year full of tremendous resilience.
So as this holiday season comes to a close, and we look forward to a new year filled with new hope, I have a challenge for all of those who are taking the time to read this. As you reflect back on the losses of this year (and there were many), can you also take the time to see the gifts we have been presented with?
For me, quarantining had its challenges and was also a true blessing. Getting back regular family meals together, playing ping pong on the dining room table and teaching my daughter to drive (on empty roads) are things I wouldn't trade for anything. As a mental health provider, I suddenly felt a new purpose and responsibility to serve families and individuals during this time when so many people are experiencing loss, stress, anxiety and depression due to this pandemic.
At Gooding Wellness, our clinical team has grown and so has our responsibility to provide quality mental health support to our Long Island Community. Because of this pandemic, we have found new ways to support individuals in our community through teletherapy and we have been fortunate enough to continue to connect with some amazing mental health professionals who are dedicated to making a real difference during this challenging time. I could not be prouder of our team here at the Gooding Wellness Group.
So while “focusing on the good” may be challenging this year, I hope you will all find some joy, peace, serenity and love during this holiday season. We certainly need it and need to take the time to acknowledge it in our everyday lives. From all of us at Gooding Wellness and Long Island teletherapy to all of you “out there”, we wish you love and strength this holiday season.
Be good to yourselves and each other.
Live in Love,
Gordon Gooding, LCSW
Executive Director
Gooding Wellness LCSW PC
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