SHIFTING FOCUS IN 2021
August 2021 is winding down and the long, luxurious, lazy days of summer are coming to an end. Life will speed up and plans for the fall and winter come into play. Schools are opening and we all go back on a schedule. For our industry live meetings are finally starting to come back! Our events will look and feel different as we emerge from the pandemic, but the will to meet in person is strong and, as planners, we must rise to the challenge. Along with the relief that we are up and running, I personally feel the normal stresses inherent in planning plus an added layer of anxiety about the safety and health of our meeting attendees and those who support the meetings.
Mari Ryan, our guest speaker at the CMP Recognition Event in April, reminded us to put on our oxygen masks first. In other words – pay attention to self-care and you will be better able to care for others. This is great advice that I have heeded almost never… I don’t think I’m alone in that I am guilty of neglecting my needs and striving to care of everyone else particularly in a work setting. This neglect is a recipe for disaster and did not leave me feeling healthy. The past year and a half was a wake-up call for me. As our world came to a sudden halt and we were forced to isolate from family, friends and colleagues I had the unexpected and unsolicited opportunity to look inward. With time on my hands I focused on self-care – for me this included diet and exercise – things I could control in my newly narrow existence – my “bubble.” I have the good fortune to live minutes from the ocean and logged lots of miles on the beach throughout the year.
In addition, I learned to connect with those outside my “bubble” through virtual meetings (many with MPI-NJ), happy hours and family reunions. At one point I had so many virtual meet-ups scheduled I proudly declared myself “pandemic popular!” I also attended countless industry webinars to enhance my skills and fill the time. My family and I made an extra effort to donate food and needed supplies to those struggling financially. All these actions nourished me through a difficult time and have given me a new perspective. It may be a stretch, but it’s possible my new perspective may have made me a better meeting planner. I am definitely calmer, less critical of myself and have less of a tendency to overreact to minor issues.
Prioritizing our own wellness is something that can easily be set aside as meetings kick into high gear and we become overwhelmed with planning for others. Hopefully this will not be the case for our membership moving forward. MPI offers lots of resources to concentrate on wellness that can help all of us. I encourage you to visit MPI.org and navigate to the Resources tab for valuable information on:
· Education
· Career opportunities
· The best apps to enhance your physical, mental and financial well-being
· Self-care guidance
· Health Tips from the World Health Organization
· Contact information for crisis hotlines worldwide
MPI recognizes the importance of the individual and places great emphasis on wellness – it is gratifying to be a member of an organization that continues to consider our wellness a priority. I hope we all have the opportunity to benefit from the resources shared by MPI in the coming year.
TRISH RAFFERTY, CMP, HMCC
2021-2022 MPI New Jersey VP OF COMMUNICATIONS