A Backward Glance …

THE SETUP:
PPRI’s Morning Buzz is one of my daily Must Read rituals, because it is a fascinating blend of current research and statistics about the two things we are NEVER supposed to discuss in polite company:  Religion and Politics.

However, today’s edition, after the now requisite stories about Donald Trump, immigration, and the continued dissection of the recently released 2015 American Values Study, was this little tidbit at the end:

Today we flashback to 1983, when on this day an estimated 100 million people tuned in to watch “The Day After,” a controversial ABC TV movie depicting a nuclear war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The movie was thought to be so compelling that affiliates opened free 1-800 counseling lines for the premiere. In a survey taken earlier that year, a majority of Americans said a third World War using nuclear weapons was very (29 percent) or somewhat (34 percent) likely, while 34 percent said not very likely at all (Source: Harris Survey, Mar., 1983).

REACTION:

Flashback, indeed … I was immediately thrown back to a small town on the banks of the Mississippi, not far from where I grew up.  I worked for the local college and our family at the time included four children (ages 12, 10, 3, and four days away from a 2nd birthday).  

Happenings …

What You Can Do …

Click on the poster or HERE to become #StigmaFree and engage in the following:

TAKE THE #STIGMAFREE PLEDGE:

Go to NAMI and promise publicly to do what you can to erase the stigma of mental illness in our society.  Doing so creates intention, responsibility and accountability.

LEARN ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS:

Check out mental illness information at these sites:

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

American Psychiatric Association (APA)

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Mental Disorders and Conditions (DSM) via PsychCentral

U.S. Department of Health Services (DHS)

BONUS:  Mental Health and The Young – Huffington Post article which outlines the need and how our country is addressing mental illness among our children and young people.

BECOME AN ADVOCATE: 

Volunteer with your local mental health organizations, hospital treatment programs, or with a community organization.

Speak out (now that you know facts instead of assumptions) when you hear others misrepresent mental illness and those who suffer from it.

Act politically to support and pass legislation which provides real support for funding and fair treatment within the law for those who suffer from mental illness.

That’s enough to do today:) … I’ll have more tomorrow …

Trying to remember to take my own advice in the Heartland ….

John

NOTE FYI:  In addition to being a Board Certified Coach (BCC), I am also maintain standing as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and Master Addiction Counselor (MAC).  In the past, I was a Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri.  I have worked in both volunteer and paid positions in Texas and Missouri providing education, advocacy, assessment, and treatment.  

Yes, I have some skin in this game …

Purple Pride …

Even though they changed the name of my first alma mater (BSE 1971, MA `980), I still have the feeling …

Remembering an excellent public education and some fine times in K’ville, back when the school was Northeast Missouri State University.

Thinking purple today, even if I’m not wearing purple in the Heartland …. Go, Bulldogs!

 

John

“Wax On, Wax Off … “

“We make sacred pact. I promise teach karate to you, you promise learn. I say, you do, no questions.”

Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita)

 As is so often the case, I go to the movies for inspiration, wisdom, and knowledge.

Never mind that I often instead receive lots of action, sex, and trivialities …

 In the case above, from The Karate Kid (Happy 30th Birthday), we hit gold … a simple and clear statement of the learning~teaching collaboration.  Things do not get much more clearly stated than this:

 The teacher promises to teach …

The student promises to learn …

 The teacher provides guidance …

The student listens and does …

This agreement is a sacred responsibility … or it ought to be.

The only thing I disagree with is the “No Questions” part … although I even have a caveat on my quibble:

There are questions … and then there are questions.

DON’T ASK …

Do not ask questions when you should already know about a thing.  We live in a world where knowledge is readily available.  Learn to learn yourself, rather than always depend on someone else to respond and explain … that smacks of laziness.   Find out yourself to fill your deficiencies in knowledge. 

Do not question simply because you do not clearly understand … think about it and consider the aspects.  Sometimes experience is the best or even only way to truly learn something.  Asking a question is not the only way to enlightenment.

DO ASK …

Ask questions when a new thought occurs to you or you have a concrete reason to doubt something.  This is when you are forming positions or perspectives with regard to a thing.

Question yourself … reflect on your statements, your positions, and your choice of words and phrases.

Ask questions when you are encountering something new about which you have no prior information or knowledge upon which to depend.   This is not laziness … this is curiosity and curiosity is good.

 The only question I really have for you sort of violates my first statement above: 

Any questions?

Questioning my own questioning in the Heartland ….

John

Books For Sale:) …

The University of Phoenix St. Louis campus is having a Book Sale!:)

 

If you read, if you know a reader, if readers live in your home, or are part of your family, here’s an opportunity to give them quite a gift.

While you are shopping, check our our degree programs in Education … a value-added profession.

Click HERE for more information.

Feeling a delicious tingle every time a book is sold in the Heartland ….

John