Citizens For Political Reform

I joined Citizens for Political Reform today. I am so tired of extreme partisan politics in government. This group was founded by some great people from both sides of the isle. Check them out at: The Bipartisan Policy Center

Undivided Self

Taking sides in a conflict has its risks. 

Margaret Thatcher said "Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by traffic from both sides”.

If both sides are extreme and unwilling to compromise the only reasonable place to be is in the middle.  Right?  I am not sure.   Political research says most Americans, yes a majority,  are in the moderate middle when it comes to social and political positions.  We all know or have a family member who is far right or far left in their thinking. They are many times the minority at a family gathering, taking hard positions on this or that topic often times raising minute issues that in the end represent extreme positions.  When our Democratic process provides only extremes to vote for what are we to do?  Vote independent?  Not vote? Get involved.

 .   

ADHD is not that simple

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/suffer-the-children/201203/why-french-kids-dont-have-adhd 

This article is a good article that argues that non-medicine intervention is the best course for treatment of ADHD.  But I believe the comentary about the French culture and the suggestion that ADHD is ONLY a behavorial issue is eroneous. There are many well behaved ADHD diagnosed children and adults who have great difficulty in focusing, sitting still or staying on task, but to suggest a whole ethnic approach is better seems very prejudice. Remember our American values, stemming from the Constitution provide for freedom and expect self-discipline in deciding where the line of freedom ends and responsibility begins.  That makes treatment of ADHD more of a challenge in American society.  How much freedom do you give to children? Any? Too much discipline can bring ACE (adverse childhood experiences) and border on abuse. Too little then you have the spoiled brat syndrome.  This simplistic solution simply hammers our American values and only serves to further erode public truth about how people develop.   This is POP psychology at its worst.

In confidence....

When you tell a person something in confidence without stating it such  and it becomes an public declaration it presents a difficult situation. Although it should not have been shared, if you forget to say "please hold in confidence", there is a human flaw that wants to share.  Sometimes it is to make a political point or to "get back" at someone.  Unfortuntely, people are hurt. 

I have served as a counselor, a member of a number of boards and as a parent.  What I hear from loved ones, or friends remains in my head and becomes the subject of my prayers for others. Just between me and God. period.  A gossip goes about telling secrets, but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence. Proverbs 11:13

The only exception to this is where a there appears to be an indication of harm to a child or others. Like many professionals I am a mandatory reporter.

Networking and Internet Radio & Work

I have started networking to find opportunities where my expertise can be used AND I can earn money to take care of my family.   I met Dan on line. He operates a website called vocrehabradio.com. After getting to know each other a little.   He asked if I would be a guest on a show he was producing about Work as Treatment. We recorded the show on Thursday, March 28, 2013.  I was interviewed in the second part of the show, podcast #11.   http://www.vocrehabradio.com/category/podcasts/   I enjoyed talking about recovery, transformation and rehabilitation.  I realized how passionate I am about this field. 

I fully agree with the theory that to give some one meaningful work is one of the most therapeutic things you can do.  Or, for someone to loose their job for reasons that do not seem fair.   Why is our country struggling?   There is not enough work that our workforce can do.  Companies are holding their dollars and scrutinizing  new hires for high technical skills that many of our workforce simply do not have, nor do they have the means or opportunity to obtain those needed skills.

So I just keep putting one foot in front of another. Making contacts, requesting opportunities, praying, meditating, walking, cooking dinner and ..... being mindful of our Creator as I understand OUR Creator to be.  One Day at a time.

Moving Forward with Grace

Having a good day. I have been following up on some job leads, moving forward with a homeless youth project AND getting some exercise.  The new advent daily email posted a link to a superbowl commercial sponsored by Dodge Ram that brings to light the divine work of farmers.  Makes me want to buy a Dodge. LOL. more importantly it reminds me the importance of the work that farmers do. Sure we can get into a political argument about corporate farmers vs local farmers and organic farmers Vs thosed that use chemical fertilizer.  But that is the destroyer dividing us.  We are evolving our farming strategies and should not destroy the gains we have made in commercial farming. Yes we need to move towards more sustainable farming. But for now I just want to thank the farmers.

http://youtu.be/AMpZ0TGjbWE

#PBTGA

A wonderful video....

http://happycatholic.blogspot.com/2013/01/want-your-heart-to-soar-watch-this.html

Former Employer posted losses

I was not surprised today when my google alert provided the following story. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-31/aetna-profit-slips-as-insurer-settles-reimbursement-lawsuit.html .  I believe Aetna will continue to have difficulties due to claim practices both in their health insurance and disability benefit markets.  When claims facts are on the fence they seem to always rule in favor of their pocket book, rather than to do the right thing and dig deeper into the facts of the claim. These quick decisions in a highly intense production environment bring significant errors.  This class action suit is one, but their LTD/STD market may see other similiar action as Employers and Employees begin to see their innovative claims practices at work. Fast is NOT always better.  I really tried to tell them but they decided my opinion was not a fit for their culture.  I understand employment at will but I believe they were misguided in their decision to terminate me. They may have violated the ADA with a wrongful termination. I have submitted this for review by the EEOC, we shall see.   I believe eventually there will be consequences for this innovation and it will show up in their profits and large employee turnover. The future of Aetna may be on shakey ground. But then what do I know.
If God is with me, who can be against me.

Employment Prayer

I lost my job on January 8, 2013. I have been networking and contacting potential employers, posted my resume on Indeed and Monster, AND applied for 16 jobs.  I have had a few very encouraging contacts and hope to firm up some consulting work in the very near future. 

With the time on my hands I have been participating in the 9:00 communion service at our church most days.  I discovered a wonderful prayer today. 

Employment Prayer

Mary, our Lady of the Miraculous Medal,

you once experienced 

hardships and difficulties.

Look kindly on me now

as I face the same difficulties.

Help me to find suitable employment.

Through my work,

I want to meet my physical needs,

and grow spiritually.

Help me to find a job

that lets me provide for myself

and for those who depend on me.

I trust you, Immaculate Mother, 

to hear my prayers and intercede for me.

I will share you goodness with others 

that they may know your power with God

and give Him honor and glory.

Amen.

#PBTGA 

Sadly, I lost my job today working at home for Aetna.  You know what they say when God closes one door he opens another.  I am just sad I could not find a place with my previous employer.  They were innovative and doing some great things.  It just was not a good fit.  So, I start my networking for another opportunity. Pray for me, as I will continue to pray for others.  Things will work out in time.  #pbtga

My heart aches for the families and community in Newton, CT.  It is a tragedy that is so painful.  I find my self grieving much more in these times. This of course is so close to home that the pain exceeds my empathy for those who suffer around the world.  This can be a painful  reminder that death and destruction has been happening in the Middle East and elsewhere continuously for years.  We must not let this pain fail to teach us of the pain of others and carry it to all our action.  Peace on Earth and Good will to all.....  Every parent in Afghanistan whose innocent children or family members die from drone attacks, or others who have been victims of terrorism.  They feel the pain we all feel now. After our grieving when we all go back to our lives, and the pain becomes a distant memory, let us not forget those who suffer around the world.    

I pray that our human condition will be released from these destructive forces and the Peace of Christ will touch us all.    

Where do we go Now

Saw a great movie this past week end.  Where do we go Now?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Te9c2jReOg

A movie about a small village in Lebanon that depicts the strength of the women in our lives. Remarkable. I am so grateful for the women in my life. My wife and best friend, Allison, my mother, grandmother and aunts. I never had a sister, but I have many platonic women friends going back to high school.   We men need to realize where peace can be found.

Taking time Off must include some mindful time.

I had the week off from work. My best friend and wife and I went to Bar Harbor for a few days. We stayed at the Quimby Inn.  My brother Doug and his wife Michelle met us there and we hiked around Jordan Pond then had lunch. We ate outside and had the exciting event of a rain shower in the middle of our lunch of Lobster Quiche, garden salad with grilled chicken AND of course popovers.  What a wonderful day. We had many mindful discussions, shared old and humorous stories, and simply just relaxed.  I am so grateful for this wonderful day.  Today's message from Robert Sylvester really hit the spot.  I realized I had already done what he is suggesting, but I decided I must share this.
Being mindful is a universal activity that brings unity to the world.

Back to work on Monday, July 9th after a week of mindful gratitude. All good things.

stephen

Storytelling is part of our human recovery to Peace

Sometimes, I am just a story teller….with no audience.  I do realize that there is little time for stories in production environment.  Telling my story was the transforming process that brought me recovery.  I do believe story telling is an integral part of every rehabilitation success. Because,  in order for the  vocational rehabilitation process to be successful it must allow, if not encourage, the claimants to tell their story, so we as rehabilitation counselors and professionals can facilitate a change in the ending from their self-fulfilling prophesy of I can’t recover, get better and become productive to I can do anthing.  Just like the little engine that could

 https://www.ted.com/themes/master_storytellers.html More on the power of storytelling. Stories are parables and we can always learn from these lessons

Truth of Humanity and the Soul

We can rationalize almost anything to feel good about our actions. In our worldly victory we win the battle but loose the war for our soul.  I just wrote this today.    I sent it to my twitter blog.  I decided to post my thoughts leading up to this. 

 I have been thinking about the political process and how we rationalize all kinds of human behavior.  The United States Constitution states we have the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  It really does not say that those pursuits must be moral and based on universal truth.  They are based on civil behavior. Some argue that the intent of the founders was to encourage moral behavior. but that is another topic. The present interpretation seems to be if it appears to not hurt another, no matter how full of greed, or hedoniism or selfishness it appears to be, it is OK.      I'd like to think that as long as we treat each other with kindness and Love, respecting differences and permitting each to live their own life all will be well in the world and in heaven.   But do we loose anything by making decisions according to only human desire? I am not sure but I think we should move forward with caution. We need to include all views, both spiritual and civil before making our final decision.

Over the course of the last few years as I have discerned, through contempletive prayer, my understanding of the perfect truth of the Creator I have learned and now believe there is absolute right and wrong in most things. Do I know this truth? Not even close. But, I have become much more anxious living in the gray areas.  There are very few gray areas in the Mystery of Creation.   But in our human imperfection there are all kinds of gray.  How do we decide what is right or wrong and what to permit here on earth in a civil cociety.  And what do we do when it seems that the world is going in the wrong direction?

 In this country we have the right to be on either side of a civil issue.  So if the majority votes to permit behavior that seems immoral, then our only recourse is to work through the democratic process, being sure to vote for what we believe to be truth.  Anything less is unAmerican.

Be sure to vote on the side of truth, the souls of All Americans are at stake.