A lesson I learned over 30 years ago still rings true today. We need to belong. We need a tribe. We need others to help us get through the hard things in life. We were not meant to struggle alone. High School is hard. Belonging to a tribe helps us to navigate through, not only … Continue reading Forming a Tribe
Bethioua and the Ugly American
When I was 18 years old I spent the second of two summers in Bethioua, Algeria with my parents. The first summer I enjoyed immensely, but my newly found independence (being 18 and all) coupled with my false sense of entitlement contributed to the disaster that was my second summer. In Bethioua, my parents lived … Continue reading Bethioua and the Ugly American
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
Finding your courage
What are you afraid of? What are your nightmares made of? I have the normal garden variety fears...snakes, spiders, tornados...King Kong (Dont judge me, he was very scary!). But one of my biggest fears involves an insect. The giant grasshopper. I remember one summer vividly, the horrifying images etched into my brain. My family had … Continue reading Finding your courage
Martha Got a Bad Rap!
Setting up for a large event, there was still some last minute preparation needed before the participants arrived. As I looked over the room, I noticed two staff members. They held the same rank and had the same years of experience. And both were excellent leaders. But at that moment, there existed a very different … Continue reading Martha Got a Bad Rap!
The Less Traveled Road
When you were a child, did you dream of becoming a social worker? Ok, stop laughing. Most of us did not. Yet, here we are, protecting children, helping families and often to the very detriment of our own lives. We chose a path that was fraught with rocks, brambles and all manner of things that … Continue reading The Less Traveled Road
Rose Colored Glasses
Looking at the world through Rose Colored Glasses intimates that you only see the positive in a situation, ignoring the negative aspects. But what if you only see the negative? Clinically, to the extreme we might diagnose Dysthemic disorder or the old Melancholia. But there are people who are NOT clinically depressed but are just … Continue reading Rose Colored Glasses
Plant Where They Will Bloom
It is well know around my circles that I have a brown thumb. Not only can I not sustain the life of complex flowers and plants, but I can even kill those "hard to kill" varieties. I read the literature and buy the products to no avail. The outcome is the same. But I keep … Continue reading Plant Where They Will Bloom
Find an Outlet and Plug In
We use electricity daily without thinking. We always take it for granted...until a storm comes and knocks out the power. Then we groan and moan because we realize how much we depend upon electricity to illuminate and simplify our lives. The simple truth is especially evident with the introduction of cell phones, lap tops and … Continue reading Find an Outlet and Plug In
Water for Camels 