Thank you

Written by Trace Haythorn, CEO/Executive Director

Filed under: News

62013_658847Last week, my wife, daughter, and I took our now COVID-inspired Saturday bike ride to visit friends who also have adult children with developmental disabilities. Though this is not the time of year for a bike ride in Georgia – 90+ degrees with humidity to match – this routine has become an important part of our week. At one stop, the mother said she had an awful epiphany during the week. Up until then, she had been thinking about all the things that would return to normal when we were past the double pandemic. She suddenly realized that the COVID pandemic may have more in common with the racism pandemic, i.e. that there may be ebb and flow but that it may not end. She said it felt a little like her spirit was breaking.

My daughter is pretty passionate about staying positive. She announced, “We just have to remember what we’re grateful for! What is something you are grateful for?” She has no idea that her commitment to gratitude actually has significant support from research. A couple of years ago, psychology professors Joel Wong and Joshua Brown shared four findings from their research that drive this point home: 

  1. Gratitude unshackles us from toxic emotions.
  2. Gratitude helps even if you dont share it.
  3. Gratitude's benefits take time.
  4. Gratitude has lasting effects on the brain.

(Source: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_changes_you_and_your_brain)

So, I’d like to practice a little gratitude. I am so deeply grateful for all of the members, staff and friends who helped us take what for decades has been a face-to-face conference experience and adapt as much as we could to online platforms. I am grateful that the staff did this while also navigating the unique challenges and opportunities of working from home. I am grateful that we’re not done yet – that Dr. Adrienne Boissy of the Cleveland Clinic has agreed to offer her keynote address to the members of all of the strategic partners as a gift to us. (See this newsletter for more information about registration.) So much feels on hold, but we keep working to make learning, growth, and education available to the members of ACPE.

I am grateful for the incredible work the ACPE team has done over the last year designing, developing, building, and deploying the new database and website. I’m grateful for ACPE Certified Educator Stuart Harrell and all that he has done to help us build the SharePoint resources with members in mind. I’m grateful for ACPE Certified Educators Jeremy Gilmore and Danielle Buhuro and their committees that are actively rolling out the “8:46” series and designing next year’s annual conference. I’m grateful to ACPE Psychotherapist Russell Siler Jones for his leadership on the Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy curriculum, and the Psychotherapy Commission’s work in helping make this a reality. I’m grateful for our strategic partners and our ongoing conversations about how we can work together in ways that will better serve our members while advancing professional spiritual care. And I’m grateful to the board of ACPE and the Foundation for their faithful stewardship of our organization and its resources.

Thanksgiving is not the only season for gratitude. In fact, we are made better by practicing gratitude throughout the year, perhaps daily, perhaps hourly. I am committed to offering a simple word of gratitude for you, for this good work, and for the potential of all that lies ahead of us.

 

 

Trace Haythorn is the CEO/Executive Director of ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education. Trace can be reached at trace.haythorn@acpe.edu.