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Processing & Being Present

Last night I dreamed I was at a protest with many signs and a large group of people chanting. The energy was tense. When I awoke, I realized that the protest was against ME! It was my mind self-protesting! After chuckling about it with my husband, I decided to take a deeper look at this dream with inquiry, curiosity and wonder. 

If my nervous system was protesting me, what would it say to me? What messages would be written in graffiti-stenciled black marker on the signs, or would they be more creative and in brightly-colored glitter? What would the frenzied mob demand? How would I, as the target of their protests, respond to their free speech, their anger, and their feelings of being ignored, dismissed, discounted and defended against? How might I respond with warmth, care, resonance, acceptance, and most importantly, love? 

I’m reading about interpersonal neurobiology and understanding the long-term impact of trauma on the brain. I’m doing this work to heal from my own experiences with PTSD so that I might be a more resilient leader and stronger advocate, for self and others. As an Executive Director, I’m trying to make sense of, and adapt to, the longer-term effects of nearly 15 months of continuous collective and personal stressors that are affecting our team, community, and world, especially with our efforts to meet increased community needs. 

For many of us, the way that Covid-Times have rolled out, it has left little time for self-care or even basic functional care. Many act as though we haven’t lost anything during these times, or that the pandemic is over, and that there is no personal or collective collateral trauma or damage. I’m hearing this a lot in our culture lately, and it sits with me as unskillful at best, harmful at worst. My feeling is this: when we can connect and feel warmth and resonance to others, process for ourselves what is happening, take action to change or think differently about what we can control, and allow ourselves to be present to what is in the moment, the faster our brains and nervous systems will heal and not repeat these patterns of trauma over and over again. 

We want to hear from you! How are you being present to what is? How do you feel like you’ve become more resilient despite trauma? How has BIG helped? What do you appreciate about BIG during Covid Times, and always? What would it look like if we weren’t able to provide the services we have offered the community over the past year? How has our work affected you personally, or an organization or committee with whom you work? How could we support you with more warmth and connection as a creator, a community advocate, viewer, or as a resident?

Please send any thoughts to our team at info@brooklineinteractive.org, and thank you for your support and encouragement of BIG!
 

With warmth, 

Kathy Bisbee

 


UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS - BROOKLINEINTERACTIVE.ORG RCN/COMCAST CHANNEL 3
Watch: The Grandstanders - Wednesdays @ 6:30 PM
What's happening in the world of New England Sports? The Grandstanders have you covered with stats, predictions and humor.
Watch: Gentle Chair Yoga Presented by Keith Beasley - Fridays at 10:30 AM
Introduce movement into your day with Keith Beasley's pleasant yoga sequences.
Click here to Watch BIG’s CIVIC Coverage Playlist on YouTube or Watch on Comcast 23 / RCN 15 & 613 HD)
Watch: Brookline School Committee Meeting - May 13th, 2021
Watch: Brookline Select Board Meeting - May 11th, 2021
Watch: Select Board Committee on Policing Reforms Meeting - May 12th, 2021
Watch: 2021 Brookline Town Election Results - May 4th, 2021
Click here to Watch BIG’s COMMUNITY Content Playlist on YouTube or Watch Comcast and RCN 3
Watch: Brookline Hub In-Depth - Episode 12 - May 13th, 2021
Featuring Lisa Irvings and Michael Brill, recipients of the 11th Brookline Youth Awards 2021 Suriel Guerrero Parents of the Year Award
Watch: League of Women Voters Friday Conversations - May 7th, 2021
Watch: BAAFN 6th Annual Asian American Essay Contest - May 5th, 2021
Celebrating the five amazing winners of BAAFN's annual Asian American Student Essay Contest  & AAPI Heritage Month 
Watch: Brookline Hub Youth Awards - 11th Annual Awards Show - May 8th, 2021
Harvey Bravman and the Brookline Hub host the annual Youth Awards celebrating young people and adults dedicated to their success


Welcome to ... Jurassic Park!

This year Crowdsourced Boston will be recreating the 1993 Steven Spielberg classic, so get ready to reconnect with your friend who does that really good T-Rex impression.


 
Crowdsourced Boston is a public art project led by Brookline Interactive Group. This idea is shared from the original Crowdsourced created and managed by Northampton Open Media, in which the community collaboratively remakes a famous film.
 
Visit crowdsourcedboston.com to sign up and to learn more
about this fun and creative collaboration!
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