August 21, 2008 – 10:55 am
The article below is excerpted from the book Change is Good…You Go First! by Mac Anderson and Tom Feltenstein. It is reprinted here with permission.
Something magic happens when we accept personal responsibility for our behavior and our results.
But, it's not easy, because it's human nature to "pass the buck". I (Mac) know there have been [...]
August 14, 2008 – 5:32 am
An excerpt from Walk the Talk by Eric Harvey and Steve Venture
Think of someone you know who is "a person of good character." Lock his or her image in your mind. Now take a moment to reflect on the things this person says and does…the personal characteristics that make him or her a role model [...]
The path of recovery with a mental illness
Has many steps toward a better quality
Of one’s life.
Recovery steps embrace a range of living
That includes a satisfying, hopeful, and
Contributing life; even with limitations.
I wish I’d done it differently,
My child-rearing years.
I wish I would have always tried
To wipe those little tears.
I would have liked to raise my child
With much more tender care.
To take the time to talk and joke;
To stroke my young one’s hair.
I wish I’d prayed with him each night
Both on our bended knee.
I would have thanked [...]
George hugs the sidewalk with his cane
Constantly rapping on the cement.
He hears the morning walkers grunt
Automatic “hellos” in their rush.
He welcomes greetings with a smile
And returns a “How are you today?”
Basking in their friendship, he walks
With his cane tap-tap-tapping cement.
He doesn’t see the silent stare
Others of his race quickly perceive,
Does not know the critical look,
The [...]
An instrument of peace begins with equality.
An instrument of peace creates trust.
An instrument of peace shows fairness.
An instrument of peace can start
With a change of heart.
A dream catcher
Catches a dream and
Makes it happen
R – Relief from mental stress.
E – Enjoyment of life.
C – Connection to friends.
O – Outgoing personality.
V – Vision for the future.
E – Energetic throughout the day.
R – Recapture your mental health.
Y – Yes to life.
We walk among you fearfully,
Hoping our illness you can’t see.
We wrestle our demons silently
Struggling to be a part of your community.
We continually hope and pray,
That today will be a better day.
Mental Illness is our epitaph,
But you don’t want to talk about that.
So we gather in therapy,
Hoping for a time we’ll be free.
We work day in [...]
While following the map,
Towards our destination,
We might take a wrong turn
Even though signs are there
Showing us the right way.
After a needed rest,
Enabling us to read
The road map more closely,
The trip goes smoother;
Our destination, home.
