Five Questions With...Ken Robinson!

The CANARY STORY

The CANARY STORY

 

---If we have a canary in our charge to care for, we would be concerned with his food, water and condition of his cage. We would, basically, want the canary to be out of harm’s way - especially when the care of the canary is our responsibility.

---These are ALL very necessary things to be concerned about.

---If our concern was for the canary’s happiness…we would be sure that the bird had a chance to fly and sing. If the things of the first paragraph are not in place, then flying and singing are compromised.

---A well-rounded bird has everything in place…the basics and the things that make him happy. A well-rounded bird sings a happier tune than one who is NOT allowed to sing and fly.

---Where do we see our responsibility? An even worse scenario is a bird that doesn’t know he is able to fly and sing.

''POIGNANTOLOGY 101''

‘’POIGNANTOLOGY 101’’

Another Good Example

 

---Today was a meeting of the Quality of Life-Performance Improvement Team (PIT). This is slated to improve the quality of life of the residency of which Frank and myself...belong. We have new leadership. I was VERY encouraged.

---Our blind, friend, Frank was in the spotlight, again. This time he had a book-on-tape (2 cassettes) and a borrowed cassette player. But he wasn’t shown what to do. He couldn’t make the whole thing work.

---A nurse that was present was going to help him, but she had to excuse herself for hospital business elsewhere. She has three blind relatives, so she seems to have, probably, been a good one to help.

RESIDENTOLOGY 101 is: To Enjoy Living - We Must Be Heard + Taken Seriously.

---The NEW group leader seemed to ‘’GET’’ the situation that I have been ''spouting'' which NOW seems for a very long time. I found this very encouraging. We, residents, in general...really don’t know how to hook into the system. Per usual, Frank got a lot of ‘’I don’t have time, now’’ from many of his helpers. We, residents, have a lot of unfulfilled preferences. The hospital is good on the medical side of things, but lacks equally on the relationship end.

---The nurse at the meeting would be a good example - as many - on the staff. They would help if they didn’t have something else that they are supposed to be doing. No one seems to have time. The irony of it all is that they don’t have time for Frank (resident), because they have to be elsewhere doing paperwork (or something of importance) to allegedly help somebody else...who is, also,  a resident. They become very inefficient in all this.

---If they started a new policy stating that each moment is a new moment and when in doubt the thing to do is to head to the nearest resident and get to know him or her (and maybe form some type of relationship.) I’m convinced that ALL folks would be much happier and benefit greatly. That includes both residents and staff. Take Care.

The ''ICEBERGS''

CONSIDER THIS...

The ICEBERGs

 

---We view Icebergs floating in the water, probably an ocean and very cold. The icebergs collect more ice and becomes more massive the colder the water. The opposite is true as the water becomes warmer. They become smaller.

---We see that each ''iceberg'' is different, having its own shape, size, height, depth, weight, etc. We see that each iceberg can really be distinguished from the other.

---We are like ''Icebergs.'' We have different characteristics. But, each ''iceberg'' is really only WATER. That is the Life Principle. It is the Love Principle,

---We are ALL made of the same stuff…just proportioned, differently. The LOVE ENERGY, the LIFE ENERGY is the water in the ''iceberg.'' This is the Chi, the prana, the ‘’’viriditas’’ that Hildegard of Bingen spoke about. It is The Prime Mover. The ‘’slow-medicine’’ that Dr. Victoria Sweet spoke of in her book ‘’God’s Hotel,’’ (about the old Laguna Honda Hospital where I lived.) The ‘’Life-Force,’’ viriditas or whatever we call it is the same in ALL of us. Some call it the God-Force.

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In This Analogy - ''We Are The Icebergs, LIFE (Itself) Is The Water.''

 Hildegard Von Bingen - website

CARE PARTNER

 

The ''CARE PARTNER''

 

---During my time spent working in the ''helping'' profession, I was asked, ''What part of my story are clients interested in hearing?'' This question was seriously posed by one of the psychiatrists who sincerely wanted to know. My answer was not well thought out, at the time, and I wish to convey the following.

---Clients or Residents are not interested in your story unless it has some bearing on there own situation. By this, I mean, they want to know if the person in front of them (psychiatrist, ''CARE PARTNER'' or whathaveyou) is able to know what they, themselves (the resident/patient,) are going through. Will they be understood? So, the provider tells his story and communicates to the resident the amount that he knows of himself and of ''life in general,'' and the relationship between the two. .                                                                                                                

---The ''care partner'' brings his own understanding, from his arsenal made up of ''where he's been, his story, which leads to the 'care partners' own level of self-knowledge and his/her ability to communicate this.'' It must be remembered that each ''resident-care partner'' relationship has its own unique differences, so what works with one resident may or may not work with another.

---What always works is increasing the self-knowledge of the resident. We want to increase his ''arsenal,'' also. We can help him with his self-knowledge and how he sees ''life in general.'' We help with his communication skills and help him articulate how he sees his relationship to this ''vision'' of himself and his ''new'' situation.  We try to increase his relationship to his ''creative-self'' and his ''sense of oneness'' with all things and people, trying to increase his/her relationship with ''life in general'' and ''existence,'' Itself.

---We want to be sure we are not just passing along our own set of hang-ups and neuroses. So, when I say ''life in general,'' be very sure that your own ''vision'' is not tainted. That you see things and understand things ''clearly'' and you are basically happy and bring a sense of well-being to the table. Be honest with yourself and be responsible. Half-truths and misconceptions are not what the ''resident'' needs a whole lot more of. In fact, these very things, probably, have a lot to do with the reason why this person is seated before you. It surely has much to do with his ''Frustration.'' Be Well.

 

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN MARCH, 2006.

JOKE!

''RESIDENTOLOGY 101'' - Frank's Dilemma

 

 ''RESIDENTOLOGY 101''

Frank's Dilemma

 

---Recently, Frank A., had a dilemma in his life. Frank, in case you don't know him, has a robust Irish brogue and a presence that fills a room. One of the  reasons that Frank is at Laguna Honda is that one day he acquired a fever, and lost his eyesight in the process.

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''He's Blind''

 

---One of the ways that Frank communicates is in  writing notes to his friends. Frank's dilemma was one in that, being totally blind, the writing, itself, was hard to read. He would print in big, block letters trying to be clear, but as soon as the pen left the page, the problems would begin. Being blind, he would put the pen back where he thought it belonged, but it always was NOT in the correct spot. The reader ALWAYS found reading Frank's notes a challenge, at best. Even his children.

---Frank was determined to be heard along these lines. Writing notes and communicating his ideas, were very important to him. Thankfully, Frank was heard...and was hooked up with Occupational Therapy. Gina D., is his therapist. It took a little time, but, the improvement is there. The before-and-after of his writing is, comparatively, like day-and-night. It is so much clearer and easier to read. The squeaky wheel GOT its grease. It was ALL viable. Frank's onetime dilemma, is now a Real Success.  Frank was heard and taken seriously. He can, now, leave that frustration behind. He can, again, communicate with his notes. Frank + the Residents'/Patients' wish to congratulate Occupational Therapy and Gina D., for all their efforts. Thank you. Take Care.

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(From the archives.)