Start 2025 by taking care of yourself!  It’s much like experiencing a loss of cabin pressure on an airplane during an emergency.  To help others, you must first put on your oxygen mask. If you don’t, you may perish, and others may not be saved. 

Whether you are a parent or caregiver, child advocate or practitioner, you work tirelessly to help orphaned and vulnerable children.  The need is great; everywhere you turn, you see more children and families in crisis.  If we are not careful, it can become overwhelming, and we can experience burn-out or secondary trauma, which can affect our daily activities and even our health. 

“I was working with single mothers and children that were facing homelessness when I experienced burn-out,” said Michelle Keadle-Taylor, WWO Communications Lead. “As the person providing direct care to the families, I experienced secondary trauma that built up over the years. I thought I was managing my self-care better than I was apparently.   

I started having some health issues and lost interest in things that I once enjoyed doing. These were all warning signs that I needed to change something, but at the time, I was the only person helping the families in our organization.  Having a safe place to debrief and others who can help share that load would have made a big difference to me. That is why I think WWO learning communities are so important. We need others to help us stay accountable to our own health and well-being.” 

Clara Makosa, Pastor and Systemic Family Therapist, also stresses the importance of practicing good self-care. She tells us more about the benefits of belonging to a WWO learning community, including how it can prevent burn-out and help us stay connected and “live refreshed.”