by dlb916
My graduate students are in the final stretch of completing their Social Work Skills course. I’m always impressed with the students’ ability to begin the class with no previous social work experience and finish the quarter capable and confident. I also caution them that some unlucky student will probably be my social worker in the …
by dlb916
Anyone who lives with chronic pain, or lives with someone who has chronic pain, knows the devastation that ensues. Often invisible, unpredictable, and misunderstood, pain has the ability to impact every aspect of a person’s life, and the lives of those who bear witness to the suffering. At its best, pain is a nagging annoyance; …
by dlb916
I have been listening to a series of podcasts about grief hosted by Anderson Cooper and I’ve found them to be mesmerizing. He is so honest and raw when he talks about the loss of his father, mother, and brother. When his voice cracks (which it does often), my heart aches for him. If you …
by dlb916
Now that I have some free time, I’ve begun volunteering. One of my favorite organizations is Joy’s Kitchen. Kathy, the woman who created Joy’s, is amazing. Over the past 10+ years she has made it her mission to eliminate food waste, improve the lives of those experiencing food insecurity, and to effect climate change. Each …
by dlb916
Have you read the book, Simple Abundance – A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach? It is a daily journal filled with beautiful words of inspiration and encouragement. My book has highlighting throughout; so many of the entries feel like they were written just for me and always arrive just when I …
by dlb916
It took a Google search for me to discover the difference between joy and happiness. I guess I always thought they were one-in-the-same. Come to find out, for the 9,378th+ time, I was wrong! After diligent research, I’ve learned joy and happiness are very different. Joy is an internal delight within us. Happiness usually depends …
by dlb916
I’ve been leading guided meditation walks at the Denver Botanic Garden for many years. The good news is the meditations are popular monthly events at the Garden. The not-so-good news is the meditations are only for adults. This year, I’ve decided to branch out and begin developing a meditation program for littles. Research shows children …
by dlb916
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of chauffeuring 2 young men to the Denver Aquarium for one last excursion before middle school resumed. Since they were a captive audience, I took the opportunity to conduct an informal survey: What makes a good teacher? Someone who doesn’t yell.Someone who understands how much work we …
by dlb916
A friend made an interesting observation the other day. He said, “Isn’t it ironic that we call it a cell phone and yet talking on it is what we do the least?” Ain’t it the truth! That innocuous comment stayed with me for days and caused me to ponder my cell phone usage: Texting (According …
by dlb916
Every year I vow to read a book a month. How hard can it be? I don’t have an 8-5 job and I love to read; the goal is certainly attainable. And every July, I evaluate my progress. For once, I’m actually ahead of the game! I love books and my reading list is eclectic. …
