Today we offer some inspiring words of wisdom!
Madison’s American Family DreamBank has been a staple of the community for several years, offering workshops on thought-provoking, self-improvement, and entertaining topics. From fitness classes to journaling and even activities for the kids, the downtown location provides a plethora of ways people of all ages can get in on the fun! The workshops are led by local experts in a variety of fields. There are over 50 programs a month, and all are free to the public.
The DreamBank had to temporarily close for safety during COVID-19, but they have done a wonderful job keeping up their workshops online! If you have a Facebook account, you can search for “DreamBank Madison” or follow this link for videos and interesting ideas. (Even if you aren’t on Facebook, you should still be able to view the page.) You can also see a playlist of their YouTube videos here.
Recently, SAIL member and frequent SAIL program leader Mary Helen Conroy gave a video presentation. Its perfect title was “Loneliness is Not an Option!”
Mary Helen actually confirmed her presentation back in September, planning one of her inspirational talks that she does all over the city. “I’d been thinking about this whole loneliness thing,” she says. “It’s driving me crazy that one out of five of us are lonely.” In fact, Mary Helen adds, loneliness is an epidemic in and of itself. DreamBank agreed to have her give her presentation on March 19. Mary Helen laughs because this was the third time she was scheduled to talk at the DreamBank and it ended up getting canceled. “They canceled me for a blizzard, a flood, and now a pandemic!” she says. “What next?”
A few days after DreamBank temporarily closed, the program leader called Mary Helen and said, “We’ve decided that just because our doors are closed that doesn’t mean we can’t do something.” So they offered Mary Helen a chance to do the program on video, and she eagerly accepted, struck by just how much more prevalent the topic of loneliness has become in the last few weeks.
Mary Helen says we have to move out of the mental state of “I’m alone.” This is easier said than done, of course. In her talk, Mary Helen gives ten tips of ways to remind yourself that you matter.
“Service is the bullet for loneliness,” she says. Each day, Mary Helen walks into her bathroom and sees the plaque her son, Michael, gave her. It says “How can I be of service?” Mary Helen’s recent years have been built around this message, and she believes that the world needs that reminder now more than ever.
She adds a tidbit that reminds us how much words change the way we think about concepts. “We shouldn’t have called it ‘social distancing’,” she asserts. “It’s really ‘physical distancing’. If we change the word, we can change the mindset.”
You can watch Mary Helen’s presentation here.
Don’t have a Facebook account? Follow these steps to see Mary Helen’s video and the others listed below:
- Click this link.
- Scroll partially down the page to “videos.” Mary Helen’s video should show up there, but if it doesn’t, click “See all.” A popup may appear asking you to join Facebook. You can click “not now” or ignore it.
- Click the right arrow on the videos screen several times to find Mary Helen’s presentation from the week of April 6. You will also see lots of other fun videos to watch at home!
If you need help finding the video, please call the SAIL office at 608-230-4321 or e-mail info@sailtoday.org.
SAIL is proud to count Mary Helen Conroy among our active and inspiring members! Thank you, Mary Helen, for reminding us that we all matter.
Combatting loneliness can always be a challenge. SAIL is here to help! Call us at 608-230-4321 if you need some assistance or just need to hear a friendly voice. You can also join SAIL’s Friendly Phone Caller List to socialize with other SAIL members by phone. Call us to get started!
Check out this earlier blog post on staying active and engaged at home.
Have a great story or some good thoughts for the blog? Now is a great time to connect with us! Call 608-230-4321 or e-mail info@sailtoday.org.
Independence Through Connections. 