February 16, 2021
Phyllis Fagell
THE WASHINGTON POST – When Nick von Hindenburg, 12, moved from the Netherlands to Washington, DC at the start of seventh grade, the pandemic and online school limited his opportunities to make friends.
But after moving seven times and living on three continents, he had the skills to adapt.
“I’ve never been in this exact situation before, but I’ve had to adjust to different cultures, traditions and ways of teaching,” Nick said.
He understands that life is more like a jungle gym than a ladder, said his mother, Anisha Abraham, a paediatrician at Children’s National Hospital and author of
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Two crossed lines that form an X . It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification. Remote work creates the opportunity to work from someplace new. VW Pics/Getty Images
Amy Morin is a psychotherapist, licensed clinical social worker, mental strength coach, and international bestselling author.
She says taking advantage of remote work can be as simple as staying with friends or as complex as buying a houseboat.
Short-term relocations can offer a refreshing change of scenery and take some of the risk out of a complete lifestyle overhaul.
Working from home during the pandemic has caused more people to dream about becoming a digital nomad or at least it s helped them see that remote work can open the door to living differently.
As a school counsellor, I know that parents of kids who have been struggling during the pandemic feel powerless and worry about long-term emotional fallout. Although caregivers can t always alter children s circumstances or shield them from discomfort, they can offer a more enduring gift: tools to manage adversity. Resilience works like a muscle we can build through effort and repetition, and we want to keep our muscles strong and flexible, so we can think of many ways to solve a problem, says Mary Alvord, co-author of Resilience Builder Program for Children and Adolescents. At the core, resilience is the belief that while you can t control everything in your life, there are many aspects you can control, including your attitude.
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Two crossed lines that form an X . It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification. It s never too late to reevaluate your goals and start fresh. Thomas Barwick
Amy Morin is a psychotherapist, licensed clinical social worker, mental strength coach, and international bestselling author.
If you re struggling to keep up with your New Year s goals, Morin suggests reassessing your choices and being more realistic with what you want to achieve.
Evaluate your commitment and readiness to change, and develop a clear strategy that allows for obstacles and potential setbacks.
It s no secret that most resolutions don t last. All those intentions to get healthier, wealthier, and happy tend to go out the window by the end of January.