Replenishing Ourselves

Dear Exchange Community,

After every chapter in Holly Elissa Bruno’s popular new book on coping with and learning from trauma, she includes “Individual Reflection Questions” to help the reader explore some of the book’s themes. Here’s one example:

“Where was your ‘safe place’ as a child, that one place where you felt totally at home, protected, free from danger of any sort? As an adult, have you found ways to replicate that place?”

I thought about that question just after I’d read about research from Ann Masten, a psychologist and professor of child development at the University of Minnesota. Masten explains that we humans have “surge capacity,” a collection of adaptive systems, mental and physical, to help us cope with trauma. However, since most trauma is fairly short-lived, and our whole world has now been dealing with a pandemic for more than five months, it is highly likely that our surge capacity is getting depleted. Finding ways to rejuvenate ourselves is vital.

Holly Elissa’s question reminded me that as a child, when I needed to comfort myself, I would often bring a book to read as I sat against a large cherry tree in my small backyard. I’m thinking I might need to find a book and a tree for my adult self this week. It’s certainly worth a try.

What will you be doing this week to renew yourself? Your work to support children and families is vital AND so is your work to support yourself. You have our full encouragement to make that a priority!

With respect and admiration,
Nancy Rosenow, Exchange Publisher, on behalf of our entire Exchange Team

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