Melissa L Regan has been caring for and touching lives for decades. The last 12 years she has worked as a Transplant Coordinator assisting families through difficult times. In this position she has witnessed a range of emotions.She says that positive psychology has helped her so much in understanding human nature and behavior.
As Mary Zenzen, a CAPP class colleague says, “Melissa is perfect for her work because she puts life back into people.”
According to Melissa, “Studying Positive Psychology thru CAPP points the way toward a better understanding of what ingredients cause people to flourish; and you learn how you can work and play better. The knowledge caused me to make some changes in my life, and strive for more balance. I would not trade this knowledge for anything.”
Like many of us Melissa was busy in her personal and work routines, often sacrificing her personal life, and balancing it all fairly well. She says that Positive psychology helped her come to the realization that there were tools available to her to enrich all aspects of her life.
Melissa shared – “To all the wonderful families I shared moments with after you lost your loved one: thank you for showing me that the things that we will miss at the end of our lives are the little day to day moments with those closest to us. If your life ended suddenly, it is not the trip you took to Disneyworld that will be memorable. It is the ability to find a bit of ‘Disneyworld’ in every day.”
“I lived so many years before I even dreamed of taking a class just because it might be interesting to me; taking it for me without any other reason. And I just stumbled on taking Positive Psychology by accident.” Melissa said it was transformational for her. “It made me want to give people… other busy women especially… a taste of what it is like to serve yourself. Women are pretty amazing creatures. They handle a lot of serious things, and the responsibility makes them forget some others. They forget their playfulness, forget their creativity, forget their beauty, forget their wildness, and sometimes forget their ability to move their bodies. I want to give them a workshop that helps them to remember, just as CAPP has helped me remember. “
In a recent CAPP class, people created big audacious goals; Melissa’s was to create a series of workshops for women under the name “Many Lovely Reasons,” and she’s doing it!
“The name is a reminder that there are many lovely reasons to appreciate your life just as it is right now. My intention is ‘Take a day to be thoughtful. The rest of your life is here.’ This is what all those families who suffered a loss taught me. Appreciate today. Appreciate tomorrow.”
The workshops will involve your mind, body and spirit by using hands-on creativity to explore concepts from Positive Psychology. Woven into the workshop will be some movement through “Let Your Yoga Dance” which is suitable for any body type and requires no experience. As Melissa shared, “A single workshop will allow you to reset and move forward; knowing more about yourself and your strengths and what is important to you.”
Melissa will undoubtedly continue to touch the lives of countless individuals.
Read more about Melissa and learn about her workshops at www.manylovelyreasons.net.
<Student Spotlight contributed by Tina Raspanti>
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