“Thank you for giving us the opportunity to look at ourselves very closely and deeply. In our busy lives we often forget that ‘self’ matters, yesterday’s workshop brought us right to that point.”

As this quote indicates, we had enthusiastic participation at our Stress Management and Meditation Staff Training workshop on September 19, 2017 led by Merryl Reichbach.

This workshop was open to staff from all the Queens Public Library Adult Learning Centers and was hosted by the Elmhurst Branch Adult Learning Center. Adult Learning Center staff provide direct services to the Queens community of literacy, pre-high school equivalency and ESOL learners. Many have families and additional, multiple caretaking responsibilities in their lives above and beyond their dedication to their often underserved patrons.

S&C provides much needed stress management support to these front line workers and we also ensure that they knew of our organization and have a full understanding of the services we provide the Queens community. Thanks to the Center Manager and staff—Michelle Johnston, Arshia Hossain and Rifat Bhatti, as well as the QPL Community Health Coordinator, Tamara Michel, for supporting this program.

Merryl led discussion guiding participants to identify professional and personal stressors. Participants talked openly about challenges they are dealing with, including serious familial, professional, financial and health concerns. Time management, establishing healthy boundaries and managing the pressure to multitask were also identified and addressed. After productive discussion, Merryl led the members through a guided meditation that supported them to relax, assess, and access resources and energy. These essential assets are always present but often get lost in the stress of our day to day lives. Discussion after the guided meditation, indicated that participants had been able to tap into their spiritual, emotional and physical resources and see ways to address their stressors more effectively.

Members left feeling more relaxed and energized than they had felt before the workshop began. Staff acknowledged the resources they access in the workshop would enable them to provide better support to others in their lives including friends, family and the patrons they serve.