Dr. David Alter

Um, again, I'll start in maybe an unpredictable spot, but hopefully on the side of the river.

I think that, uh,

social researchers, sociopolitical researchers, public health researchers are probably a number of years away from being able to look back and recognize the depth and breadth of upheaval that COVID caused.

And I would say at the core of it is something that is pretty toxic to human beings.

And that is because human beings are social creatures.

As social creatures, we need each other.

We need to be in relationship, which is why my colleague and I are launching this podcast about what makes relationships transformative, right?

What's a healing relationship?

What's a toxic relationship?

COVID isolated us.

It disrupted connection.

When it first came out, I was asked to do a national webinar on whether clinical hypnosis could be done over a monitor because it's usually face to face.

And frankly, the research now we're years into doing things remotely.

The group of us today are doing things remotely and we've gotten used to it, but it's not the same as the original.

There are significant differences in

that happened when we're not in each other's presence and COVID disrupted that.

So what I think meditation can do, especially if you look at some of the meditative practices, they often include not just breathing and exhaling, but if there are any thoughts that are often about me,

and the people in my life and the larger world, these loving kindness meditations that are a way of creating connections and relationships.

Even as you're sitting in your favorite chair, you're not alone.

You are still connected and connected in ways that are healing.