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welcome! to emotional feelings, too!
after looking things over here at emotional feelings,
too, try out "the layer down under," (part of
the emotional feelings network of sites) & read a special "i just gotta say it" column concerning porn addiction by clicking here! Be sure to scroll down towards the bottom of the right hand column to find it!
Visiting the homepage is a great idea as it offers the complete concept of the emotional feelings network of sites!
You can also read this month's "I've just gotta say it!"
| read, "i've just gotta say it!" |
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| click the box below!!!! |
click here! Bob Woodruff: Turning Personal Injury Into Public Inquiry click here!
I was personally very touched by this inspiring story as I watched it on
television last night (2/27/07); especially after I experienced a life altering injury which took me 2 years to recover from.
What I want to ask you is...
If you can't help out with the helmets, below for our military men, can
you volunteer or help our returning soldiers who are recovering with extreme traumatic brain injury?
Here are some links!
Check them out, I know that my family will be searching for a way we can help!
Those experiencing traumatic injury may develop problems with their mental health.
What is Operation Helmet?
Founded in 2003 by Dr. Robert H. Meaders whose grandson is an active duty Marine in Iraq, Operation Helmet is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization dedicated
to providing safer helmet pad upgrade kits to the troops in Iraq & Afghanistan.
To date, more than 6,000 kits have been shipped to the troops in the field.
| click this bar to visit the website... |
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| you can help our troops! |
How this site works best for you!
You'll
notice that there are many underlined link words in each article below. The reason for this is that you have reached not only, "emotional
feelings, too," but the emotional feelings network of sites. There are many sites
included within the network that'll be visited by clicking on these underlined link words.
If you can't find what you came
here looking for, visit the homepage for the emotional feelings network of sites by clicking above & read the options on
the homepage for the networks index of sites. Try to be specific when looking for an emotion or feeling word & click on the site you need!
It's very simple & very
interesting to follow your way thru the layers of your buried or stuffed emotions & feelings that have accumulated throughout the years!
when you've reached this point, or this website, you know you're making
progress!!!! this part gets difficult because now is the time to look within & become emotionally honest with yourself!!!
Best of luck & if you're
still stuck, send me an e-mail anytime, by clicking here & I'll be glad to send you an immediate personal response!
Sincerely,
Kathleen
   About caring
in general...
Caring
From the Old English "caru," sorrow; itself based on a word meaning to cry.
CARING involves a
seriousness not unlike sorrow. If someone we care about
is excelling or hurting, we "cry out" - we care.
I am because I do & I do because I feel & I feel
because I care. To live is to care about something. French
Proverb
Often
associated with affection for others, caring is similar to
altruism & highly susceptible to the influence of a wide range of other both positive & negative elements, with which it's frequently found in compound, including:
Note the
voluntary nature of many of these affiliated elements, which are primarily negative.
One way
caring can be increased is thru the inhibition of any of these numerous negative elements. - which are, again, a matter of choice.
Note also
that caring is more powerful than one of its common contrasting forces, detachment. This is because, as the French Proverb suggests, everyone
cares about something.
One may
experience great detachment from one's surroundings, i.e., but still care about
the comforts of life for loved ones. Like Compassion & Consideration, caring can be far more powerful when actively demonstrated.
How caring is applied
in the community...
Building Caring Communities to
Support Families
Barbara A. Brahm, M.S., Family & Consumer Sciences & Community Development Agent,
Hancock County & Associate Professor & Chester J. Bowling, Ph.D., Extension State Community Leadership & Management Specialist & Assistant Professor, Ohio State University Extension,
The Ohio State University
What Is a Community?
Communities are highly complex
human systems that are shaped by the actions of their members. A community isn't just an economic or political system, but
also a deeper & more intangible entity that binds people together with a common identity, purpose & culture.
These 3 aspects:
form the essence of a community. This essence is created thru a rich interplay of
the collective/social & geographic or natural history of a place, the shared
values of people & how people live, work & play together (Nozick,
1999). Because
people grow & develop, the ways they live, work & play together change.
Therefore, the essence of a community
is constantly changing. The constant merging of beliefs, experiences, present conditions & future desires for the community is constantly shaping it.
Material wealth & power aren't the community. People & their relationships with one another are what count in developing a strong sense of community.
Why Do Families Need a Supportive Community?
Families need a supportive community for many reasons. Nothing short of their very
existence is at stake when we talk about the creation & blossoming of communities.
It's the community that gives us social life &
physical health. A variety of studies over the years have shown the importance of strong personal relationships & social ties with family & community, to optimum health, cohesiveness & a sense of unconditional
support within the community.
In her book Traits of a Healthy
Family, Delores Curran (1988, Harper Collins) shares findings from responses of 551
family practitioners as to traits most commonly found in families they considered healthy.
Two of those traits, teaching respect for others & valuing service to others, indicate the importance of the community in which a family lives & works.
Parents can teach respect for others & show the importance of service in the community by getting their family involved in community service &
local family oriented events.
Volunteering to help at a soup kitchen or community benefit event or raking leaves for a neighbor
can be fun. These activities also instill a desire to help others & help families to become connected to each other & the community.
Studies by the Search Institute have identified
40 concrete, positive experiences & qualities, “developmental assets,” that have a tremendous influence on helping young people
to grow into healthy, caring individuals.
“The asset framework includes everyone. Families,
schools, neighborhoods, congregations & all organizations, institutions & individuals in a community can play a role
in building assets for youth” (Benson, 1997, p. 1).
Specific developmental
assets that indicate the importance a supportive community include:
- developing caring neighborhoods with boundaries
- fostering positive relationships with non-parent adults who're good role models
- creating a caring school climate
- molding a community that values youth
& service to others
- creating a safe place for kids to live
- offering a variety of youth programs
- cultivating positive
peer influence
- promoting involvement in the religious community
Families need supportive communities to provide social ties, enhance health, teach
values & develop assets in children & youth.
When living in a supportive
community, a family can grow to its full potential & provide the best environment for children to grow into
healthy, caring adults.
What Are the Characteristics of a Caring
Community?
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Strong personal relationships. These include strong ties among
family members, neighbors, schools, peers, youth workers, churches, family-serving agencies & organizations & other
systems in the community. Strong relationships build cohesiveness & a sense of
unconditional support within the community.
-
Everyone is involved.All ages of people must be involved to have a strong
supportive community. In his book Stopping
At Every Lemonade Stand (2001) James Vollbracht lists 6 “circles,”
or layers, necessary to build a caring culture for families & kids: individuals, families,
neighborhoods, communities, business & government & elders.
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Common community values that are family focused.
Communities need to develop & maintain a consistent, ongoing, repeated message in support of families. They
must be known for being committed to putting families first in all areas of the community. All parts of the community must consider the impact of their
image & media message on families.
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Connectedness. “Connections begin within families & must then move to neighborhoods. Connections in neighborhoods are the building blocks of larger communities” (Vollbracht, 2001,
p. 73). Families must take action to revitalize their neighborhoods.
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Families & youth are involved in community decision-making. When community
members are a part of the discussion & planning of what happens in a community, they will be motivated to become more involved in the building of community. Their motivation will inspire others & connectedness will grow. A sense of belonging, caring, support
& pride in their community will develop.
How to Build a Caring, Supportive Community
Many creative steps can be taken to build caring, supportive communities.
Parents may want to try one or more of the following:
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Build
positive relationships. Spend time together as a family. Share family meals together. Get to know your children’s
friends. Learn to know every family in your neighborhood. Volunteer for various community activities & organizations.
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Build
a web of connectedness. Ask your neighbors to come over & sit on the porch for cookies & lemonade. Participate in community &
neighborhood activities. Be active in your children’s school as a volunteer.
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Share positive stories. When positive community stories are regularly shared, communities begin to include them in the core of their image of their community.
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