Friday, March 30, 2012

Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?


---This is NOT an EDEN talk...but, one of my favorites that I think is very poignant to what the basic problem is that we have in our society...and frankly - in our hospital. Sir Ken is a very gifted, entertaining man. This goes along with ''Why do these kids love school?'' that I posted awhile ago. Give this video a listen. You will be doing yourself a great favor.

---My personal contention is if we all were more creative and reached more of our real potential we woudn't be in the fix that we find ourselves. It is never too late. We have to just start doing what is right and true and begin being ourselves. Be creative. Think for yourself and treat others like you really want to be treated. Take care of one another.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

5th Eden Alternative Conference Highlights


---This video may be hard to hear at times, but the content is very good. Pictured is Dr. Al Power who did the training at LHH. I, particularly, like the last half of the video where the game shows, the nonsense words and similarities of wheelchair control to joy stick are mentioned. ''For $99.00 dollars, his life was turned around.'' Also, it was noted that low functioning people can enjoy things on the computer.
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Sunday, March 18, 2012

Friday, March 16, 2012

Eden Alternative Juneau Pioneers' Home Story


---At one point it is said that ''you got rid of the job description and realized that what is good for the elders...is my job.'' And ''to receive care is to give care.'' - Very, nice quotes.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

YNN Rochester Reports on the Eden Alternative


---More on caring for others. The EDEN ALTERNATIVE seems to be known in many places throughout the US and the world.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

My BROTHER and FRIEND HANK:

My Brother and Friend Hank -

---My brother and Hank both told a story to me about things that they both have done…concerning animals.

---Hank once found a mocking bird that had a broken leg. He took the bird home and made a splint for him. The mocking bird mended and was part of his family. Hank was married at the time. He speaks of the bird riding in his car. He would perch on the steering wheel. Hank said that the biggest problem was that when he turned the wheel the bird would have to compensate for all that. Hank says that the streets in North Carolina aren’t very straight.

---I told my brother, Peter, Hank’s mocking bird story in an email. Peter told me in a quick email that he soon sent back.

---When he was working one morning as a campus policeman for a college in Massachusetts, he saw a skunk with a yogurt container on his head. The skunk couldn’t shake the container off. NOT able to see, the skunk was in and out of the street. Peter says that he knew that soon the skunk would be hit. Knowing Peter as I do, his next step didn’t surprise me. His partner was another story…HOWEVER!

---Peter got out of the car and slowly approached the skunk. I’m sure that he spoke quietly and reassuringly…the whole time. He had a special-type voice he would use at times like this. What was even better is that he genuinely likes animals.

---A skunk in fear is really nobody’s first choice of an encounter to have. Fear is what starts them spraying in the first place. AND...THEN THAT SMELL! After a short time, he had the situation well in hand. I wondered what he would have done if he was sprayed by the skunk…but, before I asked he said, ‘’It would have been terrible if the skunk had been hit by a car.’’ I know that he was thinking of the ‘’poor ole skunk.’’

 ---Oh, yeah! The reason I am not surprised by any of this – Peter has a way of putting others first. So does Hank, at times, for that matter. They are at those times much like many of our nurses and others who work and volunteer at Laguna Honda. It may NOT resemble EDEN all the time…But,  SOMETIMES IT DOES. Be Well.

They both heard the ''helplessness'' of the animal and took it seriously.