Doreen Dodgen-Magee - Restart: Designing a Healthy Post-Pandemic Life

Doreen Dodgen-Magee is an author, psychologist, and speaker. Her first book, Deviced! Balancing Life and Technology in a Digital World (Rowman & Littlefield), was awarded the 2018 Gold Medal for Psychology by the Nautilus Book Awards. Doreens writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Utne Reader, Psychology Today, and Health magazine as well as other popular press outlets. She has been interviewed and quoted in articles for the New York Times, Time magazine, and The Guardian. Doreen is a Senior Survivor Fellow with Everytown for Gun Safety and a group facilitator with COVID Survivors for Change. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and near her grown children and can be found at www.doreendm.com.

S ince publishing my first book, I have read the authors gratitude statement in every single book Ive read. I am more aware than ever how many people it takes to get a book into the world, and I am humbled by this.

Thank you to my husband, Thomas, without whose fierce belief and investment in me, I never would have taken the kinds of risks that would find me in this place that allows me to write. You think more of me than I do, and this humbles and sustains me. Without you, there is no us, which would be a bleak reality in which to live.

To my children, who have taught me more than anyone else on this earth, I am deeply grateful. Your feedback, lessons, and encouragement have made me who I am. The fact that you three (and, actually, more) also read early drafts of this work and told me to keep going is an unbelievable gift. I have become me in your midst and with your love. With you in my heart it is never raining.

To my editor, Ruthie, who tells me the truth and believes in me and my words even when I fall prey to self-doubt you are a beam of light that radiates everything we all need in this world. Thank you for sharing your light with me and sprinkling your sunshine all over my words.

To my friend Kim, who lost both of her parents to COVID, and to the participants in the weekly COVID Survivors for Change groups that have informed me and broken my heart, I bow deeply to honor your losses and thank you for trusting me with your stories and profound grief. Jennifer, Esmeralda, Angela, Marjorie, Ed, Shelley, Susan, Consuelo, Kim, Chanel, Kevin, Kelly, Shannon, Marlene, Kpana, Amanda, Andrea, Monika, Debra, Kristin, Ian, and all the rest of you my heart is knit to yours! Chris and Amy, thank you for inviting me into this sacred circle, and Brenda, Laura Lee, and Brandon, thank you for invading it in beautiful ways with me.

To Representative Lisa Reynolds, my physician/legislator friend who joined me in offering early active support to our community throughout the pandemic and read early manuscripts, and to Cassie, my nurse love, who trusted me with her emotions and trauma while serving on the front lines, thank you for teaching me and for helping me find my voice on this topic.

To Jennifer, who speaks my soul language and encouraged me to write the book that I needed to write, 143! To Jen, who offered me the space that I needed to write said book in a time crunch, thank you for your unbelievable friendship. Without you two Jens, this book would not exist. To Vana, who, quite literally, saves me every single week, I dont have enough words to thank you. To Candyce, Amy, Thomas, Bruce, Lisa, and Cory, who offered feedback and technical help, thank you! Huge gratitude to Tiffany, Brenda, Emily, Debbie, Joshua, and Jackie, who offered self-care reinforcement when I couldnt.

To Suzanne and the team at Rowman & Littlefield, thank you for taking a chance on me and this wild idea. To Emily, Deborah, and Susan in advance, thank you for all that youll do to help me get this out into the world. Im really, really grateful.

To Tamela Gordon, whose hour with me on Zoom in December of 2020 reminded me of every single thing that was important and possible, I am gobsmacked by the way in which you offered yourself as a cup, serving the elixir of the Divines message and call. Without you and your gift of intuition and truth speaking, I would never have doubled down or followed the niggling need to write this book. I will be indebted to you forever as will every person helped by this book.