Learning Silence 9/31/12

My first thought about silence reminded me of a conversation with a client I had a few months ago.  Her husband of five years had entered an outpatient program for alcohol addiction after a domestic violent situation landed him in jail.  At around thirty days in his sobriety she shared how she was a child of alcohol parents and how she was conditioned to deal with an alcoholic husband.  She shared how she felt awkward and uncomfortable with his sobriety, not arguing not fighting, and cried when she said she didn't quite know how to handle the "silence".  I guess I never thought silence could be good or bad.

This session caused me to dig deep to understand how some people are conditioned to live in daily chaotic conditions.  They in turn feel anxious in waiting for the next chaotic situation to arrive and are unsettled in quiet or calming situations.  I cant imagine living in a constant fight or flight mode, I think how emotionally exhausting this would be.  I wondered how the act of silence could be terrifying for people.  This is the reality for people who come from abusive homes and are in abusive relationships.  This is the reality being married to someone who struggles with drug or alcohol addiction.  This is how some family members live around a loved one with severe mental illness. 

So how does one teach silence?  Do they find it in a quiet room around the house?  Do they learn to meditate or do yoga? Do they venture out in nature? Do they sit quiet and journal?  I suppose it is up to the individual how to practice silence.  However, I think learning to appreciate silence can be a positive experience for all.  With an increase in technology and gadgets people don't do silence.  I think we all need to devote time to silence just as we all devote time to communicate.   

9/15/12 Politics a dirty word

Surrounded and drowning in political garb this week.  I feel politics is yet another way to divide us.  I do like Facebook and check it daily for any cool stuff and pictures of friends and family.  Some people over post but what got me riled up this week was to open up facebook and see links to political sites, comments on the horrible president, or Romney being a liar was really driving me crazy ....I de-friended a few people this week.

I realize that many of my husbands family from the south in particular are Republican's ok whatever--- my best friend is a Democrat great...whatever.  Is it just me who is turned off by this?  I have come to the conclusion, I was just on a bit of overload with reading about politics this week and watching some on television the week before, and my parents ughhh thats all they talk about sometimes.  In processing why it was making me so irritated I realized it is a way for them to express and advocate for their beliefs hence the word social media.  

After taking the Political Party Compass quiz I realized I was about where I figured.  Im on the left but close to the middle.  I did not have alot of strongly agrees or strongly disagrees. I think the bottom was liberal, I wish I would have printed it out now.  Anyhow in this weeks readings I related to Democratic Socialist and Green Party.  I like the idea of universal health care and alleviating poverty. I agree our welfare system is a bit flawed but still does the job.  I think there are people who are enabled by the welfare system but with less and less opportunity and jobs its hard to tell if its circumstance or motivation. I think its hard for people to get out of poverty without working or having some tools to use in society.  I encourage all single mothers to go to school for something because life is just going to get harder. and I leave with you with Donna Summer's "She Works Hard for the Money".

http://youtu.be/09ZSKE38lTU

2nd Week Thoughts

I really enjoyed everyones blog this week.  I realized it is a chance to share and continue with this journey we all share.  I have enjoyed the lighter amount of homework --(shhh don't tell anyone) these last few weeks but I am already starting to feel pressure about the upcoming "policy project" coupled with the other half of research project.  

I am using "blogger" in hopes of problem solving an issue I am faced with this semester.  I am thinking I might have to finish the other half of the research project solo. Which brings me to my issue -- I am looking for a partner or group for policy because I am "fearful" of school over load.  I am not picky on the subject as I feel it is all relative to the final goal of improving social policies. SO please, kindly email me :) I was just noticing it was starting to bring me down and I was unmotivated this week. 

On another note, the end of summer is near.  We have been surrounded by wildfires and many people lost their homes.  I try to live each day with an amount of gratitude and empathy for others in challenging situations.  I see my own family faced with challenges of unemployment and can't help but worry about the future of all.  I could not stand to watch the news and feel fearful about what politics have in store for our country.  It is really scary.  In learning about social policy it is reminding me about hope.  Many people had dreams of something better - equality, opportunity, understanding....
I can only hope to be a part of something I believe in when the time comes. But it makes me ponder the future and why so many are still dying for our country.

This is a picture my husband painted on a rock located on my parents property in French Gulch, CA.