Year: 2015

December is gift month. It doesn’t matter if a person is religious, spiritual, or agnostic, this is the month of holidays and with it comes expectations, plans, preparations, with a significant amount of material goods swapped between family and friends. There are some who even give gifts to people unknown, just for the joy of it, the generosity of it. A greater question, however, bears asking: what kind of gift do you feel you are to yourself and others? Do you feel as if you bring good cheer and lightness into the room when you walk in? Is there an excitement inside when you feel you are joining a circle of people? Or does it seem as if there is an invisible barrier that keeps you out in most circles,…

November was the month when we paid, at the very least, lip service to being thankful. We even had a day on the calendar marked specifically for a whole day of being thankful. It’s an important part of being human. We become more self aware and, frankly, happier, when we think and feel thankfulness. So what does it mean when someone doesn’t feel thankful, can’t think of anything or anyone for whom to give thanks. Generosity is one of the human needs, which I wrote about in last month’s Blog. And in so many ways, generosity of one’s time, money, material effects, and even sense of humor has to do with being aware of thanks. But again, what does it mean if one cannot seem to muster those thoughts and feelings? Dysthymia…

All human beings have wants and needs and it can be difficult at times to understand the difference. Recognizing our five basic needs is a good start in helping manage our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and behaviors. Everyone has a need to be safe: safe emotionally, verbally, physically, sexually, spiritually, financially.  Safety is the most basic need from which springs the grounding to provide for our other needs. A second need is belonging.  As humans, we desire being a part of a family, group, or community that provides us with a vital sense of connection to other human beings. Paradoxically, humans also have a need for independence.  This becomes observable with babies, whose bodies are directing them to roll over at 4 months, crawl or walk around a year, and begin…

We are proud to have Dawn Strommen, Psychologist, be one of three speakers featured at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth in February. Dawn will be helping raise awareness and prevention of teen dating violence in our community. Some dating violence facts: -Approxiimately one in three adolescent girls in the United States is a victim of physical, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner. -One in five tweens (ages 11-14) say their friends are victims of dating violence Save the Date: Breaking the Silence Sunday, February 15 6:30-8:00 pm Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth Please join us in this conversation.