There have been some great metaphors for life that I will share in time, further, please be patient for the further development and release of blueriverinnovations.com, which I hope to have up next week.

As I expand on the streams already posted,…I have reason to draw attention to the Social Integration model, which is defined a different way than under Pages in the left column, or by clicking here and review the entire primary-health-care.net site.

Please return…more to come…have a great week-end…Dad turns 80 on Sunday…join us at Camper’s Cove Wheatley Ontario….3pm to 5pm.

BE wise, BE well,

Dave

It will literally take years, if I were to outline every concept that contributes to ‘my take’, on the impact these “issues” of socialization that have occured to date…and the way that we live our lives…the impact we will have on others. No one on this planet, lives in isolation…we feel most comfortable when we are with those who are like-minded. Most often it will be with family members to which we will feel most comfortable (if all grew up together, where both parents are like-minded). There are more exceptions to the rule now…as there is more unions and marriages that cross ethnic, racial, cultural or religious boundaries. Society is indeed rapidly changing, and many find themselves “lost” in understanding or appreciating the younger generation…or their new neighbours…if they are differing in any of the mentioned distinctions. For centuries, there have been “clusters” of cultures or religious groups (often all attending the same church…if small enough town and only one church)…this has all changed…yet we do have many “elders”…who remember “the way that it was”. In a different way, I do feel we need to return to a sense of community,…but under the metaphor of “the Village Well“.
Not all cultures (there are actually more differing ones that what a collective mosaic of North America represents) have the same appreciation for our collective consiousness…of “Free” Enterprise and consumerism (otherwise known as Capitalism). Historically, we have also mis-represented the cultural realities and perspective of those Native cultures to which many of our ancestors “forced” their way into living here…on their Native soil…and we “forced” assimilation on them. We had seemilngly discarded the internal “power” source that the Puritans defined in their faith and their freindships to native peoples who resiprocated with their “spiritual power” of giving…until Corruption and greed, landed on “New World” soil and propliferated and stimulated a reciprical “power of fear and hatred”. ( Can we possibly imagine the fear of loss of land, loss of life, loss of culture?). Further we have represented in the History books and Hollywood depictions that all “natives” were very much the same. They were represented as “heathen” and “savages”. Any other group…mostly European…regardless of country of origin…has portrayed their defensive “battles” as heroic…patriotic and what any “moral, upstanding citizen” would do…would be to fight for their country…fight for freedom…North American “Indians” had been condemned and stripped of their cultural (moral) rights and freedoms…with legacies such as the Residential Schools as a historical and “spiritual” (ethical and moral) violations of even ‘white man’s’ laws.

So, to gain the fullest appreciation possible… I encourage this. Begin with your our spiritual approach…to opening up your heart and mind. This should be a “soul”ful experience…it may include prayer, meditation , or quiet reflection. This has the potential to transform your life…as it has mine. Second…if you have a strong orientation to Biblical accounts and interpretations from religious sources of “leadership”…you will need to reflect on and evaluate with a critical mind and spirit…all that you may have been taught. If you feel that the teachings you were exposed to were 100% “dead-on”…and that you are “imovable” in your beliefs and convictions…I encourage you to go no further. If you believe as I do,…that we continue on an endless path of discovery…if only the Bible in hand…contnuous growth is mandated by the Creator.
As In any transfromation, spiritual conversion is likely to take place…if you are uncomfortable at all with that…I encourage you to continue to read…as open-minded as possible…but it must be with a hope of greater enlightenment and/or spiritual awakening…that you would “want” for yourself.

Few things in life will be as important as coming to that place where you will have appreciation of the purpose and meaning of life. There are many spiritual facilitators and books where you can begin your search…or you may actually find it in that source you have always relied upon. The World’s Great Religions all have their script and their Historic Teacher/Prophet…and we all can reflect on history to see that multiple interpretations (and corruptions) of truth…are part of the great “reality”. How you define reality and your connection to the divine or “source” of truth…can only be complete if you take the “inward journey”…with open heart and mind….follow me so far…not too different than the many “new life, new age” teachers, guru’s or philosophers, all the while I have quite a “theological exposure”.

It is helpful that you study some anthropology, sociology, political science and of course History inclusive of Theology or Religious Studies. You need not be afraid of Brain-washing here…as you can turn away…or close out the site…and walk away with no influence to your heart and soul…whatsoever. I do suggest you consider the consequence of not opening up…you remain…in a historical trap…not able to resolve those very issues that lie as the foundation of Human Suffering…and failure to find peace in this world…or peace of mind. The purpose and meaning of life…in simplest terms, is to learn, to live and to leave a Legacy.

What will be your Legacy?

Power- This needs to be seperated out from the concept of ‘Force’, which is an external phenomenon…one thing influencing another. Power on the other hand…is internal…that which drives the engine of the essence of the person…the organism…or organization. Power is something we all long to have,…and get fearful or anxious if it needs to be surrendered…even if it is as simple a the power to choose what to eat…or what to believe.

The Legacy of the Residential School System stands as a metaphor, for understanding this conceptualization of the violation that occurs when one group, using ‘force’ to assimilate or enculturate another to ways of living, thinking and believing. The “stripping” of the internal Power to choose, and determine one’s own destiny (autonony or Self-determination), can be likened to “spiritual and cultural Rape”. Further we know now that there were additional and immoral/unethical violations that included Physical Rape, Physical Abuse,…and the idea of being “extracted” from their families in the name of Religious, Political (Governmental) and Racial Ideologies brings the other three concepts under scrutiny…in moral, ethical and spiritual illuminations. Oppression has been a historical reality of many…racial and gender lead a cast of many underpinnings of oppression. Competition…from historical development…is what the Invasion and Conguerings (and Assimilation) of the New World was all about. Competition is ingrained in our North American School systems and the Athletic/Fashion/Research and Development Enterprises that have risen to control our minds and pocket-books. Finally, Discrimination should not need explanation. What is needed though is truth, honesty and open-ness of our hearts and minds to recognize, acknowledge and resolve the many ways that Discrimination remains to be one of the most prevelant “global” problems of the world today. Age, Race, Gender, Ethnicity,…religious/spiritual orientations…sexual orientation…professional orientation (I think of the plight of Nurses as I think of Oppression, Competition and Discrimination…my lived reality)…the list goes on and on…you are free to say, that you are “FREE” from discriminatory feelings, thoughts and actions…but I have yet to be free, or find any one else that is truly free…in all my 50 plus years.

We all need to be “free” to love, Free to Forgive and Free to return to that sense of community, depicted by the Village Well analogy or the Blue River metaphor. (That too, I will present in a later blog.)
So,…while this blog will be transferred to “Transformative Living” Website…this should get us started in what I consider the most important considerations to make , in any “spiritual journey”, or evalutation of a Personal Legacy. Please join in, comment, contribute and contemplate along with us here in this online community.

BE wise,

BE well,

BE Enlightened, Emancipated and Empowered,

Dave

I do regret that I am unable to post most days. I know that I have left many “in the dark” or “out of the loop” as to what is happening with my Dad, with my career move(s) and my straight out opinions on current events…inclusive but not-exclusive to health care. For those just joining in, you will need to scan back to earlier blogs to appreciate that I am “in deep” on many levels. I will say that with the “school break” (not teaching till Sept.) I am able to read more non-Health related material (while I contend it is all health related)…and continue on this journey reading about 10-15 books simulaneously (always have). I have just completed the latest offering by David R. Hawkins Power vs Force…the determinants of Human Behaviour. Very deep and has impacted my thinking greatly…as has the second book by Robert Pirsig Lila, the follow-up to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance which I plan to return to read a second time, after I finish one of the many others. The Secret and The Strangest Secret are also on the recent list of recommended reads, along with anything written by Wayne Dyer. While wanting to get my head and heart back into B.K.S Iyengar’s latest book…Light on Life, I intend on also reviewing favorite passages from my most read book,..the Bible. Yes, you read right.

I intend to capture the essence of this thing called morality (it is the under-pinning of Lila…not so much a book about a person). I also need to share a little of the discussions I have been having as of late. Life is so very, very interesting at times…and if I can share the metaphor of this morning’s visit to the river…maybe it will be helpful. Life just flows…we need to do nothing, and life still “just happens.” We can “go with the flow” and sometimes a bend in the river comes along and/or a narrowed straight or a set of rapids. It always appears that the water flows faster over shallow waters, narrowed passages or the rough and tumble area that is ‘rocky’. Well, what I witnessed this morning was most interesing, as a narrowed passage followed by rapids, then a sharp bend, creates a visual illusion that the river is moving in both directions in the same section of the river…just before the bend…just after the rapids. Of course this happens, due to the turbulent waters heading straight to the bank at the bend and as the bend turned right sharply, the water to the immediate right courses on smoothly and quickly,…while the water to the left (farthest from the bend), actually heads back along the bank…as if to return to challenge the rapids and the faster moving water. A nearly whirlpool effect is bordered by “static” still waters “trapped” against the “upstream” bank of the “narrowed” straight.

So, here is the metaphor….life can be (will be) turbulent at times by the sheer nature that we cannot predict or control the ’straight and narrow.’ We may intend to always head in the right direction or “go with the flow” but there will always be…by the pure nature of it all…bends, turns, the rocky rapids…as easily as there will be straight and narrows. We can have a guide or two, for our journey…but as mentioned before… “No one can step into the same river twice”…there are never two people who will journey the same river with the same experience of depth change…or how turbulent it will feel. With a new rainfall,…the journey down that same river would not be the same as after a drought.

I am so very pleased that I have opened up to the guidance of some very phenomenal folks,…some from work settings, others of my family…while extremely grateful for a surprise visit with some awesome folks..two from my past…parents of an old school mate,…another an incredible soul who, by example of loving, giving and service…touched me deeply. To you M. L., I appreciate the time and wisdom…to you all, I indeed appreciate the inspiration. God is with you.

I leave this with you now as not to make this too long a blog,…but I intend to return to share more on this visit…I will have much to add to my Biography…that will expand on my heritage/ancestry… and I will want to expand more on my theories of morality and social responsibilities…as well as for all, leaving a legacy. Finally…return to view new entries under pages… to the left of your screen…with expansions to my theories and the latest theory…the Impact and implications of Power, Oppression, Competition and Discrimination. If anything, I think there is much to reflect on history…and our future…if we contemplate on and correct the Social Injustices that are attached to these four cornerstones of societal influences and community development. Time to visit…The Village Well. This metaphor to come in a later blog.
BE well…BE wise,

Dave

While it has been a long time coming, there is now more “coverage” in the media regarding the seriousness of the nursing shortage. It needs to be viewed “beyond” thinking we need more physical bodies at the bedside. I have attempted to illuminate the challenges that will be faced and those possible/probable scenario’s that are in keeping with predictions of economic challenges and impact on resources and the environment…all collectively “coming to a head”, converging if you will…bringing a new reality for baby boomers in their twilight years and the generations that follow.

Here is “the bottom-line”…there will be a massive shift of demographic, collective conciousness,…and “essence” (as well as age and experience) at the bedside. We are already seeing the necessary reality that more “skills and tasks” such as medication administration, dressings and treatments are being performed by “nursing” personnel, outside of the Registerd Nurse designation. I who had first recieved the same number of years training as today’s Registered Practical Nurse, see nothing wrong with this,…I and countless numbers of others managed to perform those “skills and tasks” just fine. What is of utmost importance is the need to maintain a moral ethic, and as the “essence of nursing” a caring ethic.

Hear is the point being made…How does a caring ethic…and a moral mandate for that matter evolve? While there is plenty of discussion in the nursing literature….and we can attach ourselves to the Nursing Theories that align our orientation to “Caring”…”patient-centred-ness”, or a mandate that conceptualizes “care of the Whole person” (this would include family-centredness, recognition of occupation, spirituality, the roles one might play such as parent or grand-parent) if we so choose, (as part of the commitment to life-long learning…after graduation)… the question remains…is Nursing Education…moreso…is generalized…and traditional…grade-school and High School, facilitating this evolution. One could speculate that Religious -based schools and Private schools may be doing a better job of this, while public schools may be reliant on the leadership of the school (Principal/ Vice-Principal) and more-so, each individual teacher…of every single grade.

So,…for those of you who have an appreciation of where I am coming from (that there should be refrom of Nursing Education….but more-so, reform of Traditional Education…is imperative to assure that we will not just have enough “bodies” at the bedside…but that each one…regardless of prepartatory level of attainment to qualify to be there…but that we need moral and caring agents…complete with an understanding of Whole Person Care…and are truly altruistic and compassionate. There will no doubt be greater experience of suffering…and pain both physical and emotional…as technology excellerates interventions and treatment of “disease”…we will be challenged to deal with the impact of “illness” for literally Billions on this planet.

I share this with thoughts of relief that they will be enacting change that will have some positive impact on the environment…but….the Health Human Resources issue…is huge….not just in terms of numbers…but for the assurance that the spiritual aspects, emotional components, economic issues are prioritized as much as what do our Health CARE systems provide, beyond the Physical Domain of Health.

Please contemplate on these concepts…participate in discussions as to whether, morality and spirituality need to be better integrated into the education process…more-so…be proliferated and perpetuated in family life. All of us deserve to be recipients of a Caring Ethic. Attaching the “silo’s” that exist in our society needs to be the place to start…the earlier the better…for a solid “evolution” of society to be assured.

See the Social Integration Model…and Domains of Health Theory links left hand side of the screen.

BE well,…BE caring,

Dave

  SAND and STONE
TWO    FRIENDS    WERE    WALKING
THROUGH    THE    DESERT.
DURING    SOME    POINT    OF    THE
JOURNEY,    THEY    HAD    AN
ARGUMENT;    AND    ONE    FRIEND
SLAPPED    THE    OTHER    ONE
IN    THE    FACE.
   THE    ONE    WHO    GOT    SLAPPED
WAS    HURT,    BUT    WITHOUT
SAYING    ANYTHING,
WROTE    IN    THE    SAND: