Hope for Better Days Ahead
MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH UPDATE
Raise your hand if you feel overwhelmed by the pandemic! (Bonus points if you are alone in a room and actually raising your hand.)
Yeah, coronavirus is not only surging around the country, it’s MUTATING, allowing it to more cleverly enter human cells. Crap.
Our spring quarantining period paid off, but reopening has provided a stark reminder of coronavirus’ blatant disregard for human life. It doesn’t care that we are worn out—or that we need a hug, a haircut, or a hearty laugh with friends.
People are ranting at grocery stores when asked to wear a mask, the EU has issued a scalding rebuke of the US’ failed attempt to control the pandemic, and it’s only Wednesday. Blimey.
So just when you’ve heard enough bad news, you’ve got to meet Brigid Schulte. She’s the Director of the Better Life Lab at New America and author of the best-selling book Overwhelmed: Work, Love & Play When No One Has the Time.
Back in 2014 when this book was published, I read it in a day. It spoke to me. (And I spoke back to it—as I do.) It’s about the complexities and stresses of modern existence and basically how to live a more fulfilling life. I thought, “Yes! Exactly! Sing it, sister!”
So after the book’s success, Anne-Marie Slaughter (President of New America and former Director of Policy Planning in the State Department under Hillary Clinton, and author, among other talents) asked Brigid to head the Better Life Lab, the vision of which is to help “people of all genders and racial and ethnic identities thrive, with decent, dignified work and time for care and connection across the arc of their lives.”
This past Friday I was lucky enough to be a guest on the Better Life Lab podcast. The topic? The pandemic, the future of medicine, and telemedicine as an avenue for increased access to healthcare. In short: HOPE. Hope for increased connectivity and care. While not a panacea, telemedicine offers the opportunity to augment health care services and meet people where they are.
I was joined by my friend and amazing OB/GYN, Dr. Amanda Williams, and family caregiving and health information technology researcher, Dr. Minakshi Raj. It was an honor to be part of this cool cast. And it was a lively conversation, and I learned a lot. I hope you have a chance to listen!
Click HERE to check it out.
I hope this update finds you safe, well, and sane-ish. I will check in again soon.