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What would you do if you saw a rather large dog running down the road?
It could be 12:30 in the afternoon or 3:00 in the morning… if I see a stray dog running down the street, nine times out of ten I will actually try to catch it. Some people I know find this extremely annoying, but I just can’t help it. I have blocked traffic on a busy street for a Malamute that was playing in the snow, I’ve chased a Boxer puppy through downtown Carson City at 2:30 a.m., and just today I stopped in the middle of a busy highway to catch a Bull Mastiff. After luring him into my car, I discovered that he did not have a name tag.
Now, what do I do with this guy?
At this point I had two options: A- Sit in my front yard with him and hope the owner drives by or B- Take him to the pound. Being pressed for time, I wasn’t going to be able to sit in the front yard with him. It was looking like the pound was my only option! I was really bummed and totally overanalyzed the situation. For some reason I was so worried that no one would claim him and he would have to live at the pound forever. I didn’t want to take him to a place where he could potentially be harmed or put to sleep. I needed to find this dog a safe place. So, from my driveway courtesy of my iPhone, I was able to google the Nevada Humane Society in Reno NV.
In the midst of my driveway research session, I saw/heard a lady driving down the street yelling out her window “Chico.. Chhhhiiiicco!”. Upon hearing this, I jumped into my car and chased her down. She was Chico’s mom! What a relief, I wasn’t forced to take him to the pound. Even though Chico caused me about 20 minutes of self-induced stress, he also reintroduced me to an organization that I would like to some day soon volunteer at. Using the following steps ”10 Easy Ways to Get Involved In Your Community” mentioned in my blog How To Get Involved, I feel I have found the perfect match!
A little bit about the Nevada Humane Society- This is a non-profit organization that was incorporated in 1932 and was originally created to address the mistreatment of local stray animals. The Nevada Humane Society has become a big part of our community and refers to itself as a community service organization. Their volunteer program has been noted to be a vital part of their success. In my opinion, one of the best features of this organization is that they practice a no-kill policy. For more information, please visit the Nevada Humane Society.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” – Mahatma Ghandi
Have you fallen… been knocked down?
In earlier blogs that I have posted, I talked about adolescent attachment with family and the importance of having friends. I am now going to talk to you about a segment of episode 3 of the three part series “This Emotional Life“, that pertains to the ability to recover from a misfortune or change. A key component of the human mind is its capacity to overcome the most horrific stresses, and use those experiences to thrive and grow. In episode 3 we meet Bob Shumaker, he is a surviving prisoner of war. His story absolutely amazes me! With that being said, I am now going to touch on Bob’s story.
Resilience-
Bob Shumaker grew up on a farm in Western Pennsylvania. In 1965 he became a husband a father. Shortly after that, Bob was sent to combat as a fighter pilot in Vietnam. While overseas, Bob’s plane was shot down and he was captured. He was taken in as a prisoner of war into North Vietnamese camps where he was tortured physically and mentally. He spend almost three out of his eight years as a prisoner of war in solitary confinement. While in solitary confinement, he spent most of his time designing the perfect house to build for him and his family , if he were to ever be released. Bob and other prisoners who were thrown into solitary confinement used the tap code to communicate. Through the tap code that were able keep their hopes and dreams alive by transmitting music lessons, french lessons, and even lessons on how to fix a T.V.
The tap code is referred to over and over again when researching Social Support. Having support is so important during tough times. Bob stated that using the tap code was a way for him and the other prisoners to support each other, and let each other know that they although they couldn’t be there for each other physically they were there mentally. Bob’s ability to bounce back from this experience is amazing to me. When I watched his story I couldn’t help but wonder if I would have been able to go through what Bob went through. I found myself asking “How was he able to do this?”.
Studies show that we learn resilience by falling down and getting back up again. Most people, when faced with a traumatic situation, find a way to get back to their set point. They are able to eventually go back to the level of happiness that they were once at. Bob Shumaker used his experience as a prisoner of war to his advantage. When he returned home, he was able to reconnect with his wife and child, build the home he had spent eight years designing, become an admiral, and a college professor. When asked if given the chance, would he could have eliminated that prisoner of war experience from his life, he responded “No!”. From this experience Bob was able to learn about himself and obtain psychological tools that he wouldn’t have obtained elsewhere… tools that he will be able to use for the rest of his life.
“Fall seven times, stand up eight.” – Unknown
To watch the full version of episode 3 and learn more about Bob’s story, please visit: This Emotional Life
Have you ever wanted to give back to your community but didn’t know exactly where to start?
My purpose is to make a difference. In the past I have never really thought about volunteering or giving back to my community. This is something that I really wish I would have looked into a long time ago. I am currently looking into organizations in the Carson City Nevada area to volunteer at. I feel that volunteering is a big deal and should be taken seriously. I encourage everyone, if they can find the time, to look into an organization and see what they can do to help.
When I first decided to volunteer, I didn’t know where to start. Just recently I stumbled over the article ”10 Easy Ways to Get Involved In Your Community“. I feel this is a good read and it offers great information on how to get started on making a difference within your community.
1. Research the causes and issues important to you.
Studies have proven that you will be more likely to stick with a cause that is supportive towards something you feel strongly about.
2. Consider the skills you have to offer.
If you volunteer to do something that you already know you are capable of performing you will be able to jump right into the work without having to train in preparation for the assignment.
3. Try something new.
Although this might involve more of a time commitment, choosing to volunteer trying something new will benefit you as well as allow you to give back.
4. Combine your goals.
What better way to kill two birds with one stone? If you combine your volunteer work with a personal goal you will be accomplishing more than one goal. An example of this could be, if you are trying to loose weight… volunteer at a day camp or somewhere where you can be active.
5. Don’t over-commit your schedule.
Overcommitting yourself can lead to exhaustion. Be sure to plan ahead and make sure that you can fit volunteering into your busy schedule.
6. Non-profits may have questions too.
To be sure that you have the skills needed, that you are truly committed to doing the work, and that your interests match those of the non-profit, you may be called in for an interview before being allowed to volunteer.
7.Consider volunteering as a family.
When a family volunteers together, the experience can bring them closer. Doing this together may also introduce everyone in the family to skills and experiences never before encountered.
8. Virtual volunteering.
There are ways of volunteering via the internet. You can join a street team, or spread the word about an organization through social networking. This sort of volunteering might be well suited for people who have limited time, no transportation, or a physical disability that precludes them from getting about freely
9. I never thought of that!
Here are some places that you might have never thought were looking for volunteers: child care centers, hospitals, half-way houses, education establishments, prisons, museums and soup kitchens. (Just to name a few). There are a lot of volunteer opportunities out there, just waiting to be discovered.
10 .Give voice to your heart through volunteering.
Be yourself! Bring your personality with you, that in itself will make a difference. Sometimes all others need is positive human interactions, to make a difference in their life.
Again, my purpose is to make a difference. If anyone has any suggestions or knows about any available volunteer work in the Carson City/Reno area, please share with me!
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has” – Margaret Mead
Have you ever felt lonely … even when submerged in a crowd of people?
As promised in my last blog Wired to Connect- “This Emotional Life” , I am going to continue to discuss topics from episode 1 of the three part series This Emotional Life. Last time I wrote about family, and the importance of attachment. We learn to relate and interact in our early years at home as children, but the thing is… our parents have to love us, others don’t. Scientists say that the reason we have such big brains is because they allow us to interact with each other, distinguish friends from enemies, and cooperate with large numbers of unrelated people.
Friends-
As children, our families are our world. As we grow that world expands and begins to include friends. Friends are good for us! In the “friends” segment of episode 1, we meet Jason a 29 year old male diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. Asperger’s Syndrome impairs ones ability to read others emotions, and causes people to learn about the world rather then how to function in the world. Functioning in a group atmosphere with large numbers of unrelated people is complicated for Jason because he cannot determine what is wanted from them, or what he needs to give to them. Jason stated that living with Asperger’s Syndrom is very frustrating because he cannot tell if people like him or not, causing him to be lonely due to the fact that he cannot relate.
All of us, at times, have had trouble making sense of the social world around us. Almost every species has it’s bully’s, and sadly humans are no exception. We are animals, and sometimes we choose conflict over cooperation, and dominance over diplomacy. At the end of the day we need to remember that we survive because we work together, we work effectively as a collective. No one deserves to live a lonely life, regardless if you suffer from a mental disorder or not. Understand that not everyone connects to the real world the way that you do.
“A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked.” – Bernard Meltzer
For more information about the importance of friends, please visit: This Emotional Life
Have you ever wondered why some relationships succeed while others fail?
This morning I was able to catch up on episode 1 of “This Emotional Life“, a PBS special. This 3 part series is hosted by Daniel Gilbert, Harvard psychologist. It opens a window into real lives by exploring ways to improve our social relationships, cope with emotional issues, and become more positive, resilient individuals. Episode 2 is airing as I am writing this blog, and episode 3 will air tomorrow at 9:00 p.m. pst. The first episode addressed relationships with “Family, Friends & Lovers”. I am extremely intrigued by this series, and I want to share a little piece of it with you.
Family-
I feel it is fair to assume that all of us want to live happily ever after. We desire pleasure over pain, joy over sorrow, and so on. Now that we have established that, I bet you are wondering how. How do we satisfy these desires? How do we reach our happily ever after? Science suggests that we can achieve this state of happiness through the success of our social relationships. Time and time again it has been proven that successful relationships are the key to human happiness.
All relationships begin with our very first one, parent to child. Babies- more specifically… human infants, know how to get adults to do things for them. All it takes is a smile, and we are instantly at their mercy. This process, or this bond that a child forms with a caregiver, is known as attachment. Seth Pollak Ph.D. conducted studies in the 90′s on toddlers who were placed in Russian orphanages. These toddlers spent most of their time alone in a crib, and were provided with little time for human interaction. Because there were 15 babies to each nurse, the time that was dedicated to them was used for feeding and changing their diapers. This lack of attention taught these children that no one was there for them and when upset, if they wanted to be calmed down, they need to do it themselves. It was with this study that Pollak discovered a direct link between children in orphanages and emotional problems.
Most of what we know about attachment, unfortunately, is because of studies conducted on children who are directly involved with this process going painfully wrong. Children who have experienced problems during the attachment stage usually display issues with relating to others, regulating emotions, and interpreting facial expressions. When children are neglected as babies, they find it hard to form secure relationships as adults. Attachment is a 2-way street between parents and children where both individuals seek love from the other. It almost seems as though survival of the human species depends on good parents providing a balance of nurture and love. Bottom line, failure to bond has dyer consequences. Social relationships are a crucial element to our happiness.
If you enjoyed reading this blog, please come back. I will be posting additional blogs about episodes 1, 2, and 3 in the future. To view the trailer, please visit: This Emotional Life
“Your children need your presence more than your presents.” – Jesse Jackson
Don’t you love it when you stumble across something interesting… unintentionally?
A little background- In the midst of Christmas shopping I stumbled across a t-shirt that I really liked. After visiting the same store with me 20 times over and having heard me say how much I like the shirt, my girlfriend Stephanie bought it for me for my birthday.
Anyway, the shirt is made by a company called “To write Love On Her Arms” called TWLOHA for short. Because this is a company that I have never heard of before, I decided to jump online and see what they are all about. It turns out that this is a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. While scanning through the first few sentences of their vision statement, my toughts exactly were, “Wow this hits home and definitely ties into what I am working towards. how cool.”
I am not sure if many people in the Northern Nevada area have heard about this organization, but I think it is amazing for several different reasons. My purpose and their vision perfectly aline. After reading through some of their blogs and having a good understanding of what this organization is trying to accomplish, I decided to become a member of their street team. In the future you will see blogs about news, events and my progress with TWLOHA.
“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” – William James
For more information about this organization please visit the TWLOHA website by clicking here.
“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” – William James
Motivation- What is it exactly that inspires you?
I feel that a major component of having a successful career is to find what inspires you, and run with it.
I am a current student at the University of Nevada Reno, studying Business Management. With being one semester away from graduating, I have finally figured out what I want to do with my life (career wise). I am extremely motivated to work with children and make a direct change in their lives while building a healthy foundation for their future. My purpose it to make a difference.
I will be continuing my education in the field of Psychology. With doing so, I am going to be conducting a lot of research. I plan on using my blog to I can share information about psychology and making a difference. I am open to any and all of your opinions, so please feel free to comment on my blogs as I proceed on this journey!
“Children are our most valuable natural resource.”- Herbert Hoover
