There And Back Again

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Volume 9 - Issue 13 - May 2020

Dear <<First Name>>,

Welcome to the May newsletter from BWIS.

Thinking this month about the extraordinary times in which we live.

Best wishes from Steve, Sue, Charlie, Martin, Phil.

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In This Issue
There And Back Again
News and Events
Inspiring Quotes
And Finally...

There And Back Again

So how is lockdown going for you? Over the past weeks we have had to learn how to handle isolation, maybe on our own or maybe with others: both of which have their challenges.

People are rightly aware of the impact of this situation on their wellbeing and health. For some it has been a positive experience, for others a massive challenge, but all of us have been changed in some way by these unique events.

As the focus moved from the more basic needs like food and security, it became clear how vital is the need for human connection, and that it’s the day to day physical contact that most of us miss above all.

There’s been a huge shift to online communication, which can be a good substitute for face-to-face. We’ve learned new skills that we can take forward to the new world. And being online brings its own challenges: many of us have discovered our limited capacity for sitting in front of a screen for long periods.

Now people are beginning to think about the transition - to whatever comes next. Whatever that is, it won’t be the same, it’s not a case of going back to ‘normal’. We will be altered by this experience for better or worse.

The best hope is that we may carry forward positive benefits from what we have learned about ourselves, society, the planet, and the way we live and work (bet you know your neighbours better than you used to). Maybe that will cause some changes in perspective and the way we value people, the jobs they do and the contribution they make.

BWIS has thought hard about how to support people at this time. In moving events online and offering free drop-ins we’ve expanded our vision and reached a much wider audience.
So wherever you are, you are very welcome to join us, particularly at the next Life Lounge (see below), for new knowledge and ideas to improve vital brain health.
(June Life Lounge will be a special reprise of our entertainment evening – co-created, so begin thinking about what you might like to contribute.)

News and Events

NOTE - All BWIS events are continuing ONLINE

LIFE LOUNGE
6.30pm 2^nd Thurs each month. On Thurs 14 May it’s about Improving Mood, Memory, and Cognition. An expert nutritionist helps us understand how to keep our brains in optimum working order. Book your place at The Life Lounge .

Coach Group
This monthly group is open to qualified coaches and those in training. Next is Mon 4^th May. Meet on Zoom for a 7.00 start, finish by 9.30. Book here, or contact Charlie with any questions.

EGym - Emotional Keep Fit
Drop into the EGym at 6.30pm each week, for some 'emotional keep-fit' in a supportive group. Next event Tues 5 May, and every week in May. This is a FREE event, but please register here and we will send you the link. Or contact Sue.

Mindfulness
Drop-in group continues on a weekly basis - a mindfulness practice re-charging session. Next is Weds 6 May. Contact Martin for information.

Couples Coaching
For two people in an intimate relationship who want to work together on resolving issues and improving communication. Sessions available online, more here. Coming soon is an interactive online programme for couples to work through together: ways to come through challenging times stronger and happier. Contact Sue for info.

Our Beltane mindfulness retreat was a covid casualty, but here is our invitation to enjoy it anyway.

Inspiring Quotes

"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

“It is when we are in transition that we are most completely alive.” - William Bridges

“Times of transition are strenuous but I love them. They are an opportunity to purge, rethink priorities, and be intentional about new habits. We can make our new normal any way we want.” - Kristin Armstrong

“Every exit is an entrance somewhere else.” - Tom Stoppard, 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead'

“Maybe living through it isn't the only hard part. Maybe being in the world afterward is also the hard part.” - Casey Plett, 'Little Fish'

“A lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are. Embrace the change, no matter what it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you're in and take advantage of it.” - Nikki Giovanni

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” - Maria Robinson

And Finally ...

The full title of Tolkien’s book is ‘The Hobbit, or There and Back Again’. The Bilbo Baggins who returns home is not the same hobbit who left.

For most of us the last few weeks have seen a fundamental change in our circumstances. Change is rarely comfortable.

Bilbo Baggins encounters trolls, orcs, and giant spiders even before he meets Smaug the dragon. None of these adventures were enjoyable at the time, even though they are the stuff of wonderful stories afterwards.

When we return to ‘normality’, I wonder what we will bring back with us: how we will have changed. I know my priorities have changed. I see a lot of things differently now. I hope we have all been changed for the better.

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