SA
Travel lighter and laugh a bit
Initially, social worker Arlene Bernstein was to share the podium on November 19 with psychologist Leonard Carr at the Chevrah Kadisha’s last monthly Enrich Your Life event of 2014. But the best laid plans of mice and men were overturned at the last minute when Carr was summoned to give expert testimony in a court case outside the city.
TZIVIA GRAUMAN
PHOTOGRAPH BY TZIVIA GRAUMAN
Pictured Jessica Nurock and Lara Noik, Chev social workers; Arlene Bernstein; and Rabbi Yossy Goldman.
Aligned with the content of her talk, Bernstein, the director of LifeLine for 18 years and now a marriage preparation supervisor and private clinician, carried the evening off with composure. She described the numerous challenges that make modern-day life so difficult. Many in the 100-plus audience at Sydenham Shul hall could but nod in recognition!
That part wasn’t so much fun, but but then she got to how we can make this a wonderful world after all. Every life, she said, needed three core components to facilitate the building of self-esteem and resilience namely a sense of belonging; feeling connected to others; and meaning and purpose to strive towards.
As the terminology implies, building self-esteem is not quickly or easily done. It requires time and patience to build, as well as a conscious, present and mindful approach that hinges on our taking ownership and responsibility for our lives and destinies.
Bernstein suggested that “we own every interaction we have”, stop harbouring negative self-talk, be less defensive and more open to feedback, and, perhaps most importantly, “travel lighter, and laugh a bit!”