Can you see their health? A salutogenic take on parenting, leadership and change

Photo by Josh Calabrese

Can you see their health? A salutogenic take on parenting, leadership and change

As a parent of a young adult with physical and developmental disability and multiple chronic conditions and as a healthcare change agent, I’ve been thinking about how paradigms in healthcare influence how I see and experience my life and my work. In particular, I’m noticing how a new paradigm in particular is giving me a greater sense of ease and effectiveness.

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January 27, 2020

Co-production and advocacy / Disability / Improving healthcare / Leadership and growth / My toolkit / Special Needs Parenting

On my mind, nightstand and to-do list

A quick update on what I'm thinking, reading and working on

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January 14, 2020

Photo by Dennis Brendel

Co-production and advocacy / Leadership and growth / My toolkit / Special Needs Parenting

Deep listening as a leadership practice

One theme that appeared again and again is deep listening. It seems to be a foundational practice for living and leading well. Here’s a round-up of some of the practices and insights this fall has offered.

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December 19, 2019

Co-production and advocacy / Leadership and growth / My toolkit

Making change or being changed?

As the dog and I walked down the street early this morning, I heard the scraping of a car windshield, heralding this season’s first frost. I'm reminded that it’s the autumnal equinox today, and I brace myself for the coming shorter days with a sense of dread by pulling my sweater tighter around me.

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September 11, 2019

Co-production and advocacy / Leadership and growth / Special Needs Parenting

Finding courage

When I listen to my heart tell me what is more important to me than avoiding an immediate threat, the courage to act can suddenly appear.

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September 4, 2019

Co-production and advocacy / Leadership and growth / My toolkit / Special Needs Parenting

If the lights go out, just move

This past winter I spent a long weekend on retreat in stillness and good company. The theme of the retreat was hidden seeds, the way nature can look as if it's sleeping or even dead, when it is in fact gathering strength and getting ready to burst forth when the conditions are favorable.

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May 9, 2019

Co-production and advocacy / Disability / Improving healthcare / Leadership and growth / My toolkit / Special Needs Parenting

To start a movement, tell a story

Increasingly, activists and change agents are using their own personal stories as a way to awaken leadership in others. Stories speak the language of emotion, the language of the heart. They not only teach us how to act, but also inspire us with the courage to act. Our stories help us translate our values into action by accessing our emotions.

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May 2, 2019

Co-production and advocacy / Disability / Improving healthcare / Leadership and growth / Special Needs Parenting

The tyranny of Norman doors

Through their design, objects subtly communicate instructions on how they should be used. Certain handles just feel like they should be pushed, and others pulled. Bad design sends us signals that are confusing.

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April 16, 2019

Co-production and advocacy / Leadership and growth / My toolkit / Special Needs Parenting

Beginnings

After four years of wonderful work within a large healthcare agency, I feel called to take a smaller, quieter path. I'm not exactly clear where this new path is going and I'm giving it time to unfold. It's a bit awkward when someone asks what I'll be doing next and I have to struggle to find an answer; I'm ok with that.

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April 9, 2019

Photo by Pixabay

Co-production and advocacy / Leadership and growth / My toolkit / Special Needs Parenting

Turn your face to the sun

The snowdrops came up this weekend. Their reappearance every year brings a shock of hope so unexpected and intense it’s almost violent. It only took a few hours of sunlight on a warm brick wall and there they were.

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February 18, 2019