Theresa Larsen
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September 30th, 2014

9/30/2014

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Martha Graham

9/25/2014

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According to biography.com, Martha Graham is considered by many to be the 20th century's most important dancer and the mother of modern dance.

I would also say she was inspirational, not only with dance, but with words. There are many recorded quotes from her that will inspire you.

The following are some of my favorites.

"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique."
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"No artist is ahead of his time. He is his time; it is just that others are behind the times."

"Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can."

"Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired."



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Is Your Job Work?

9/23/2014

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Is your job work? If the answer is yes, then maybe you are doing it correctly. There are a multitude of articles about how to promote fun in the work environment and increase productivity by having "fun-time" in the office. What happened to working in the office? When did this change? When did the employees start expecting the employer to provide a fun environment?

I have worked many jobs in my life-time from waitress to hotel receptionist to elementary school teacher and never did I expect an ice-cream social or afternoon yoga . I went to my job to work. I did expect to have a safe environment where I was treated with respect and an environment that was free from bullying or sexual harassment,  but I was expected to work and that is what I did.

Steve Jobs said, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.” There are many quotes like this that tell you to do what you love and then it won't feel like work, but the fact is we can't all do what we love, at least not our entire lives. There is always the job that you don't like, that you have to keep, so you can get through school or make payments. Or the career you choose and then realized it's not what you thought it would be, but you still have to do it because you have bills to pay. The key is to find something that you are good at, something that gives you a sense of accomplishment, even if you don't love it. Then you can have pride in your work and yourself and you can continue to search out the things you do love.

And if all else fails you can join a support group like the picture below for those who hate their job. I'm just kidding, I don't advocate drowning your problems in alcohol, it just made me laugh, so I thought I would share.

Do your job correctly and work!
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Life Is Good

9/18/2014

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PictureMy son at 2 weeks old. Look at all of his hair!
My son turned 20 years old this week. Not long ago I wasn't sure he'd make it to 18 let alone 20, and now he is working hard, doing well, and even thinking about his future goals and dreams. I am proud of the accomplishments he has achieved in such a short time. 

Always remember that moments are fleeting and the way you may feel in one moment can change in the blink of an eye.


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September 16th, 2014

9/16/2014

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Canine Heroes

9/12/2014

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Yesterday was the anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, I thought it would be appropriate to write about heroes, and I choose dog heroes.

The picture to the left was on the cover of the June edition of the National Geographic. Her name is Layka, and she was sent to Afghanistan to help soldiers clear an enemy compound. "During her search she was shot by enemy forces and took four rounds from an AK-47 at point-blank range. Despite her injuries, she attacked and subdued the shooter, protecting her handler and other members of the team. It took seven hours of surgery, including the amputation of her limb, to save her. In 2012 Layka was presented with a medal of heroism."

The article in the National Geographic shows many different dogs going through training in order to work along-side their human companions. The dogs are often in war-torn situations to sniff out an improvised explosive device, IED. They use their keen sense of smell to detect chemicals used to make the IED's, and hopefully find them before someone steps on one. "Handlers care for their dogs' every need, learning canine CPR as well as how to spot canine post-traumatic stress disorder, which afflicts some 5 percent of deployed dogs. Not all military dogs are suited to combat. Some wither in the heat or become too excited by the sounds of gunfire or explosions, even after they've been desensitized to them in training. Some are too loyal, too lazy, or too playful. Each dog is in its own particular, sometimes peculiar, universe."

The dog is very much like its human counterpart in this situation. Not everyone is suited to combat, even with training, and everyone is in their own particular, sometime peculiar, universe. Remember our heroes, whether they have two legs or four.


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World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10, 2014

9/9/2014

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Suicide Prevention: One World Connected

Suicide is a major public health problem. The psychological pain that leads each of these individuals to take their lives is unimaginable. Their deaths leave families and friends bereft, and often have a major ripple effect on communities.

Every year, over 800,000 people die from suicide; this roughly corresponds to one death every 40 seconds. The number of lives lost each year through suicide exceeds the number of deaths due to homicide and war combined.

Suicide is the fifth leading causes of death among those aged 30-49 years in 2012 globally, and is the second leading cause of death in the 15-29 years age group in 2012 globally. Overall, it is estimated that during 2012 for each adult who died of suicide there were over 20 others who made suicide attempts.

In 2012, suicide accounted for 1.4% of all deaths worldwide, making it the 15th leading cause of death. Mental disorders (particularly depression and alcohol use disorders) are a major risk factor for suicide in Europe and North America; however, in Asian countries impulsiveness plays an important role. Suicide is complex with psychological, social, biological, cultural and environmental factors involved.

The information above was provided by the International Association for Suicide Prevention, check them out on the link below.

http://iasp.info/ 
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One Year Website Anniversary

9/5/2014

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Tomorrow marks one year since I started my website. I can not believe how fast the year has flown. Thank you to everyone who continues to read and support my efforts. I hope to help others and make a contribution to the world. In celebration, I have added a paragraph on the "About" page, updated the "Excerpts" page, and added a page called "The Wills Not the Ifs." If you have kept up with my blog you will recognize the work on this page, if not, please read it. I am finishing up my book and hope to have it available in a month or two.

I would also like to repost two of my favorite writings throughout this past year. The first one was written within a week of starting my website when my son had a set-back and was admitted into the hospital again.



September 13, 2013 "One Step Forward, Ten Steps Back"

My son is currently in the psychiatric ward of a hospital. He went to the ER on Wednesday and they kept him for suicidal ideation.


This is progress. It doesn't seem like it to the average onlooker, but he didn't hurt himself, he just reached out to me and said, "I can't do it, just not anymore."

He told me he didn't want help, but he reached out to me. He said, "I don't wanna start over. I just wanna finish," yet, he reached out, listened, and drove himself to the hospital for help.

Progress is measured in many different ways. My son wrote this is his journal a few years ago, "A state of depression envelopes over and it feels as though all progress is lost. Although, I realize that progress is measured by my ability to cope. And therefore my progress grows."

His progress is growing everyday. He is only nineteen, he is so young and has only experienced a small portion of life. He thinks he can never get better, yet he is already better than he was a year ago.

Mental health is complicated. One step forward can result in ten steps back, or one step forward can just be one step forward.




The next blog was written just one day later.

September 14, 2013 "Perception"


Perception according to Wikipedia " . . .  is the organization, identification, and interpretation of sensory information in order to represent and understand the environment."

Your perception is dissimilar to mine. The sensory information you process is unlike mine, so our perception of what we see and feel is different. If you have a mental illness, perception can be skewed. Those with a mental illness often feel locked in a world without a key to their future. They see their life disappear, while those around them move toward a fulfilling life.

"Life awaits, meaningful friendships, inspiring work, independence, your place in the world. They’re all waiting, just outside your door.  Now imagine if that door was locked. No key, no side exits, you’re trapped - while everybody else blossoms around you. That’s what it feels like growing up with a mental illness." Perception, TNT 

Find your key and change your perception.




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The Therapeutic Effects of Animals

9/4/2014

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Did you know that your pet can be therapeutic? In an NPR blog, Julie Rovner states that, "Those of us who own pets know they make us happy. But a growing body of scientific research is showing that our pets can also make us healthy, or healthier.

Rebecca Johnson, a nurse who heads the Research Center for Human/Animal Interaction at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, says studies have been focusing on the fact that interacting with animals can increase people's level of the hormone oxytocin.

'That is very beneficial for us,' says Johnson. 'Oxytocin helps us feel happy and trusting.' Which, Johnson says, may be one of the ways that humans bond with their animals over time.

But Johnson says it may also have longer-term human health benefits. 'Oxytocin has some powerful effects for us in the body's ability to be in a state of readiness to heal, and also to grow new cells, so it predisposes us to an environment in our own bodies where we can be healthier.'"

Dogs and cats have been helping the sick or dying in facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice settings for many years and with positive outcomes. "Horses have also become popular therapists for people with disabilities.

'The beauty of the horse is that it can be therapeutic in so many different ways,' says Breeanna Bornhorst, executive director of the Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program in Clifton, Va. 'Some of our riders might benefit from the connection and the relationship-building with the horse and with their environment. Other riders maybe will benefit physically, from the movements, and build that core strength, and body awareness and muscle memory.'"--Julie Rovner.

So whatever the issue you or a loved one is faced with, look into animal therapy as a part of the healing process. Walk your dog, pet your cat, or ride your horse, you are benefitting yourself more than you know.

To read Julie Rovner's full article, click on the link below

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/03/09/146583986/pet-therapy-how-animals-and-humans-heal-each-other

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Check out these other sites for information on animal therapy

http://www.equine-psychotherapy.com/equine.html


http://www.eagala.org/
   (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association)

http://www.pathintl.org/  (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International)

http://animaltherapy.net/
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September 01st, 2014

9/1/2014

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    The views expressed on this page are my own and should not be used to replace licensed medical care. Please note some stories may cause triggers for self-harm.

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