Monday, September 17, 2012
Back to School…
Ahhh… I went back to school this past week. Not as a student; I have the privilege to be an educator at two university/colleges in my area. I teach in their addiction counseling education programs. The ages range from 18-88 (yes, 88!).
When I have a student that tells me he does not know how to use the internet or email system I refer him to our 88 year young “Wonder Guy.” At first, the student will be taken back. Then they usually will say something to the effect, ‘well, if he could learn how to, I guess I can to…’
I spent all morning Tuesday before my first evening class trying to locate my “Smurf” lunchbox. Alas, no luck. However, I did find an old “Transformer” one – good enough. So I packed it with a couple of Met-Rx bars, some hard-boiled eggs, and bottled water. Then off to work.
What I love the most is seeing minds open up: students discussing the material, their experiences, hopes, and aspirations. Most of the students are older, working, have family responsibilities, etc. My main course is, “Substance Abuse & Co-Occurring Disorders.” The majority of the students are in recovery themselves and the co-occurring disorder piece is new to most of them and they have had limited experience from either a clinical or academic viewpoint.
I give them ‘High Kudos’ for making the time to further educate themselves; not only to their benefit, but the population that they are either already serving, or, will be shortly.
When they arrive to my classroom I usually have the “Rolling Stones” or “AC/DC” cranked-up to welcome them. Many look around in amazement. “Hey, you’ve had a long day at work, come on in, have some coffee, kick your shoes off, and I will get this class going in a little while.”
I am not above them. I am there to educate them, answer their questions, sometimes debate with them, and always to share my humanness with them. It is all about ‘human to human.’ Not, I am above you, I am the teacher.
Yes, I am their teacher. This is a great responsibility and I take it seriously. But I educate with a comic flair due to my previous life in comedy. This helps to maintain their attention and enthusiasm (yes, I really am human, lol). The class is four hours long so I feel the need to make it fun as well as educational.
When people complete my course I always tell them my responsibility does not end there. I want them to feel free to call me anytime they have a question or want to run something past me.
I am very fortunate, I love what I do for work and people say it shows.
Truly Blessed.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Addiction Guy – Back from Nova Scotia
After a refreshing week in Nova Scotia with my wife I have returned ‘locked & loaded’ for the fall semester of teaching.
I love Nova Scotia and I cannot believe the number of years that I let slip by before returning there for a vacation. There was no excuse really. My wife and her older brother own the home that was their parents.
Maybe it was the fact that the last time I went “Down East” was to bury my father-in-law whom I loved deeply. Or, maybe it was my thinking it was just too far to go. I don’t know.
What I do know however it that I truly love it there. It is the kind of environment that automatically ‘slams’ on the brakes for a person (yes, even me, lol).
Some friends are amazed that I do not go out of my mind from boredom with so little to actually do there; reading a couple of good books, going for walks on country roads, going out to enjoy such dishes as lobster Nova Scotia (which is lobster stuffed with lobster in a thick lobster bisque).
Bored? I think not. This is a place where I can charge the batteries and get some deep restorative peace and tranquility.
To start the day I would head to the local YMCA (Yarmouth) to work out. After that, anything we decided to do; which could include doing nothing.
Cousins are numerous and close by to where we stay. People down there just walk into each other’s homes as they are announcing their entrance. Some might find this practice a bit un-nerving. We don’t. They have a sense of community; something that back home can be missing when our pace of life gets steam-rolling along at a higher and higher level (if we allow it to).
It reminded me of growing up in the sixties when people in the neighborhood knew everyone in the neighborhood and would get together on a daily or at least a weekend basis.
I have a friend from college that lives outside of Quebec City. I love seeing her photos on her Facebook page; beautiful shots from around the rural area where she lives. Wonderful photos of sunsets and nature shots of all types and kind, of her friends and family. I can feel her joy of being alive.
I mention her because I love her attitude that life is about living, not just about working. It is revealed through her photos.
Yes, this fall will be busy. I will stay cognizant of the true need for ‘down time’ throughout the semester and schedule such time with my wife.
We both have the same need to get to the ocean from time to time…Life, Living…
I love Nova Scotia and I cannot believe the number of years that I let slip by before returning there for a vacation. There was no excuse really. My wife and her older brother own the home that was their parents.
Maybe it was the fact that the last time I went “Down East” was to bury my father-in-law whom I loved deeply. Or, maybe it was my thinking it was just too far to go. I don’t know.
What I do know however it that I truly love it there. It is the kind of environment that automatically ‘slams’ on the brakes for a person (yes, even me, lol).
Some friends are amazed that I do not go out of my mind from boredom with so little to actually do there; reading a couple of good books, going for walks on country roads, going out to enjoy such dishes as lobster Nova Scotia (which is lobster stuffed with lobster in a thick lobster bisque).
Bored? I think not. This is a place where I can charge the batteries and get some deep restorative peace and tranquility.
To start the day I would head to the local YMCA (Yarmouth) to work out. After that, anything we decided to do; which could include doing nothing.
Cousins are numerous and close by to where we stay. People down there just walk into each other’s homes as they are announcing their entrance. Some might find this practice a bit un-nerving. We don’t. They have a sense of community; something that back home can be missing when our pace of life gets steam-rolling along at a higher and higher level (if we allow it to).
It reminded me of growing up in the sixties when people in the neighborhood knew everyone in the neighborhood and would get together on a daily or at least a weekend basis.
I have a friend from college that lives outside of Quebec City. I love seeing her photos on her Facebook page; beautiful shots from around the rural area where she lives. Wonderful photos of sunsets and nature shots of all types and kind, of her friends and family. I can feel her joy of being alive.
I mention her because I love her attitude that life is about living, not just about working. It is revealed through her photos.
Yes, this fall will be busy. I will stay cognizant of the true need for ‘down time’ throughout the semester and schedule such time with my wife.
We both have the same need to get to the ocean from time to time…Life, Living…
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