Several residents who complained that they were still without water were forced to bathe and wash their clothes in a river near Norris, St. Thomas, yesterday. - IAN ALLEN/Staff Photographer
HURRICANE IVAN, which hit the island on the weekend, was menacing, terrifying and moved with torturous slowness. It sounded like hundreds of chariots galloping through with a pack of howling dogs. He ripped, he tore, he ravished, he killed. Strange that he came to our island in September, which was earlier proclaimed 'Wellness Month'. This month was initiated two years ago by Dr. Henry Lowe of the Eden Gardens Lifestyle and Wellness Centre in Kingston.
Jamaica is now recovering from this hurricane, and in a sense, it is heartening that we have moved into gear quickly. Condolences are extended to those who suffered loss and we say: "The sun will come out tomorrow and the trees will spring anew."
COMMENDATION
We commend Cable and Wireless for being like a sentinel of the 'yard'. You stood like a soldier along with our radio stations and gave to many coverage, hope, support and company. We salute the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, the security forces, and the sung and unsung heroes who calmly supported the nation.
Human resource development specialists focus on the areas of psychological and social wellness. In my experience and talking with many, Hurricane Ivan brought home forcefully the fact that hurricanes are very stressful and tiring events. One of the strong success factors of living through a hurricane is the level of preparedness. It appears that we were more prepared for Ivan, having had the Gilbert experience. This may be saying to us that as a nation we are becoming more environmentally well. As a nation in a state of recovery, let us focus on wellness as a positive affirmation to move us psychologically and socially into a place of calm. It is in stillness that we are able to perform those acts which are transforming.
DIMENSIONS OF WELLNESS
Wellness is an expanded idea of health and means more than absence from disease.
True wellness is determined by the decisions you make about how to live your life with vitality and meaning. There are six known interactive dimensions of wellness that continually influence one another.
Physical wellness requires eating well, exercising, avoiding harmful habits, making responsible decisions about sex, learning about and recognising disease, getting regular medical and dental check-ups, and taking steps to prevent injuries at home, on the road and on the job.
Emotional wellness includes optimism, self-esteem, self-acceptance, self-confidence, self-control, satisfying relation-ships and the ability to share feelings.
Intellectual wellness requires an active mind, an openness to new ideas, a capacity to question and think critically, and the motivation to master new skills as well as maintaining a sense of humour, creativity, and curiosity.
Spiritual wellness involves a set of guiding beliefs, principles, or values that give meaning and purpose to your life.
Interpersonal and social wellness recognises that satisfying relationships are basic to both physical and emotional health and that they require communication skills, the capacity for intimacy, and the cultivation of a support network.
Environmental, or planetary, wellness reflects the fact that personal health depends on the health of the planet. Wellness also requires learning about and protecting yourself against environmental hazards.
RECOVERY
Recovery connotes that we are in need of healing and mending. We need to remember that we still have choices. That we can choose to live and live to our fullest. This is the time when the family and the nation need to come together, we need to recognise that out of many we are ONE.
We use the power of emotional wellness to overcome what is in front of us. The medical fraternity has reported that patients who have hope tend to recover versus those who exhibit little or no hope. As Jamaicans we pride ourselves as being resilient the power to resume the original form after compression. In other words, we are able to bounce back.
Someone shared that the satellite image showed the hand of God like a mighty wall between Ivan's eye and the country of Jamaica. This land is blessed. We recover and are stronger than before. We move forward in thanksgiving.
Ilsa H. duVerney, an HRD/process consultant, is managing director of Productivity Plus Ltd. Email: ppl.hrd.duv@cwjamaica.com