Working in Education through the Language Lens

I've posted about resilience before - but this post is geared more towards being able to push through those hard times, when life seems to be falling apart at the seams or overwhelming. Our last #ptchat was focused on mental health, and just like diversity, I want this conversation to continue. I recently watched "To Write Love on Her Arms" ~ if you haven't seen it - and you are an educator - you should. It's not a 'feel good' movie by any stretch. However it allows you to take a glimpse - into the lives of those affected and afflicted by addiction and mental illness. Unless you have experienced any kind of trauma or mental health illness of your own, you will watch this movie with blinkers on, missing some key things. So let me share some self reflections (without spoilers). As an educator and as a survivor: 1. You cannot "see" depression. Unfortunately, it is not always visible when someone is going through a period of depression. Don...

As I was enjoying the first mow of the season , I noticed several of these paths that our three dogs have made around the yard. It's not just that their muddy, grass less trails are around the perimeter (as protective canines do)- it's the fact that while I was mowing - they stayed the course (stuck to their path) instead of just taking a short cut across the grass to get out of my way.   Just like humans -they have their particular spots/seats. This is Ozzie's - the horizontal deck beam is the perfect height to rest his chin as he surveys the yard activities. Jack stays close to the door so he can be the first one in (he prefers the company of humans), and Ben, well he is the outlier - probably chasing shadows or running the path at the sight of a bird. Ozzie (brown lab above) will actually stand in front of "his" bed and bark until one of the other two retreat to a less worthy bed or heaven forbid - the floor. He has tried this with me when he wants ...