blog blossoms… how will my blog bloom?

Hello world!

I would like to share a bit about a very special experience I was privileged to have last night.

I was invited to attend a celebration event for the publication of Firewalkers, Madness, Beauty & Mystery.

Please visit their site: http://vocalvirginia.org/#/firewalkers-project/4533865849 to learn more about this Firewalker project.

What are your views about mental health diagnoses?

Have you known friends, family members, co-workers, acquaintances who have been diagnosed (that you are aware of)?

Would you be likely to make intentional changes in your relationships with diagnosed co-workers or acquaintances?
What motivates your response to this question?

If you were in a gathering, and became aware that one of the members of the gathering was acting in a manner that bespoke mental instability, what actions would you consider taking? Why? (What in your upbringing, your prior experiences, your media-fed knowledge bank, whatever feeds that likely choice of action)?

Why is there such a stigma surrounding the diagnosis of a mental health issue? Why is recovery considered impossible (to some, many? people)? What does it take to change these probable misconceptions?

These questions, and many more, were raised in my mind last night.

Several women and men shared bits of their stories, their “non-linear” walks through the fire to better places, their hopes (and what keeps them able to cling to those hopes).

The evening was powerful.

This is a book I hope to see in doctors’ offices upon future visits, in hospital waiting rooms, in women resource centers, as well as on the bookshelves and coffee tables in homes and other places I visit.

It is a book I will read, ponder, share, learn from.

A very special evening, a very special experience…

Hello everyone!

More photos here

Hello everyone!

Below is a VoiceThread presentation of my Action Research Proposal — the culminating project of my Master’s in Adult Education and Training research. “Implementing Worthwhile and Effective Online Learning Opportunities for Adult ESOL Learners”

The original PowerPoint is much ‘cleaner’ and I am happy to share it with you upon request.

The VoiceThread has the PowerPoint slides uploaded with short audio clips inserted on several slides. You may leave your comments directly on the VoiceThread or post a comment here.

I’m hoping to be posting much more frequently to this blog again in coming weeks, months, years.

I welcome and look forward to your reactions, questions, suggestions, comments,

Hello blog, hello world!

Please share a comment, a reaction, a question,
Holly

I want to relate an experience from an outing earlier this week, one I’m still pondering.

background information:

I am 54 years old.

I was on this outing with my parents.

The purpose of the outing was to try and test and hopefully purchase a new mattress for my mom.

setting:

a furniture store in a small to mid-sized city, on a rainy day

story:

OK. So, I parked the car near the entrance (as my mom has a handicapped sticker) and the three of us entered the store.  We didn’t have to open the door, because it was being held open for us by one employee. We stepped over the threshold, and when we looked up, we were immediately accosted by two additional employees. All three greeted us. One of the non-doorman employees was holding three opened frosty bottles of Coca-cola (in old-fashioned looking bottles) and immediately offered them to us.

None of us drink soda. We said, “No, thanks.” We were not offered anything else.

The non-doorman, non-soda man stepped forward, closer, and asked what he could do to help us.

His nametag indicated he’d won some honor (relevant to the establishment) in 2005, so we thought we had an experienced salesman to work with.

We proceeded to the mattresses, to the specific name brand my mother was hoping to buy.

My mom asked several questions. The salesman did not appear to know the answers to any of them.

Three times he excused himself and ‘disappeared’ for a few moments, returning with the answers.

My mom made a purchase, and decided to take advantage of a 12 month interest-free payment plan.

As she was filling out the paperwork, the experienced salesman interrupted her several times.

It was made very clear to the salesman that my mother has physical limitations [she sleeps at an incline, she needed to prop up extra pillows and support to test the mattresses; she obviously moves slowly when sitting/reclining and then standing again; she declined the soft low chairs offered, and asked for higher seated, more support chairs, and so on]. Yet, this salesman beckoned my mother to a computer where there were no chairs, and then cracked jokes and lengthened the process of the transaction while my mother was left leaning, with minimal support, and evident discomfort, for what felt like an interminably long time.

As we (finally) left the store, this salesman grinned and handed my parents two stuffed “creatures”– one named Squeaky, one named Lumpy, as gifts, tokens of his appreciation. They also received a free lamp (which we are donating to Goodwill).

I repeat: I am 54 years old. You do the math; my parents are obviously older.

Am I the only one who finds something ‘insulting’ at being offered two tacky stuffed ‘toys’ after making a $1400 purchase?

How is this deemed “good business”?

I will not be visiting, certainly not patronizing, this establishment in the future.

What say you?

Reactions? Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

Holly

OK, I’ll admit it… I’m a sap for “tearjerker” movies.

I teach adult ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages).

Some of my students recently read an abbreviated version of Little Women and watched the newer version DVD.

I ordered the older version from Netflix and watched it this morning. http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Little_Women/60011720

I cried. I “blatted like a baby.” (I cried so often that my face itched with the salt deposits).

I enjoyed it thoroughly!

I found myself remembering a life without computers, without “instant” communication, where events that seem insignificant in today’s culture seemed highly significant then.

…a time when the “norm” was to be affectionate with one’s family.

…a time when older siblings were in tune with each others’ lives, sharing miseries as well as celebrating minor milestones…

Anyway, it’s made me realize that I need to make more time to indulge in watching old movies!

Hope everyone reading this “indulges” in something that reminds them of less-frenetic times.
Holly

…a very interesting video, somewhat disturbing…