Retiring Retirement

Retiring Retirement Hope for uncertain times

This article is the final one in a three-part series.

Local psychologist Dr. Brian Fast of CCAHope in Delmar cautions that the pandemic’s profound lessons need not be lost in a whirlwind of re-entry busy-ness.

Fast concludes that it would be easy-but-dangerous to give into the temptation to squander things like getting enough sleep, connecting with family and friends in a deeper way, breathing easier and taking time for reflective leisure.

“We can learn from a slower pace,” he said.

The psychologist postulates that the pandemic prodded people into thinking about hope, which could trigger some poignant issues about meaning and purpose and the greater things in life.

“My hope has never been about not getting COVID or living a long life or having great finances,” he offered. “I want those things, but that’s not where I put my hope. My hope is that in every circumstance I go through during the pandemic, I’ll respond in a way that honors and reveals what my God is like. My hope is that I’ll be a better man this week, this month and this year.

“If we place our hope in something we have no control over, we’re going to feel more

anxiety, increase our cortisol built your life upon?” Fast asks. levels and have a sense of panic. It’s bad for our bodies, and it’s bad for how we interact The pandemic unveiled the answer to that question. with others because our fear “All the things that you breeds fear in others, and thought were meaningful on we’re either going to your deathbed are possible every by push people away because they’re day living in this pandemic if we’ll reach out and take those Robert anxious about being around us risks and connect with people to smile with your voice or on LaCosta or we’re going to create fear in them,” Fast said. Zoom or offer a word of encouragement or say, ‘I’m scared and I need to talk or pray.’… Those He then explained how true hope extends to our deathbed reflections. things turn out to be the most meaningful. We don’t have to wait to see if we survive COVID.” “If you could have a videotape of your life that could be rewound or fast-forwarded and you found yourself on a Hope may then be the emotional vaccine for the symptoms of uncertain times. deathbed and you were able to The author’s books, devoreminisce … what would be the tional blogs and music is available most important things that you on robertlacosta.com.

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