As the incoming President of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association (LACPA), I welcome the opportunity to help our organization celebrate its 80th anniversary. Our organization has weathered many changes since its formation in the aftermath of World War II, and is in a great position to continue its mission for decades to come. An 80th Anniversary is often referred to as a Ruby Jubilee, and is signified by the ruby and the oak. The lore of the ruby encourages a passion for life, but in beneficial fashion, so that things are not done to extreme. In many systems, it represents the heart, with its capacity for love, compassion, and forgiveness. The oak is sacred in many traditions, and is a fitting representation of strength and enduring commitment. Our 80 years of history is worthy of joyous celebration, and therefore my Presidential Theme for 2025 is simply “Celebration.”

My tenure with LACPA is relatively brief. I joined in 2019 and have been on the executive committee for three years, first as secretary-elect, then for a two-year stint as secretary. I have been involved with the Diversity committee, now known as the Diversity and Social Justice committee, reflecting what I believe is an important ongoing change in LACPA’s ethos. I am also pleased to be one of the founders (along with Drs. Lynne Steinman and Stacy Reger) of the Conscious Aging SIG, and will continue my involvement in the newly reconstituted LGBTQ+ SIG led by Dr. Espinoza. I also host the West LA book club, which meets virtually so that LACPA members from anywhere can join in.

  In my work, primarily with people with acquired brain injuries or developmental neurodiversity, I have been impressed by core elements of their humanity and integrity.  I have been especially impressed with their ability to tap into joy as a key element in their progress, their adaptability, and their ability to live well. The expansive energy of joy can be transcendent, bringing new meaning, inspiration, and the promotion of quality of life, sometimes well past our expectations. Joy meets the world with open arms, and welcomes others into its embrace. Joy also looks inward, and has a harmonizing, integrating influence on our disparate parts. 

  To be clear, my focus on Celebration does not mean that we should diminish or turn-away from difficult times and issues.  Instead, I remind us to live meaningfully in our difficult times. As a music-loving, multi-ethnic, Canadian-American foodie, my perspective on celebration includes simple kitchen-table gatherings, and marking many multi-ethnic occasions with friends and neighbors. I hope we celebrate LACPA in all of its meanings.  I hope to honor our significant anniversary over the next year with deviations from our routines, and I plan to publicly join with others in festivities or even solemn rituals. Such celebrations will necessarily involve collaborative efforts across all of LACPA’s committees to bring joy, vitality, meaning, harmony, and integrity to our lives. 

  In closing, I leave you with an excerpt of the first verse of Friedrich Schiller’s poem “Ode to Joy” (1785), the partial text of which was used in the fourth movement of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony: 

“Joy. . . Every man becomes a brother/ Where thy gentle wings abide."