This month, we are celebrating Silm Centre for Mental Health’s two year anniversary. This is not at all how we thought things would go since our opening in September 2019. We are grateful to have been here to support our community’s mental health.
The pandemic has taken a toll on so many of us. We have lost so much—people, relationships, plans, jobs, dreams… We may also have lost energy, motivation, patience and compassion. We are also probably done thinking about the pandemic and feeling the effects of the pandemic (I know I am!). And yet, it doesn’t change the reality of it.
September often marks the beginning of change. Whether it’s the start of the new school year, the end of summer, or just a natural time of transition—many of us feel like September is a time for new beginnings. So, while it is still a pandemic out there, maybe it’s a good time to think about what we want this post-pandemic life to look like. And so, I invite you to ask yourself:
What parts of your pre-pandemic life did you like?
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- Spending time with friends?
- Going out where you wanted and when you wanted?
- Hugging people without fear/anxiety?
- Work-life balance?
- Quality time with loved ones?
What parts of your pre-pandemic life didn’t you like?
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- Did you spend time doing things that didn’t bring you satisfaction?
- Work life balance?
- Relationships that were draining?
Whatever it is, we have the opportunity to choose differently. We can set new intentions, make different choices, and even negotiate to do more of what we want and less of what we don’t. While we may feel stuck, there is always choice. The options may not be great, but the choice is always ours to make.
And so, with this new September and new Silm year, let us make new choices—ones that allow us to be the people we want to be and live the lives we want to live.
With gratitude,
Dr. Taslim