Haukea-Willow: A Place To Start.
Aly Drolet
((Starbase 118, Command Center, Deck 7, Commanding Officer’s Ready Room))
While she had previously acknowledged awareness of the challenging concept of negative emotional intelligence for members of the Risian species, that was to say they were not without coping strategies. However, strategies provided, targeted the predominantly positive emotions more commonly recognized, over emphasized and experienced.
As a child these strategies allowed for regulation after extreme enthusiasm. Regardless, they did little to curb her excessive speech patterns of high words per minute, slurred speech or breathlessness as a result. Still, to this particular day, when in a civilian situation, over excitement tended to provide room for such a habit.
Yet, Gogigobo was asking for strategies regarding the exact opposite nature.
Fairhug: Perhaps we have to think of some kind of…strategy.
Willow: I’ve never developed emotional coping strategies before.
Again, it was the coping strategies, along with regulation techniques developed for emotions or mental health disorders like anxiety, anger, fear, sadness, that Haukea had never previously considered. Likely, too, she may perhaps have once heard in passing, yet never formally practiced. The idea of identifying an initial starting place was daunting.
Fairhug: I think it's important to acknowledge that this isn't something that's going to disappear overnight.
Willow: I believe myself to be intelligent enough that I didn’t expect to resolve quickly. In fact the emotional intensity had been increasing for some time.
Fairhug: Also, it's not going to be a one size fits all solution. What works for me, or Maddie, or anyone else for that matter, isn't necessarily going to work for you.
It was easy to admit that her academy courses had neglected to provide for study in the area of personal wellness for a Starfleet officer; How to provide for the individual when faced with the self sacrificing role of a Starfleet officer, usually containing numerous physically and mentally traumatic experiences. If they had, Haukea certainly had been unaware of such a course.
Nevertheless, from an academy classmate long forgotten, she vaguely recalled at least 8 aged concepts regarding the topic: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Financial, Social, Environmental, Intellectual, Occupational and Spiritual. What meaning they had, she was unable to articulate.
Willow: I am certainly willing to give it an attempt.
Fairhug: So, I think we'll have to try multiple approaches and see which one suits you the best and gets the best results. Let's make a shortlist of potential approaches. What do you think?
Willow: I do find I am unsure where to start. I am struggling with generating strategies with which to use. Perhaps if you shared what works best for yourself, I could get a sense of it.
When attempting to learn and achieve an advanced quality in a new skill, an individual often had no prerequisite frame of reference regarding strengths, weaknesses and areas of improvements. Therefore, mastering the concept through trial or under guidance allowed for data to be gathered, mentorship and a quality return on time, such as that dedicated towards practice. Haukea acknowledged this, mind empty of any initial strategy.
Yet, Gogigobo’s initial facial expression was a grimace. A puzzlement as towards her willingness, favoritism and strength in his own personal area of wellness.
Fairhug: Remember, what works for me might not be effective for you.
Willow: I know they may not work for me, but I’m willing to try. You cannot know until you do, right?
It could be acknowledged that while various skills were universally taught and generalized, such as speech, literacy and mathematical concepts, those regarding their present topic were personalized, individual to each who accepted and practiced. Gogiobo’s own chosen practice for the 8 elements of personal wellness, most notably mental wellness, afforded him a distinctive perceived peace. However, Haukea was more than willing to fail if given the opportunity, since failure through a null attempt was both impossible and unacceptable.
The face before her eased in tension, a show of understanding.
Fairhug: Okay. First of all, what is it that you're doing at the moment to try to handle things? Maybe it's already similar to my own methods.
Willow: I do think, as I say it, that my current coping strategy is to merely ignore the issue. I don’t know how to acknowledge or handle the experience, being Risian, that I simply didn’t.
Haukea, in light of the rise in emotional tension over the course of several missions, had, in pieces, briefly and personally acknowledged minor inconveniences regarding a witnessed injury from Weathern. That said, no official name had been given to the experienced emotions, uncomfortable sensations and unknown view point. She had no ability to sort, organize, analyze, and quantify, no background knowledge and frame of reference; that the Risian, in part because of being Risian, placed, like with most incidence, these sensations in the past, to which she stayed squarely in the present. She ignored, not due to the belief it would simply disappear, but because she simply had no reference for what it was, how to acknowledge it and how to ask for assistance regarding it. Haukea spoke now since the emotions had reached a climax, exponentially increasing in intensity.
Gogi’s face once again morphed into a quizzical expression.
Fairhug: Well, I think what gives me the most comfort and strength to keep going through the hard times is my spiritual faith.
According to the dictionary definition, Spirituality, broader than religion, was a concept referring to the search for meaning, purpose and connection to something larger than oneself, which could include aspects of religion - a higher power - nature, art or the universe.
For Haukea, as a Risian, historical records indicated little in the way of a mythology and religion was, by percentage, rare. Nevertheless, by utilizing the definition, Haukea saw aspects of spiritual practice within her hobbies of holophotography and painting.
Willow: Risians don’t have much in the way of religion or spirituality. However, knowing the definition, I can see aspects of spirituality in my engagement with the hobbies of holophotography and painting. Is religion and/or spirituality common with your people?
Fairhug: Most people on Bardeez are very in tune with their spirituality and while we do gather for some important occasions, it's generally quite a personal thing.
Haukea was certainly curious regarding Gogi’s particular spiritual practice, never having engaged in more formal aspects regarding it.
Willow: For yourself what spiritual practices do you involve yourself in? What is common?
Fairhug: Mainly things like meditation. Particularly in a secluded natural environment.
Willow: Nature is a big part of Risian culture as well. We often spend large portions of the day outside or in indoor/outdoor environments.
Fairhug: Well, I'm very open-minded. I also recently began attending services at the Bajoran temple in the Ashalla District. But if you're not used to that sort of thing, it could be a little overwhelming at first.
Willow: I don’t think formal religious practices are for me at this time. However, informally, I’m willing to participate and get in touch with myself.
Haukea cracked a smile, gaining comfort with the conversational topic, almost as if she had intentionally made a poor attempt at a joke.
Fairhug: How about you and I take a little hike somewhere next shore leave? It's been a while for myself, even. I could do with clearing my head.
Willow: A hike? I think I would like that. I could take along my camera.
Fairhug: Response
Willow: My holocamera. I have a passion for photography and painting. I guess I did not consider them as available resources. I haven’t engaged with those hobbies recently.
Fairhug: Response
Willow: Perhaps if I picked them up more regularly that would help.
Fairhug: Response
Lt. Haukea-Willow
Chief of Security - Crisis Response
Starbase 118 Ops
M239512BG0
Ad Astra Per Aspera/To The Stars With Difficulty - Una Chin-Riley
