Escanaba Sr/Jr High School Student Wellness

 

 https://fb.watch/2mAUJlG_wf/

  The Cab Ride I arrived at the address that had telephoned for a cab and honked the horn.   After waiting a few minutes I honked again.   Since this was going to be the last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.      'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.   After a long pause, the door opened.      A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, she looked like somebody out of a 1940's movie.       By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.      There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters.  In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.      'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said

  https://fb.watch/2pXiV5woLC/

 

  “I still matter.”   Have you ever been walking and encountered folks who are homeless? Have you ever crossed to the other side of the street, or redirected your gaze to avoid eye contact, and pretended they were not really there?   Come on now, be honest. I have, and I was not proud of myself when I did. Another time, I was in downtown Indianapolis for my job and I was walking out of a restaurant after a meal. I noticed a couple quietly sitting on the sidewalk, with a sign that said, “Homeless vet. No job. No food.”   So this time I decided to engage, not avoid. I asked if I could sit down and talk to them for a while. I also had a bag of leftovers and asked if they minded if I left the food. The man immediately gave the leftovers to his wife.   As he began to talk, I just listened. He thanked me for the food and just for stopping. He went on to tell me how he had served in Iraq, came home, and worked construction. As the economy tightened, both he and his wife had lost their jobs, t

   “I’m still in here.”   A caregiver in a recent training of mine told the following story.   She worked in a setting that cares for persons with dementia. She shared that a lady she supports with dementia was at a medical appointment. The lady’s daughter was with her at the appointment. The doctor carried on for quite some time and dispensed an inordinate amount of diagnostic observations, medical terminology, and advice to the daughter. The mother waited patiently for this very learned physician to finish. He then asked the daughter if she had any questions about her mother’s situation.   The mother with dementia said, “I’m still in here. So now that you told my daughter all that stuff, can you please tell me?”

    “WARMLINE”   Mental Health Network Resource Michigan has the Warmline which is a peer run support line for those struggling in these Covid time.  Open 10am-2am for calls.   The warmline will operate seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. at 888-PEER-753 (888-733-7753). It is intended to serve individuals living with persistent mental health challenges including anxiety, depression and trauma. Individuals in crisis, including those considering suicide, are urged to contact the Disaster Distress Helpline 24/7 at 800-985-5990 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 800-273-8255. “The warmline will help individuals with long-term mental health challenges find someone to talk to – someone who has lived these challenges themselves – and do it while staying safe and staying home,” said Robert Gordon, MDHHS director. “COVID-19 is a grave threat not just to physical health, but also to mental health, and we are doing everything we can t

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   “I’m not invisible.”   When I travel through airports, I notice folks who may seem invisible.   For example, have you ever paid attention to the attendants who are stationed in airport bathrooms? In the men’s rooms (as I can only speak to this sector), some have a table and mouthwash. Their job is to keep the bathroom they’re assigned to, clean, sanitary, and nice for us to visit for only a few minutes. Can you imagine how nasty an airport bathroom could become in just one day, if these folks were not so strategically positioned?   By mentioning this, I’m not trying in any way to diminish anyone’s value, station in life, or contribution to the greater good. Rather, I try to go out of my way to say hello, tell them “Thank you,” or contribute to their tip jars. Their response is often one of amazement that someone noticed they were there.   Whenever I can, I try to erase the “in” from “invisible.”