Here I am again: this is me...the Pot calling out the Kettle. Last week I wrote about loving yourself; accepting yourself; making time for the things that bring you joy. I write those things because self-care is such an important concept for those in the helping profession. Without it, we crash and burn. We leave … Continue reading The Hypocrite
Dangerous Opportunity
When written in Chinese, the word "crisis" is composed of two characters. One represents danger, and the other represents opportunity. John F. Kennedy. We all face crisis: in our career, in our personal life, in relationships. Crisis can seem debilitating at times. And for some, it is. In the throngs of crisis, we experience those … Continue reading Dangerous Opportunity
One More Minute
After my heart surgery, I committed, with the obvious wake-up call, to changing my unhealthy lifestyle. I didnt drink or smoke and I did ocassionally exercise prior to the event. But, according to the doctors, the two biggest contributors to the problem were the stress in my life from my career and the fact that … Continue reading One More Minute
When Its Time to Cut Bait
How many of you have heard the term... It's time to fish or cut bait? The modern context in which it has been widely used centered around a challenging deadline or an ambivalent situation that required an imminent decision. And in every context, it was used as a call to action. In other words... Do … Continue reading When Its Time to Cut Bait
Fighting Personal Demons
The cycle will remain unbroken until you break it... I have written much about the trauma behavior of abused children. But what about the abuser? Who bothers to think of the "why" behind their actions? Jan grew up as the middle girl between two other sisters for the first 13 years of her life. When … Continue reading Fighting Personal Demons
Taking on the Giant
If you grew up going to Sunday School, you know the story of David and Goliath. If you didn't; the story summary is thus. In a battle between warring factions, one side had recruited a Giant. Each morning this massive warrior would lumber to the front lines, taunting the other side with jeers and accusations … Continue reading Taking on the Giant
The Pain Doesn’t Stop When The Abuse Ends.
Beth and Michael Barns, brand new foster parents, were excited when their first child, Brad was placed with them. They knew his basic story. They knew he had been hurt. They knew he had been removed from his family. He was shy at first, but polite and obedient... In the beginning. They decided that they … Continue reading The Pain Doesn’t Stop When The Abuse Ends.
When it all Comes Crashing In
What an exciting day you've had! It has been one of those days that kept you running from crisis to crisis. Your adrenaline valve wide open, you're operating on a combination of energy drinks and determination to save the world! Each averted crisis fuels you on to the next until the waves of urgency subside … Continue reading When it all Comes Crashing In
The Parable
Becoming a social worker was not the plan I had for my life. As I have often said, I backed into the career totally blind to the mission of Child Welfare. I might not have ever found my calling had not DHS been the only agency hiring. Graduating college as an English major, my choices … Continue reading The Parable
Surviving the Tornado
The Tornado Hits Moody, Al. It was April 27, 2011. The meteorologists had been predicting an afternoon full of dangerous weather. We were repeatedly warned of a significant tornado outbreak. Having never been a fan of bad weather, I decided to monitor the situation very closely starting at noon. So as I went to bed … Continue reading Surviving the Tornado
Water for Camels 