Fresh Starts and Second Chances in 2022 for US of A-Miracle The World Over
To the Editor:
With January 2022 fully underway and plenty in the air to remind people we need
to plan to stay healthy, productive and connected with more awareness, we can
deem this year one of Fresh Starts and Second Chances.
That may mean many
things to people to assess and pursue goals on a personal, family and social level,
school and work level and with wider world concerns and efforts as well. Where
might we start or focus to make the most of our time together whether online,
in our neighborhoods, towns, states and wider regions?
The concerns most are tuning into understand the interplay of the laws of the land,
the 'givens' with basic property, social, business, non-profit and other structures
setting the stage. There are rules, fees and cultural norms to understand and revise
to reflect our modern times. Voting Rights will affect everyone, one way or the
other.
When many people advocate for a goal in a timely fashion, a certain outcome is determined.
When learning from the past there is a growing awareness that often 'doing too little too late'
is costing people their safety, health, freedom and finances. We need to plan ahead for
a decade in our own lives on the game board of the country, state and even town in which
we live.
Widespread efforts to help one another be clear about options for living in one
state for six months and a day and then being able to travel (or return to another state
if desired) to maintain lifelong ties or enjoy a warmer climate or reach other goals could
be a reminder that US Citizens have freedom, even if Covid Restrictions have
been a limiting factor in the past.
New York may have been options for homecare than CT, but that is something everyone
should explore since many programs may be changing. Many elders or others with care
needs may not have family or others they can count on and again plans should be clearly
put in place.
Neighbors and people in shared regions can strive to thrive and help many
benefit, maybe giving others 'second chances' as is safe and reasonable if there
were upsets in the past.
That can pave the way for more collaboration. If there have been abusive issues however
more safety measures or possibly continued separation would be advisable.
The heartbreaking tragic lessons of the young Gabby Petito dying at the hands of the
young man she was involved with, not able to address serious violence and abuse that
were publicized is typical of many coercive control patterns that play out in society.
We need to pray for #EveryGabbyPetito or #EveryJenniferDulos whatever age, race
or life situation from the past, present and with great concern for 'the future' ones.
May we intervene early and often to help every person be supported and accountable
for where and who they live with when there are danger signs, with more support and
realize 'there are not always quick easy ways out' but then again there likely could be
many more for most.
Key to protective parents, usually the mothers (often with good support and accountability)
getting safe is having an assurance their children will be with them exclusively and securely.
That was promoted in the federal Resolution 72 but was not passed yet. Guidelines for every
situation of power and control, coercion, bullying and extortion, threats and violence need to be
understood and addressed on a community-wide basis.
Beginning to think of the terms and needs
of all can help prioritize and clarify these matters. These are human rights and public health
and safety issues.See more on that and what Angelie Jolie advocates for reforming justice
(such as with #KaydensKorner and others share on CA Protective Parents Association and
Battered Mothers Custody Conference (which ran for over a decade and has much material online.)
Charts from duluthmodel.org can start to help more see the community and individual roles
to strive for to give more people a chance for safety and support in any walk of life. Let's make
this a year of reverent and promising Fresh Starts and Second Chances in the United States
of A-Miracle and wider world as well.
Many others and I welcome networking efforts along these lines and can help address concerns
in Life considering "What IF" we can think on things creatively and with compassion? I can be
reached on my public FB page. Small groups networking locally and online can make a world
of difference just when we're needing that most!
--Catherine Palmer Paton, Falls Village CT
