Articles for our Growth!

Walk a Mile in Their Shoes?

“Mr. Larry, I’m just very tired.” This was Joe’s response when I asked him why he was laying his head on his desk at school. If he realized that it was wrong to sleep in class then why was he doing it?Joe went on to explain that he has three younger siblings that he takes care of while his mother is working 15 hours a day/night. It’s his responsibility to watch his siblings, get them ready for bed and get everyone up and ready for school each morning. Once he gets to school staying completely focused for his academics is challenging.

Indeed, that is quite a lot for a 14 year old.

Coaching Joe as he dealt with the punishment of sleeping in class reminded me of other stories from other client students. . .

Practicing our Resilience

We talk about being resilient and how to overcome obstacles all the time. But what does that really look like?

When I have asked for help in dealing with my issues of the past, I was told things like “Get over it”, “It could be worse”, “It’s the past”, “That happened a long time ago” or other popular phrases to console or ease my pain. My advisors were well meaning I’m sure, but the reality was this guidance was a “quick fix”. . .not something that could provide sustained relief or initiate any kind of NEW reality for me as I dealt with my past.

I needed to learn about and develop a new life skill of Resilience. . . 

Lessons in Resilience:

A Jungle Walk

I REALLY hate snakes. Maybe it’s the Adam-Eve-Garden of Eden imprint in my mind or maybe it’s just the thought of a creature slithering around on its belly without legs. . . Whatever it is, the sight of one gives me shivers up my spine. Always has, always will.

That fact did not change much for me in 1986, as 19 year old soldier spending two weeks in Panama for Jungle School. Part of our training included land navigation courses and we were formed into 8-10 man squads and released into the jungle to be tested for our survival and navigation skills.

Before being allowed to venture out unsupervised by the training cadre, we were provided the standard briefings of “animal sights and sounds of the jungle”. . .