by Clinton Mayo, OAC intern
When I began my social work internship at the OAC in August of 2020, I was enthusiastic about helping other people yet apprehensive because of the challenges of COVID-19. Talk of 2020 and the effects of COVID-19 are everywhere right now, and the over-saturation can be nauseating. Most people want to find some sense of normalcy in a changing world. As a senior at Georgia
State University, I wonder how effective my training during a pandemic will be in teaching me how to best serve others. However, at the OAC, I feel as though I’m in the right place and feel appreciated by the OAC staff and the people we serve. I try to keep this in mind as I go through my day. The hardship experienced by our guests can be daunting. I sometimes wonder if I can properly meet their needs while adapting to the chaos of our world. It’s easy to get flustered, but thankfully, I have a choice about how to respond to all of this chaos. The intentional choice to focus on the positive possibilities can be a helpful motivator, for me and for us all. No one can deny the existence of yesterday, but we can choose how we proceed. A small amount of resiliency can come naturally for most people, and life finds a way even in the most adverse conditions.
Each morning before I enter the OAC, I take a moment for mindfulness. Mindfulness means becoming self-aware of our body, thoughts, situation, and environment – staying present in the current moment. Mindfulness improves resiliency by enabling us to live for every moment and becoming less overwhelmed by past circumstances and future stresses, from the mundane repetition of getting out of bed to the complexity of deciding on what to make for quick weeknight dinners. Take a moment for yourself just to be _____. You fill in the blank with whatever you find yourself needing. A mindful moment doesn’t need to take long or be life-changing. It serves to provide a connection to who you are, giving you a clear head, calm mind, and relaxed body. Take some time to research different methods of mindfulness this week and figure out how to incorporate it into your schedule. We all need a little more mindfulness right now, and with the tranquility it yields, we can all work toward making the world a better place.