I was recently asked by the editors of Lohoree to share an article, originally published in DoctorsNS, a magazine for Nova Scotia physicians. After some thought, I felt it would be helpful to have the article shared in this venue as well because of the many common stressors that overlap in our lives. Stressors such as the challenges of an immigrant establishing themselves in a new country, the challenges of individuals carving time out for ourselves and our families while trying to juggle a busy career, challenges of working in an environment that can often be punitive and detrimental, and the challenges of forgetting to engage in self-compassion and self-empathy have unfortunately become universal. One thing about being human is that we are human – imperfect. And that is perfectly fine. With the New Year, I would encourage all of us to take some time to focus on ourselves – our physical health, mental health, social health, and spiritual health. I would also encourage us all to not hesitate, feel afraid or ashamed to reach out to someone – whether it is family, a friend, a colleague, or a health professional – if we need to. Thank you for all that you do.
