From our Class President – Recap of Zoom meeting on Practicing Conscious Self Care

But before I get to details on that call, I want to remind everyone, as I mentioned in last weeks eblast, that our amazing classmate, Dr. Leslie Sandy Jones, is reprising the presentation she gave to us during the summer, The Biology of Skin Color, for the entire AA community, NOVEMBER 19th at 5:30 EST. If you missed it with us, or if you want to revisit this vital topic, check out:  https://events.mtholyoke.edu/event/the_biology_of_human_skin_color

Regarding our Zoom call on Self Care, there were 25 of us on the call, and I know each of us took away a lot of good ideas on ways to practice this, including these that our classmates shared in the Zoom chat: 

• • My book club has been a lifeline
  • I take a zoom exercise class 6 days/week
  • I love how Tai Chi zoom allows me to bring that energy into my own space.
  • I also do a lot of forest bathing (editor’s note: I asked what this is, its taking time to walk through a forest or park and just take time to “see” everything around you, and be in the moment, rather than measuring your walking/jogging/running pace, planning your food shopping list, talking on the phone, etc. etc.
  • Bicycle riding and hiking are my main ways of exercising and getting outdoors
  • I’m walking 5 miles almost every day
  • I’ve taken up a new sport – rowing. The machines are outside under a canopy so it’s fresh air and socially distanced
  • I take Chinese brush painting classes now by zoom
  • Walking 10k steps, and also taking 2 languages (Portuguese & French) on Duolingo
  • A zoom hootenanny making music makes me happy
  • I now drive 35 min. each way to go to a pool twice a week
  • We’re planning a walking party through the neighborhood to look at holiday lights rather than our usual indoor holiday party
  • I friend is not well, so instead of indoor dining, 4 of us met in the park yesterday & had a lovely picnic
  • I recommend electric bikes!
  • Northern California MHC Club has a Zoom book club -Diverse literature
  • The MHC Alumnae Association has an on-line book club, https://mtholyoke.pbc.guru

And from Deb directly:

Hi Liz –

Love being with our MHC clan! 

Here are the things I mentioned on Tuesday’s call:

Book + article Deb mentioned:

• Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes (40^thanniversary edition) by William Bridges and Susan Bridges
• That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief   Harvard Biz Review article (3-24-20) –  https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief

Deb’s resources:

• My “Self Care for the Holidays”article: https://spiritedliving.com/blog/prepare-for-the-holidays-by-practicing-radical-self-care-now/
• FB Live:Viewing the Pandemic as a Global Rite of Passage  (30 min.)  https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=574363476826096&ref=watch_permalink
• Circle of One: The Art of Becoming a SELF-Centered Woman– e-book by Deb Roth about women, self care, and life transitions    https://spiritedliving.com/spiritual-bookstore-books/
• “Stages of Transition” worksheet (click here to open)
• Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram or via my website(where you can also get 25 tips for self care when you join my mailing list)
• www.SoHarmoniums.com– women’s chorus, virtual concert on 12/19/20
• www.4thUArtivists.com   – benefit Zoom show: “Radical Voices: The Otherness of Feminism”, raising $$ for organizations who work to end violence against women  (if you make a donation and want the link to the recording of the show, let me know)

And if you would like to listen to the Zoom call, here is the link: 

Meeting Recording:

And, as I always say, if you would like to facilitate a Class Zoom meeting, please let me know.  And if you have suggestions on topics for these Zoom meetings, it would be great to hear from you, so send me via this contact form.