CURRENT MISSION

To see the big picture of life.
To be courageous.
To make a difference for others.

ABOUT ME

Love my dogs, my husband, traveling, walking through the wilderness, olives and pickles.

PHILOSOPHY

Ebb and flow

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Well right now I mostly read about everyone's adventures. I’m wanting to get out more. So I expect to be connecting w more Couchsurfing people soon!

兴趣

Love talking and listening to people. I'm up for whatever - life stories, hopes, dreams, challenges and joys...or just keeping things light and having fun.

I especially enjoy new experiences - anything from taking a walk in a new neighborhood, playing cards, doing a puzzle or finding less known quirks about a town and ways to get around. Even just sitting in silence in a new space can be a joy.

• books
• dining
• walking
• traveling
• volunteer work
• music
• surfing
• volunteering

音乐、电影和书籍

Movies: Ever After. Gattaca, Galaxy Quest, Labyrinth
Books: Shojo manga, Dibs In Search of Self, Enders Game

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

Favorite travel moment: Getting soaked standing in the warm rain at Falls de Iguazu in Argentina.

教，学，和分享

Emotional First Aid

When there is a crisis in someone's life, providing emotional first aid is critical for their long-term mental health post-event. Whether it's a neighbor, stranger or friend here are...

Five things you can do:

1) Reach out. Be on their level and touch them gently, physical evidence that they are not alone.

2) Listen. Ask what happened and allow them to tell the full story as much and often as they want to.

3) Protect. From physical harm and poor decision making while they are in a state of shock, provide lots of water (flush anxiety toxins from body, helps brain (breathing deeply also does this)) and be sure they have food as needed.

4) Reassure. As they begin to ask questions help them gather the information they need. Help them organize their mind by talking about/thinking through what may need to happen in the next few hours and days.

5) Reinforce. Even in crisis people's strengths become evident (i.e., the resources or people available to them, their own skills and abilities). Noticing these and pointing these out to the person will help them gather the strength to move forward.

Note: A) It's easy to feel awkward and want to leave. Staying with a person, even when they don't want to talk, lets them know they are not alone. *Their perspective on whether or not they were alone during the aftermath of the event is directly related to how well they will function post-crisis.*

B) There is a delicate balance in providing support. Do not "over care." Remember that allowing the person to become dependent on you does a disservice to them. The sooner you can connect them to someone who will be long-term support (family member, friend), the better.

*This information was provided and lived out in my training and volunteer work with the Portland Trauma Intervention Program (TIP), citizens helping citizens post 911-crisis events. To find a TIP chapter in your area or for more information go to http://www.tipnational.org/home1.htm

It was an honor to participate in this volunteer program and be there for people in crisis. I continue to use the skills in everyday experiences and feel blessed to no longer let my discomfort over someone else's pain keep me from providing effective support.

If you don't remember anything else, just remember people need you to *be present with them in crisis*.

That's what we all need in our worst moments - to not be alone.

Blessings on your efforts!

我游览过的国家

Argentina, Austria, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Greece, Israel, Luxembourg, Mexico, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay

我居住过的国家

United States

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