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Author: Connie Clark

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Celebrating 7 years of community inclusion and service to others

Don’t stop believing…the magic is right around the corner

Written by Connie Clark

Beyond the Conversation is celebrating 7 years of community inclusion and service to others. Beyond the Conversation has been recognized locally and globally for its vision and contributions. As a founding member, I have seen the growth, evolution, and prosperity of this dynamic and critically important organization.

October 2021, Beyond the Conversation founder Amie Peacock asked me if I would be interested in writing about my journey through loneliness and isolation as a result of becoming a hospital patient dealing with chronic back pain. I was thrilled when Amie asked me, so I got busy, completed the article, then Beyond the Conversation published the article on the website, where it stands today.

My story is important not because it happened to me, but because it may serve to inspire others who have lost hope and are in the depths of loneliness and isolation and its effects.

We know that social isolation and loneliness contribute to poor health, including, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline, and it is well documented that patients with chronic pain have elevated overall mortality rates compared to the general population. Social isolation and long-term loneliness can also lead to negative self-esteem, mental health and emotional problems, substance misuse, and the inability to concentrate, focus, problem-solve, making it difficult to move away from negative thinking patterns and toward wellness.

Having strong social connections is imperative to our health and well-being, it can reduce stress levels, ward off depression and suicide, heart disease, and boost our immune system. Strong connections are part of our humanity, our evolution, we are wired to find our tribe so-to-speak. This is the ethos of Beyond the Conversation.

Essentially, we are out of balance when we are in a state of isolation or loneliness.
Beyond the Conversation seeks to adjust this state of being out of equilibrium, by promoting its vision through its many friendship ambassadors and open talk cafe’ programs. My hope is that my story, continued from Oct 2021 will provide a sense of connection, empathy, and hope for the reader.

(On July 29th, 2019 my life was derailed by chronic back pain, I could no longer work and my life became centered around Doctors, hospital procedures, lab tests, and the concept of being disabled.

Work had been the center of my life for over 40 years, my work was in the world of social services, caring for others and now I had to take care of myself, not a role I was well acquainted with at all. The learning came hard, but eventually, I learned to put my health first and take care of my needs without feeling selfish or self-involved. I eventually realized that without my health in good order I had no future!

There was a time during this 3 year period when I lost hope, where I was lonely, and where I was most certainly isolated. I could not see a life of purpose or joy, I could not see a future, I was stuck in the mire of the situation, endless Doctor appointments, and procedures, what was the point of all of this? Then after much reflection, there was a breakthrough, the procedures were helping, and things were getting better for me, I then realized I had to push myself to get back into my life of purpose and meaning.

Amie Peacock and Neil Parker at Beyond the Conversation have always been there to promote me, inspire me, to let me know that I am not forgotten, and not alone, this is the essence and the magic of Beyond the Conversation. They reminded me that friends want to help!

I continue every day to improve my medical profile, gain greater wellness, and move toward a brighter future. I am reclaiming my life! I urge those that are lonely and isolated to reach out to Beyond the Conversation, participate in one of the many open talk cafe and become part of something bigger than yourself, be part of a caring community of passionate, supportive people who possess a strong strategic vision for the future.

So today, June 2022, I have been away from my work for 3 years and I have completed 20 back procedures at St. Paul’s hospital. My team at St. Paul’s is simply amazing, they keep me hopeful and inspired! The road ahead is still long, but it is bending toward wellness and improved mobility and functionality. I have a good sense of myself, and good self-esteem and I am so pleased to say that I am a virtual administrative/audit team volunteer in the Community Living sector, with the goal of eventually getting back to work.

I do not pressure myself to make a decision on return to work dates, that is still down the road. My Doctors remind me not to rush myself and to take the time to get well, so then I will have a greater chance of staying well. I allow myself to live in the moment as much as I can and just keep moving forward with grace and dignity, knowing that the road I have traveled and continue to travel is one of incredible learning, ongoing adaptation, and relentless revisionism.

Things can get better, belief.

Written by Connie Clark

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News and Updates

Giving Tuesday Starling Collective: Winner 2021

Amie Peacock, founder of Beyond the conversation has been named one of the cohort winners of the “GivingTuesday Starling Collective 2021 award”. Winning this award is proof that our work matters and we have now reached a major milestone!

Beyond the Conversation is a new wave concept of connecting people so they feel less isolated and more connected to new friends and new ideas. Once individuals attend the virtual & community-based events they often say they feel better, that they feel less alone, thus, this meets the mission of BTC which is to grow a connection, friendship, generosity and warmth in our communities.

GivingTuesday is a movement that unleashes the power of the concept of RADICAL GENEROSITY globally. Beyond the Conversation mirrors this mandate and mission.

Essentially, GivingTuesday reimagines a world built upon shared humanity, without limits. It’s about reframing old narratives into new dialogue, about ensuring a new generation of thought leaders encompass collaboration, wisdom sharing, radical transparency and overall participation by a greater number of people, essentially a new call to global action.

This global network thrives upon the ethos of helping a neighbour or stranger in need, giving to those who need our help, realizing that every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give and that everyone has value. Beyond the Conversation and GivingTuesday share the same passion, purpose, mission and mandate.

The Starling Collective was specifically designed to identify creative, passionate leaders who are working to fuel and engage unique and innovative approaches to generosity, empathy, equity and social justice. This is exactly how Amie Peacock along with Beyond the Conversation was identified as a global leader in radical generosity.

GivingTuesday and Beyond the Conversation are both reframing the concepts by which we relate to one another, emphasizing shared equity, meeting the needs of others, and building a world where generosity is simply a part of everyday life.


Read more here

Categories
News and Updates

Dreams Matter and Endurance Wins

This story starts with two women, friends, in a small Turkish café in South Vancouver, on a cold, rainy afternoon, one Autumn day in 2015. This is where Amie Peacock, the Visionary Founder of Beyond The Conversation shared with me her idea of creating a non-profit organization to end social isolation.

I knew right away this idea was relevant, important, and could evolve and be of interest to others, I also knew I had to be involved. Beyond the Conversation had just moved from being an idea to a real possibility where lives could be changed and enriched, Beyond the conversation had come alive!

In the beginning, Beyond the Conversation facilitated English Second Language groups in the community as a way of connecting with isolated citizens. Volunteers were trained to facilitate “English circles,” we came together in church basements and anywhere we could find.

On weekends and evenings, members of the community came forward to participate, we had momentum, the English circles were at full capacity, they were engaging, presenting with emerging bonds, and most importantly, new and enduring friendships. Myself, Amie Peacock and our league of truly extraordinary, dedicated volunteers knew we were onto something, something impactful, something meaningful and something that had a future trajectory.

Then on January 30th, 2016, I was asked by Amie Peacock to host & officiate a celebration for our Beyond the Conversation volunteers at the South Vancouver Neighbourhood House. Each volunteer was awarded a certificate of recognition, by the Honourable Harjit Sajjan. We had reached a milestone, we now had official recognition from a Member of Parliament. We knew we were supported by the community and now could move forward with even greater vigour on our purpose-driven path.

Beyond the Conversation then grew to include an even larger team including A Lead composer & community weaver, Director for National Development, Director for Marketing and Development, Marketing and Event Coordinator, Team Support Coordinator, Technology and Marketing Advisor, Secretary, Chair and Co-chair, Web Developer and Graphic Designer, Media representative, Cafe’ and Podcast contributors, Friendship Ambassadors, A Mentor and Marketing Adviser & A Multicultural and Community Liaison Advisor.

Beyond the Conversation then accrued major supporters, partners & sponsors: Google, Site Ground, Van City, FaithTech, G & F Financial, Nesters Market, Cactus Club Cafe’, Earnest Ice Cream, Forerunners, Fresh Slice, Canva, The Rotary Club of Fraserview, & UBC, as well as many individual donors. A website was then developed where anyone could read about our story, our volunteers, our team, our funders sponsors, supporters, initiatives, goals, community and virtual events and podcasts.

Then in 2019 my journey with Beyond the Conversation was interrupted, as a result of a diagnosis of a diseased spine and two failed lumbar-back surgeries. Then on July 29, 2019, I could no longer work at my job and had to take a medical leave of absence. I was then referred to St. Paul’s Hospital Chronic Pain Clinic for long-term treatment. I became an out-patient at St. Paul’s
Hospital and continue to be an out-patient to this day. At St Paul’s Hospital, I undergo regular lumbar and thoracic procedures with the goal of improving my diagnosis and hopefully getting back to a better level of functioning.

An important part of my story to share is that my employer has been totally supportive throughout my treatment, and continues to be today. I often receive calls, emails and cards expressing support from my colleagues and our leadership team at work. My employer has been nothing short of a lifeline of support to me, ensuring that I know, that when I am well, when I am fully recovered, the door is open for me to continue with my career. We have never stopped corresponding and this is a key component to my ongoing recovery and my sense of hope. I also have cherished friends as supporters and cheerleaders who have and continue to stand beside me every step of the way.

Then this year, 2021, as a result of my lived experience, Amie Peacock, the founder of Beyond The Conversation, invited me to produce and present my own podcast. We are now looking forward to the first podcast, “From Pain to Recovery,” going live at the Beyondtheconversation.ca website on Monday, October 25, 2021, at 7 pm PST. I look forward to destigmatizing pain, to having engaging and new wave discussions around. What it means to live with pain on a daily basis. What it means to feel isolated and alone as a result of chronic pain. How those with chronic pain can re-define their lives, not lose their identity, but re-emerge from the pain with an attitude of gratitude.

With gratitude,
Connie Clark

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