This personal reflection describes the power of presence when supporting those who are suffering. The author recounts several experiences where simply being present with her daughter as she was dying or being present with others who were grieving brought great comfort. She emphasizes that you don't need to say or do anything profound, but your presence alone can validate and support someone experiencing suffering. Companioning those who suffer through simply being with them in their pain is a profound and courageous act of love.
A Shut-in at college finally decides to make an experience out of Halloween. There are friends. There's a girl. There is Spiderman. There is Steve Irwin. And most importantly there is comedy!
Check out the source: http://battleboredom.weebly.com/
Whilst researching this story, and specifically the Aboriginal component, I learnt that a story finds a teller and it will not rest until the story is told. This story agitated until it was told.
The story is fictitious, as are the characters. Yet the characters are real in the sense that they represent our strengths and weaknesses, fears and insecurities. The messages are also real and will support all who listen to them.
The character Weishka is real, as the back pages reflect.
When I was chosen to tell this story, it changed my life, as I was not allowed to write it without living the concepts – I have had to live the lessons I wrote about. This has not been easy, but is has been worth it.
Pat Grayson 2016
pat@heartspacebooks.com
shan@heartspacebooks.com
shan@heartspacebooks.com
A Shut-in at college finally decides to make an experience out of Halloween. There are friends. There's a girl. There is Spiderman. There is Steve Irwin. And most importantly there is comedy!
Check out the source: http://battleboredom.weebly.com/
Whilst researching this story, and specifically the Aboriginal component, I learnt that a story finds a teller and it will not rest until the story is told. This story agitated until it was told.
The story is fictitious, as are the characters. Yet the characters are real in the sense that they represent our strengths and weaknesses, fears and insecurities. The messages are also real and will support all who listen to them.
The character Weishka is real, as the back pages reflect.
When I was chosen to tell this story, it changed my life, as I was not allowed to write it without living the concepts – I have had to live the lessons I wrote about. This has not been easy, but is has been worth it.
Pat Grayson 2016
pat@heartspacebooks.com
shan@heartspacebooks.com
shan@heartspacebooks.com
The technologies and people we are designing experiences for are constantly changing, in most cases they are changing at a rate that is difficult keep up with. When we think about how our teams are structured and the design processes we use in light of this challenge, a new design problem (or problem space) emerges, one that requires us to focus inward. How do we structure our teams and processes to be resilient? What would happen if we looked at our teams and design process as IA’s, Designers, Researchers? What strategies would we put in place to help them be successful? This talk will look at challenges we face leading, supporting, or simply being a part of design teams creating experiences for user groups with changing technological needs.
UX, ethnography and possibilities: for Libraries, Museums and ArchivesNed Potter
These slides are adapted from a talk I gave at the Welsh Government's Marketing Awards for the LAM sector, in 2017.
It offers a primer on UX - User Experience - and how ethnography and design might be used in the library, archive and museum worlds to better understand our users. All good marketing starts with audience insight.
The presentation covers the following:
1) An introduction to UX
2) Ethnography, with definitions and examples of 7 ethnographic techniques
3) User-centred design and Design Thinking
4) Examples of UX-led changes made at institutions in the UK and Scandinavia
5) Next Steps - if you'd like to try out UX at your own organisation
An immersive workshop at General Assembly, SF. I typically teach this workshop at General Assembly, San Francisco. To see a list of my upcoming classes, visit https://generalassemb.ly/instructors/seth-familian/4813
I also teach this workshop as a private lunch-and-learn or half-day immersive session for corporate clients. To learn more about pricing and availability, please contact me at http://familian1.com
3 Things Every Sales Team Needs to Be Thinking About in 2017Drift
Thinking about your sales team's goals for 2017? Drift's VP of Sales shares 3 things you can do to improve conversion rates and drive more revenue.
Read the full story on the Drift blog here: http://blog.drift.com/sales-team-tips
How to Become a Thought Leader in Your NicheLeslie Samuel
Are bloggers thought leaders? Here are some tips on how you can become one. Provide great value, put awesome content out there on a regular basis, and help others.
The Chakra System in our body - A Portal to Interdimensional Consciousness.pptxBharat Technology
each chakra is studied in greater detail, several steps have been included to
strengthen your personal intention to open each chakra more fully. These are designed
to draw forth the highest benefit for your spiritual growth.
The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament, and is the first book of the Deuteronomistic history, the story of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile.
Exploring the Mindfulness Understanding Its Benefits.pptxMartaLoveguard
Slide 1: Title: Exploring the Mindfulness: Understanding Its Benefits
Slide 2: Introduction to Mindfulness
Mindfulness, defined as the conscious, non-judgmental observation of the present moment, has deep roots in Buddhist meditation practice but has gained significant popularity in the Western world in recent years. In today's society, filled with distractions and constant stimuli, mindfulness offers a valuable tool for regaining inner peace and reconnecting with our true selves. By cultivating mindfulness, we can develop a heightened awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings, leading to a greater sense of clarity and presence in our daily lives.
Slide 3: Benefits of Mindfulness for Mental Well-being
Practicing mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety levels, improving overall quality of life.
Mindfulness increases awareness of our emotions and teaches us to manage them better, leading to improved mood.
Regular mindfulness practice can improve our ability to concentrate and focus our attention on the present moment.
Slide 4: Benefits of Mindfulness for Physical Health
Research has shown that practicing mindfulness can contribute to lowering blood pressure, which is beneficial for heart health.
Regular meditation and mindfulness practice can strengthen the immune system, aiding the body in fighting infections.
Mindfulness may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity by reducing stress and improving overall lifestyle habits.
Slide 5: Impact of Mindfulness on Relationships
Mindfulness can help us better understand others and improve communication, leading to healthier relationships.
By focusing on the present moment and being fully attentive, mindfulness helps build stronger and more authentic connections with others.
Mindfulness teaches us how to be present for others in difficult times, leading to increased compassion and understanding.
Slide 6: Mindfulness Techniques and Practices
Focusing on the breath and mindful breathing can be a simple way to enter a state of mindfulness.
Body scan meditation involves focusing on different parts of the body, paying attention to any sensations and feelings.
Practicing mindful walking and eating involves consciously focusing on each step or bite, with full attention to sensory experiences.
Slide 7: Incorporating Mindfulness into Daily Life
You can practice mindfulness in everyday activities such as washing dishes or taking a walk in the park.
Adding mindfulness practice to daily routines can help increase awareness and presence.
Mindfulness helps us become more aware of our needs and better manage our time, leading to balance and harmony in life.
Slide 8: Summary: Embracing Mindfulness for Full Living
Mindfulness can bring numerous benefits for physical and mental health.
Regular mindfulness practice can help achieve a fuller and more satisfying life.
Mindfulness has the power to change our perspective and way of perceiving the world, leading to deeper se
The Good News, newsletter for June 2024 is hereNoHo FUMC
Our monthly newsletter is available to read online. We hope you will join us each Sunday in person for our worship service. Make sure to subscribe and follow us on YouTube and social media.
What Should be the Christian View of Anime?Joe Muraguri
We will learn what Anime is and see what a Christian should consider before watching anime movies? We will also learn a little bit of Shintoism religion and hentai (the craze of internet pornography today).
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way.pptxCelso Napoleon
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way
SBs – Sunday Bible School
Adult Bible Lessons 2nd quarter 2024 CPAD
MAGAZINE: THE CAREER THAT IS PROPOSED TO US: The Path of Salvation, Holiness and Perseverance to Reach Heaven
Commentator: Pastor Osiel Gomes
Presentation: Missionary Celso Napoleon
Renewed in Grace
The PBHP DYC ~ Reflections on The Dhamma (English).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma Reflections for the PBHP DYC for the years 1993 – 2012. To motivate and inspire DYC members to keep on practicing the Dhamma and to do the meritorious deed of Dhammaduta work.
The texts are in English.
For the Video with audio narration, comments and texts in English, please check out the Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF2g_43NEa0
In Jude 17-23 Jude shifts from piling up examples of false teachers from the Old Testament to a series of practical exhortations that flow from apostolic instruction. He preserves for us what may well have been part of the apostolic catechism for the first generation of Christ-followers. In these instructions Jude exhorts the believer to deal with 3 different groups of people: scoffers who are "devoid of the Spirit", believers who have come under the influence of scoffers and believers who are so entrenched in false teaching that they need rescue and pose some real spiritual risk for the rescuer. In all of this Jude emphasizes Jesus' call to rescue straying sheep, leaving the 99 safely behind and pursuing the 1.
HANUMAN STORIES: TIMELESS TEACHINGS FOR TODAY’S WORLDLearnyoga
Hanuman Stories: Timeless Teachings for Today’s World" delves into the inspiring tales of Hanuman, highlighting lessons of devotion, strength, and selfless service that resonate in modern life. These stories illustrate how Hanuman's unwavering faith and courage can guide us through challenges and foster resilience. Through these timeless narratives, readers can find profound wisdom to apply in their daily lives.
Kenneth Grant - Against the Light-Holmes Pub Grou Llc (1999).pdf
Power Of Presence, Personal Reflection
1. JOURNAL OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
Volume 13, Number 3, 2010 Personal Reflection
ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
DOI: 10.1089=jpm.2009.0313
The Power of Presence
Jefri Ann Franks, M.S.
Sometimes in the hospital Heather’s nurse would take a
I t was 9:00 pm and my daughter Heather was resting
peacefully in her hospital bed. I was perched on the edge of
the ‘‘parent bed’’ by the window. I had become a sentry of
look at me, a sobbing, anguished mess and say, ‘‘Would a hug
help?’’ Sometimes she would come into the room to find
sorts, ever watchful, ready to spring into action at a moments Heather unconscious and me crying in a heap on the parent
notice on her behalf. Her cancer had failed to yield to the bed. She would sit beside me, take my hand, and cry with
aggressive chemo, radiation, and stem cell rescue attempts. me—not a word spoken. This made me feel understood. My
She was in the process of dying. favorite people at Heather’s funeral were those who looked at
Quietly, the door to our room opened and Dr. Greenfield, me with tears in their eyes and said, ‘‘I don’t know what to say
one of the staff oncologists came in and took a seat in the chair to you, but I wanted to be here.’’ Perfect! I would think be-
beside her bed—my other perch. She opened her eyes and cause I had no idea what to say to them. Some things are
smiled up at him. He began to stroke her forehead and speak unspeakable and it is best to admit that.
to her very softly. Although I could not hear every word, it When I found a part-time job a year after Heather died, it
was a sacred conversation between the two of them, I heard required me to call on people in hospital settings. This was
enough to know that he was telling her that he would be away obviously difficult and brought up a myriad of painful
for a while and asking her if she would still be here when he memories. As I drove down the highway in tears between
got back. She asked him how many days he would be gone calls I would call my sister-in-law who would say, ‘‘Are you
and I saw her look into space for a moment then she turned to OK to drive? Do you need to pull over? Do you need me to
him and said, ‘‘Yes, I will still be here.’’ come get you?’’ Sometimes we would sing the chorus of a
I have replayed that scene many times in my mind since song together that she taught me: ‘‘Start from the very be-
Heather’s death. The sheer realness of it brings me to tears— ginning, it’s a very good place to start . . . ’’ One time I was so
tears of gratitude. Dr. Greenfield gave my daughter a gift that deep in despair that after listening to me she simply said, ‘‘I
night, the gift of his presence. He came into her world and love you!’’ three powerful words that got me through that
shared his vulnerability with her. Each stroke of her forehead day.
said, ‘‘I love you,’’ ‘‘Will you be here when I get back,’’ and When I think of the power of presence, I realize that it is not
‘‘You are important to me, I know you are leaving and I need given the honor it deserves. People think they have to do
to say goodbye.’’ These things brought great comfort to more. They think they have to somehow fix it or make it better
Heather. Although the word, ‘‘goodbye’’ was never spoken, or they have not offered anything of value. I respectfully
it was exchanged. submit that the power of another human being’s presence
Months earlier in another hospital stay Heather was very when you are suffering is everything. You do not have to say
quiet and seemed in emotional distress. My attempts to talk or do something profound; you cannot fix or solve the situa-
with her were met with, ‘‘Mother, I need space!’’ I felt that I tion. To try to do so is arrogant and is playing a false game that
was the one she needed space from. I asked her who, if any- is isolating and hurtful. As my friend Dr. Alan Wolfeldt, ex-
one, she would talk to and she said she would talk to Annie, pert on grief says, the power of presence is about ‘‘compa-
our child life worker. I asked that Annie be paged to come see nioning’’ the suffering. Entering into their painful world and
Heather when she could. Sometime later Annie arrived out- walking along side them. What to bring? YOU in all your
side the door. She looked in through the door window, wonderful, unpredictable messy humanness—just as you are.
waiting for permission from Heather to enter. Heather waived Suffering is messy and unpredictable as well, so you will
her in. Annie stopped just inside the door and looked at get along fine! In the months following Heather’s death my
Heather, assessing the situation. Instead of walking toward pastor said to me, ‘‘I can’t do the work for you. You are in a
the bed, Annie got down on all fours and slowly crawled to valley of boulders and in order to step forward you must
the bed, never taking her eyes off my daughter. When she got break the boulders up with your sledgehammer. Breaking up
to the side of the bed she rested her chin on it without saying a those boulders and moving forward is your work alone.
word. Heather broke into an ear-to-ear smile and I felt a wave However, I can bring you lemonade or walk alongside you
of relief wash over me. Annie had found her! I left them to- and tell you jokes!’’ He was describing the art of compa-
gether and went to the parent room so they could talk. nioning. I could picture myself, sweaty, forlorn, exhausted but
Building Resilience and Hope=End-of-Life Issues, Kansas City, Missouri.
331
2. 332 PERSONAL REFLECTION
smiling as I saw him climbing down the valley with that shape. It must have shown on my face. After taking a look
lemonade! at me, my nephew ran to his room returning with his boom
To companion the suffering is an act of courage. The suf- box. He got on his knees in front of me, inserted a CD and
ferer has to be in their painful situation, the companion the beginning notes of ‘‘You’ll Be In My Heart’’ by Phil
chooses to be. It is a breathtaking and profound act of love to Collins came forth. He squared his shoulders, looked me in
enter into someone else’s darkness to give your vulnerability the eye, took a breath and sang the whole song to me. I met
to them and to receive theirs, never knowing exactly what it is his gaze and sang along with tears of love and gratitude
going to look like or feel like. It is holy ground and you and the streaming down my face.
sufferer are pilgrims on a journey together. You can be a
witness and a validation, you can be a beacon of hope, you
Address correspondence to:
may just be the reason the sufferer is able to bear their burden
Jefri Ann Franks, M.S.
for one more day.
11115 NW 55th Street
Perhaps my 6-year-old nephew, operating on pure in-
Kansas City, MO 64152
stinct, did it best. Several months after Heather’s death I
was over at my brother’s house and I was in pretty bad E-mail: jefri@kcnet.com