Becoming Stronger Through Self-Discovery

The Covid-19 pandemic brought about numerous changes to everyone’s life. For many there were changes in our daily routines, loss of loved ones, changes in relationships, and other personal changes. My experience made me focus more on my physical, mental, and emotional well -being. Was I protecting myself physically so I wouldn’t get sick? Was I being too much of a hermit and making myself depressed? Was I being triggered by others not taking safety as serious as I was? With so much free time to reflect on my triggers (positive and negative) to daily situations along with other changes in my life, I was lead to discover Shadow Work which helped me become more balanced and satisfied in my home and work life. I eventually become a certified Shadow Work coach so I could help guide others through the process and improve their lives too.

Shadow Work is the practice of self-improvement through understanding the parts of ourselves that we repress. The “shadow self” consists of ideas, instincts, impulses, weaknesses, desires, and embarrassing fears that we do not want to admit to ourselves or others. Shadow Work allows us to understand where our behaviors and thoughts come from and what changes can be made to create a healthier and happier home and work life. Once you see a behavior pattern you can’t un-see it! This is where change occurs.

To do Shadow Work you must be willing to reflect on a situation when feeling triggered. Below are some questions to ask yourself to help guide you on this journey of self-discovery.

1. What occurred to make you feel triggered? Explain.

2. What feelings were you feeling when triggered? Dig deep!

3. Have you been triggered by this before with this person or others? Do you see a pattern?

4. How could you have reacted in this situation to have had a more calming or positive outcome?

Jolie Latham Office of Technology VA

Dept. of Tax

Alt text: a cartoon of a hooded skeleton, text on picture reads when you finally learn to accept your shadow self. I am perfect, whole and complete, just as I am.

YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW

As I look in the rearview mirror, what am I leaving behind

As I think about yesterday, what will find

Will I find forty years of memories, as I think about the past

Will I sit in wonder, how time moves so fast

What is it about yesterday, makes us look back and say

If I could do it over, it would be another way

Being happy as a child, playing so care free

Daydreaming about the future, wondering what will it be

Today is here and now, my things have changed

Sex in church, legalizing marijuana, this is strange

Guns in schools, children not living to see another day

There is no honor in killing, please just walk away

Have girls forgotten how to be ladies, boys know not how to be men

Do they care not to learn, are they drowning in sin

As each day passes, are they consumed with grief and strife

How can we teach them, there is so much more to life

As we look to the future, keep your friends and love ones near

Today is the time to say “I love you”, tomorrow they may not be here

Tomorrow will come, with the rising sun

Be a blessing, to a child, be kind to someone

To the world, you may be one person, in the

Eyes Of All

To one person, you may be the world, if you help them stand stall

Follow your dreams, and never let go

Chase them to the ends of the earth, you’ll never know

Your dreams can be achieved, it’s never too late

Start now, keep pushing forward, you too can be great

The future is yours, it rest in your hands

Winners make things happen, please take a stand

Just believe in yourself, and all that is true

Have faith in yourself, as I have faith in you

What you want out of life, you can achieve

It won’t be easy, it can be done, just believe

Follow your heart, for it will show you the way

Dark clouds will disappear, bringing a brighter day

Haters will come, for no reason at all

As they just want to see you, stumble and fall

So hold your head high, as you do your best

As you shall stand tall and proud, above the rest.

REMEMBER YESTERDAY, CHERISH TODAY, PLAN FOR TOMORROW!

©Earl Taylor Support Technician Dental Health Unit

Virginia Dept. Of

Health

The Place I Work

The place I work is like visiting Family everyday

We greet each other with smiles and laughter

Yes we get the job done while we play

We treat each other with dignity and respect

The clients we work with we give them our all

We serve them with a smile at their beck and call

We cook, we bring doughnuts from Krispy Kreme

We eat pizza and this is every Corrections personnel Dream

We cover for each other while we take needed breaks

Everyone stays alert and focuses on their job

We take care of each other whether there is twenty or a mob.

At Harrisonburg Community Correction Alternative Program

We work together as a team

I can actually say as an employee we are living the dream.

Stop by and visit and see what we do

Then you will know everything I have said is true.

Jennie S. Amison

Workforce

Development Specialist

Changing Times

Change is the only constant thing

So it seems each day will bring

Something new, some challenge bright

To fill my time or cause sleepless nights

But when I’m stressed I take some time

To be with nature, in outdoors sublime

Leaves turn colors, fall, then in spring regrow

Weather freezes, or boils, or hurricanes blow

Yet how much more boring would our lives be

If nothing ever changed, even you or me?

We stay in touch, by zoom or by phone

We may work apart, but we are not alone

K. Lara Templin Gallery Experience Supervisor | Public

History

Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. Education Administrator

BUILD…

B is for being behind one another

U is for understanding first the situation

I is for involving yourself for a situation

L is for lending a hand in the situation

D is for determine to reach a solution together©

Necil B. Oliver, MTh

Published Author

OSA, Mental Health, VCCW

Alt Text: CVC Logo. Text on picture reads celebrating 25 years of giving and volunteerism!

The CVC thanks all the employees & Coordinators who supported and contributed to the 2022 campaign! CVC raised $1,879,782.79 in monetary donations and $141,356.75 in Direct Giving. Employee participation is at 4%. The Education Secretariat comes in 1st place with almost $1.2 million raised. Second, is the Independent Agencies Secretariat with over $200,000.00 raised and the Transportation Secretariat wraps up the top 3 with $154,000.00 raised! The campaign ended with total gifts being higher than the previous year with less reported in direct giving. The Direct giving portal remains open through the end of February each campaign year, and there are still donations being mailed to the lockbox so the final number will increase slightly between now and April. Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign

Each year, employees from across the Commonwealth nominate their colleagues for the CommonHealth Wellness Champion Award. These champions inspire others to live healthier lives through their support of wellness in the workplace. Nominations reflect outstanding examples of healthy behaviors that result in a stronger workforce in Virginia.

Congratulations to these encouraging coworkers representing the JamestownYorktown Foundation, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and the Virginia Department of Corrections.

Thank you for this incredible honor of being selected as a 2022 CommonHealth Wellness Champion; but honestly, at JamestownYorktown Foundation it is a team effort. The JYF Wellness program wouldn’t happen without the entire HR team (Chas, Coy, Katie, Lee Ann, Nancy, Rob, Raeven) pitching in. Being a CommonHealth Wellness Champion at JYF means we’re given opportunities to offer individual and group wellness activities open to all employees. These include sharing 5-minute stress relievers that employees can do in their individual work areas or offering incentives from our “wellness store” for completing 150 minutes of physical activity each week or participating in group walks or attending CommonHealth training programs or . . . . we are always looking for new fun ways to expand the list of events. In the upcoming year, we hope to offer weekly group get-togethers of different types of exercise including yoga, cardio drumming, Zumba, etc. – but more to come on that later. On behalf of everyone at JYF, thanks again for this recognition!

Words from our CommonHealth Wellness Champions

My personal wellness hasn’t always been something of great importance to me. It wasn’t until about 3 years ago, when I joined a local gym that my mindset really began to change. Before joining a gym, my energy levels were at an all-time low.

I was always tired, I fed my body anything it craved and I lacked motivation and drive. Now, my goal each day is to be 1% better than the day before in regards to the food I put into my body, my performance in the gym, and my mental health. I can honestly say at 33, I am the healthiest I have ever been. All of this has transferred over into my workplace as well. I want my coworkers to find just as much joy in their wellness journey as I do. I want them to know that it is never too late to take care of your body and that age and current physical abilities are not limiting factors. Everyone can do 1% better every day!

Each morning and afternoon we walk the district complex to get our daily steps in and you will commonly hear conversations about meal planning and smart food choices as well as gym workouts. Wellness isn’t, however, just about food and working out. It is about your mental health as well. I find it really important to take any chance we get to boost our team's morale whether that’s through birthday treats or just being a trusted listening ear and friend.

I am honored to be seen by my peers as a Wellness Champion. I hope that my passion to better my life spurs others on to do the same; to try something they thought they couldn’t do!

Kaitlyn Belcher Vdot Salem

I have been a CommonHealth Coordinator for twenty-two years. I am constantly trying to find a way to coordinate activities to go along with CommonHealth programs. I am a Healing Environment Ambassador for Appalachian CCAP. I was chosen to this committee because I go with a smile on my face, have a creative mind, for my craftiness, good attitude and always willing to help others in need.

I am a people person and am on various committees, groups, and church activities. I am on the Honaker Christmas Parade committee where I am a banner carrier in front of the parade dressed as an Elf. I love to see people laugh and comment on my costume, but most of all I love the children’s smiles and coming to give me hugs and to take pictures with me. I am a very outgoing person. I live on a farm which requires a lot of time and I get lots of exercise. Between all the things I do in a day’s time it keeps me fit and glad that I can brighten someone’s day.

Shelby Compton