SOON 54 (current edition)

In this issue:1 ThePracticeofGifting3 IntheSpotlight: StoneTherapyfor SpecialSiblings4 ComingSoon FromInnovativeResources Angels—the strengths of everyday kindness4StrengthsbytheDesk5 ResourcesBank6 ChristmasResources

Tocontributetothisnewsletteremailus:info@innovativeresources.org

St Luke’s Innovative Resources

137 McCrae Street Bendigo

Victoria 3550 Australia

Ph: (03) 5442 0500 Fax: (03) 5442 0555

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email: info@innovativeresources.org

Website: www.innovativeresources.org

Manyofushaveapreciousobjectsomewhereathome,perhapstakingprideofplaceonashelf,displayedinacabinet,hiddeninasecretshoeboxortuckedawayinacupboard.Itmightbeanobjectthatisusedfrequently—afavouritemugorabeautifullycraftedtool.Oritmightbealetterorkeepsakethatstayspoppedawaytorediscoverfromtimetotime.

Objectscanbespecialforallkindsofreasons—somearemementosofspecialevents,remindersofholidays,celebrationsandrelationships.Somearehighlyengineered,whileothersmaybeorganicobjectscraftedbyforcesofnature.Theycanholdspiritualsignificanceortheymayhavebeenobsessivelytrackeddownforweirdandwonderfulcollectionsthathavebecomeourpassion.

Manyobjectsarepreciousbecausetheyhavebeengivenasagiftbyaparticularpersonataparticulartime,andperhapsforaparticularreason.Eachtimewehandletheobjectwerememberwithgratitudethepersonwhogaveusthatgift.Werecallthemomentofreceivingit,relivingfeelingsofacknowledgement,delight,honourorsurprise.Sometimes,iftheobjecthascomeintoourcarethroughgenerationsoffamilyowners,itinvitesustoholdwholegenerationsofforebearsappreciativelyinourawareness.

Thesegiftscanbecomesymbolsofhopeorremindersofourstrengths.Theyletusknowthatgreatbeautyorkindnessexists.Theyletusknowthatwecanmakeitthrough.Apreciousobjecttuckedawayinapocketcanlenduscomfortandencouragementduringtoughmoments.Acongratulationscardreceivedforahardwonsuccesscanremindusthatoureffortisseenandappreciated.

Aletter,anemailoranotesenttoafriend,acolleagueoraclientcanbejusttherightgiftattherighttime;itcanbemakeallthedifferencetosomeone’sdayandeventotheirwholelife.

Butwhiletangiblegiftscanbeutterlydelightful(andsometimesdisastrous!),notallgiftsarethekindyoucanplaceinaboxortuckunderyourarm.Sometimesthemostmeaningfulgiftsarenot‘things’atall—theyareintangible.

Theseintangiblegiftsmaycomeintheformofencouragement,goodadvice,asmile,ahelpinghand,orsomeonedemonstratingavirtuelikehonesty,patience,forgivenessorgoodwill.Mostofusgiveandreceivesuchintangiblegiftsonadailybasis,buthowoftenareweawareofthem?Iwonder,whatwouldhappenifweallbecomemoreskilledatnoticingthesegiftsastheypassbetweenus?

Continuedpage2…

I s s u e 5 4 N ov e m b e r 2 012

www.innovativeresources.org

ThePracticeof

GiftingByKarenMasman

‘Whenagiftisgivenwithsinceregenerosity,thebenefitflowstotherecipientandintheoppositedirectionbacktothesource—thegiver.’

Theme of this issue:

Gifting

s e r i o u s ly o p t i m i s t i c o n l i n e n e w s l e t t e r

P u b l I s h e r s o f s t r e n g t h s - b a s e d r e s o u r c e s

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Frompreviouspage…

Giftinghasawonderfullycircularqualitytoit.Whenagiftisgivenwithsinceregenerosity,thebenefitflowstotherecipientandintheoppositedirectionbacktothesource—thegiver.Therecipientmayreceivethegift,yetitisthegiverwhoexperiencesthefruitoftheirowngenerousaction:thatintangibleinneratmosphere,whichisgeneratedviatheveryimpulsetogive.

Whatistheeffectofgiftingonthegiver?Oneperson’sexperienceprovidesaninspiringexampleofgifting’stransformativepossibilities.Onemonthafterherweddingday,thirty-three-year-oldCamiWalkerwasdiagnosedwithmultiplesclerosis.Beforelong,shewasinandoutofhospitalemergencyroomsasshebattledtheneurologicalconditionthatleftherbarelyabletowalkandputenormousstressonhermarriage.

Then,seekingrelieffromhersuffering,Camicontactedafriend—anAfricanmedicinewomannamedMbaliCreazzo—whoseadvicetoherfocusedunexpectedlyonthepracticeofgifting.MbalitoldCamitogiveaway29giftsin29days.

Thegifts,shesaid,couldbeanything,buttheirgivinghadtobebothauthenticandmindful.Atleastonegiftneededtobesomethingshefeltwasscarceinherlife.

Manyofhergiftsweresimple—aphonecall,sparechange,evenaKleenex.Yettheseactsofkindnessweretransformative.Camisubsequentlywroteabookabouthowthissimpledailypracticeofgiftingaffectedheroutlookandhermedicalcondition.Over11,000peoplein48countrieshavesinceembarkedontheirown29-daygivingritualsandraisedthousandsofdollarsforcharities.

WithChristmasfastapproaching,itseemedappropriatetodevotethisissueofSOONto

‘Gifting’andourstoriesinthiseditionreflectgiftinginbothitsmaterialandintangibleforms.Arttherapist,BelindaRyan,tellsusaboutarecentworkshopinAdelaide,wherechildrenreceivedcopiesofThe Wrong Stonetoremindthemoftheirspecialqualities.JustasthisissueofSOONwasbeingprepared,wereceivedaserendipitousemailfromStLukes’worker,LisaHenderson;herverypersonalstoryaboutgiftingappearsonpage4.

Thiseditionalsointroducesourfinalnewresourcefor2012:Angels—the strengths of everyday kindness.LongtimecustomersofInnovativeResourcesmayrecallthatweusedtopublishacardsetcalledAngels with Attitude(nowdiscontinued).ThisnewAngelssetisanentirelydifferenttool,buttakesitsinspirationfromthemostsuccessfulaspectsofthatearlierresource.

Likeallourcardsets,Angelscanbeusedinmanypractical,purposefulandcreativewaysbyteachers,familiesandhumanservicesworkers.However,Angelsisalsodesignedspecificallytoinspireconversationsaboutnoticing,celebratingandgiftingstrengthsandqualities.WebelieveitisasignificantadditiontoInnovativeResource’spublications.WeinviteyoutoaddAngelstoyourtoolkit,andwishyouandyourcolleaguesasafeandhappyfestiveseason.

Karen Masman is a consulting editor at St Luke’s Innovative Resources. Some of this article is drawn from the booklet for Angels—thestrengthsofeverydaykindness written by Karen and published by St Luke’s Innovative Resources. Karen is also the author of TheUsesofSadness, published by Allen and Unwin, 2009.

a gift consists not in what is done or given, but in the intention of the giver or doer. Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Russell’s Blog‘Iamoftensaddenedthat‘gifting’isnotvaluedortaughtbymyprofession,socialwork.Instead,thegivingofgiftstoclients,howeversmall,isoftenfrowneduponbecauseitisseenasbuildingdependence.Oneofmylecturersusedtosaythat‘socialworkwasdancedoutbeforeitwasthoughtout.’Giftingispartofthatdance,whichisall-too-oftenforgotten.’

In his latest blog, Russell ponders the relationship between ‘gifting’ and Robert Fulghum’s fabulous concept of ‘affirmative vandalism’. How do these ideas relate to anonymous letters and a Christmas challenge for welfare workers? You’ll just have to read his blog to find out…

http://blog.innovativeresources.org

SOONkicksoffin2013withaspecialissueon‘Belonging’.Whatdoesbelongingmeantoyou?Haveyoueverusedourresourcestoencouragesomeoneelse’ssenseofbelonging?Whichofourresourcesbelongsfirmlyinyourtoolkit?

Hitourmailboxwithyour‘belonging’experienceandwe’llpickaluckywinnertopublishinSOON.ThewinnercanalsochooseacomplimentarysetofThe KangasorThe Koalas.

Emailyourentrytoinfo@innovativeresources.orgEntriesclose18January2013.

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In theSpotlight

the great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy. Meryl Streep

StoneTherapyforSpecialSiblingsDuring September, our collection of ‘stony’ resources inspired lots of fun and creativity at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide. Art therapist, Belinda Ryan, selected our picture book, TheWrongStone, as her starting point for some ingenious workshop activities for siblings of children in the hospital’s Paediatric Palliative Care Unit.

Children identify with the stony characters immediately, and there are so many ways you can play with stones!

Siblingsofchildrenwhohavealife-limitingillnesscanoftenfeelisolatedandalone.Sowedevelopedapilotprogramfor8-12yearoldstohelpthemconnectwithoneanother,havesomefunandfeelspecial.The Wrong Stonewastheperfectstorytouseforaseriesofart-basedactivities.Childrenidentifywiththestonycharactersimmediately,andtherearesomanywaysyoucanplaywithstones!Afterreadingthepicturebook,eachchildchosetheirownspecialstonetocarrywiththem.Thenthestoneswereusedtoframeabeautifulmandalacreatedfromcolourfulsandandpebbles.Attheendofthetwo-dayworkshop,childrencollectedsomeofthemandalatotakehomewiththem.Theyalsopaintedasymbolontheir‘perfectstone’asareminderoftheirowngiftsandspecialplaceintheworld.Foranotheractivity,wecreatedaspectacularstonewall(basedontheoneinthebook)anduseditasasettingforapuppetshow.Thechildrenusedthepuppetstoexpresswhatit’sliketohaveabrotherorsisterwhohas(orhad)alife-limitingillness.Surroundedbyallthestonescelebratingdifferenceanduniqueness,thepuppets

wereableto‘speak’freelyfromtheirplacesalongwall.InnovativeResources’Stones …have feelings too!andPocket of Stonesprovideduswithabrilliantbarometerofhowthechildrenwerefeelingoverthetwodays.EachchildwasalsopresentedwithacopyofThe Wrong StoneandsomeoftheStones…have feelings too!stickers.Thebookpresentationwasarealhighlightoftheworkshop,andwefolloweditbyre-readingthestorytogether(withgusto!)toreiterateitsmessages.Itwassatisfyingtogivethechildrenthesepermanentmementos,toremindthemoftheirspecialplaceintheworldandallthattheylearnedduringtheprogram.

ThankyoutoRussellforhisclever,insightfulstoryandfortheotherstonyresources.IhaveusedThe Wrong Stonewithvariousclientgroupsbecauseitcommunicatesanimportantmessageandiseasilyaccessibletoreaders.Thestonesthemeworkedtremendouslywellandhadarealimpactonthechildren.Theywon’tforgetthattheyallhaveuniquequalities,andthereisaperfect‘spot’foreachofthem,nomatterwhatelsegoesonintheirlives.

BelindaRyanArt TherapistPaediatric Palliative Care Unit Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide.

Angelsisasetof52exquisitely-illustrated,heart-warmingcardsfeaturing‘everyday’angels.Eachcardrepresentsanimportantqualityorskillthatwemaywanttocelebrateorinviteintoourfamily,workplace,classroomandcommunity,suchascontentment,peace,assertiveness,clarity,openness,balanceoradventure.Counsellors,socialworkers,teachers,trainers,managersandmotivatorscanusethesecardstobuildconversations,encouragestorytelling,andhelppeopleofallagesthinkdifferentlyaboutwhotheyare,whatisimportant,andhowtonavigatelife’supsanddowns.• Istherearecardthatremindsyouofsomeoneyouknow?• Canyouchooseacardthatrepresentssomethingyouhavereceivedor giventoday?(Itcouldbeaquality,afeeling,avirtue,oranactofkindness.)• Thinkofsomeonewhocouldreallyusesomesupportrightnow: Whatcardrepresentsaqualityyouwouldwantto‘visit’them?• Isthereacardthatrepresentsastrengthyouwouldliketodevelopmore? Whatisonestepyoucouldtaketowardsthis?• Forsomethingyouareabouttoundertake,whichtwocardsrepresent thestrengthsyouwillneedmost?

Angelsisbasedontheunderstandingthatbystrengtheningourcapacitytonoticeandnamethestrengthsandblessingsthatcomeintoourday,westrengthenourowncapacitytodevelopandcommunicatethem.Inthiswaywebecomeamoreabundantsourceofthosestrengthsforothersandforourselves.InnovativeResourcesrecognisesthatangelshaveparticularresonanceandspecificmeaningforvariousreligioustraditions.Thisisgreatlyrespected.OurAngelscardsetsimplyusesthemetaphorofaneverydayandveryhumanangelasawayoffocussingonstrengths,capacities,skills,qualitiesandgoalsthatmaybeappropriateforeveryone,regardlessofculturalbackgroundorreligiousaffiliation.

Coming Soon From Innovative Resources AngelsThestrengthsofeverydaykindness

a gift, with a kind countenance, is a double present. Thomas Fuller

AngelsISBN:9781920945657

52laminated,full-colourcards,120mmx130mmPolypropyleneboxand36-pagebooklet

Originalconcept:RussellDealBookletauthor:KarenMasman

Watercolourillustrations:TraceBallaDesign:MatJones

CATNO:4950Price:$49.50

StLuke’sworkerLisaHendersonknowsallabouttheimportanceofgifting.Twelveyearsago,shewasayoungChildProtectionworkeremployedbytheDepartmentofHumanServices.ShewasinregularcontactwithcolleaguesatStLuke’sAnglicare,andonedayareportarrivedonherdeskwithasurpriseattached.LisahadbeengiftedoneofInnovativeResources’originalStrengths Cards.Thecardread:‘Courageous’.Askanyonewho’sbeenthereandyou’llhearthatworkingfor

ChildProtectionisn’teasy.It’srewarding,buttoughwork.Lisaclearlyremembersthemomentshereceivedthecard:thesenseofrecognition,thesenseofcollegialsupportandencouragement.Alittlewhilelater,shereceivedanothercard:‘Organised’(‘Notthatyou’dthinkIwasorganisedifyoulookedatmyoffice!’she

laughs).ThesimplepleasureofreceivingacardalertedLisatohowpowerfulsuchasmallgesturecanbe.‘ThesecardsfollowedmearoundatChildProtectionthroughfifteendeskchangesandsevendifferentpositions,’sherecalls.Today,shestilldisplaysthecardsbyherdeskatStLuke’sofficeinBendigo.Recently,LisaapproachedInnovativeResourcestotalkaboutarangeofwaysinwhichgiftingcouldbemadearegularpartofStLukes’practice.‘TheStrengths Cardshavethepotentialtoimpactquitesignificantly,bothimmediatelyandinthelongterm,’sheobserves.‘Giventhatthiswassuchanimportanteventinmyjourney,Iwouldreallyliketobeabletoinfluencethecareersofothersinthesameway.’

StrengthsDeskbythe

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cease to inquire what the future has in store, and take as a gift whatever the day brings forth. Horace

ResourcesBank

StrengthCardsCelebrateeveryone’sstrengthsandspecialqualitieswithourclassicresource,theStrength Cards!Ifyou’vejustbeenreadingaboutLisaHenderson’sexperience(p.4),you’llappreciatehowpowerfulthegiftofastrengthcanbe.Strengthscanbesharedinallsortsofways.Theycanbegiftedanonymously.Theycanalsobegiftedco-operativelyinwaysthatenhancetheexistingstrengthsandself-esteemofthereceiver.Youmightliketogiftinatangibleformbygivingacardtoastudent,clientorcolleague.Oryoumightgiftstrengthsbysharingaconversationwithsomeoneaboutthespecialqualitiesyoueachhave.TheStrength Cards Stickersprovideanothersimple,inexpensiveandtangiblewayofgiftingstrengthsandtheycanbepresentedinsomanyways.Childrenmayliketousethestickerstodecorategreetingcardsforfriendsandrelatives.Stickoneonafolderordocumenttosurpriseaworkmate.Teachers:usethestickerswithyourstudentstoletthemknowthattheirspecialqualitiesarerecognisedandvalued.

JellyBean’sSecretThetimewespendwithotherscanofferthegiftofmemoriestobetreasuredforalifetime.Jelly Bean’s Secretisaboutliving,dying,lettinggo,andrememberingthoseprecioustimesspenttogether.Nine-year-oldAbbyandherbrother,Zac,havespecialbondwiththeir‘GrandmaJellyBean’.Theirgrandmotherhelpswiththeirschoolwork.Theyenjoylongwalksonthebeachandmakingthingstogether.WhenJellyBeandies,it’shergiftoflovethatstayswiththechildren.Beautifullyillustratedwithblackandwhitewatercolourillustrations,Jelly Bean’s Secretpresentsopportunitiesforteachers,parentsandcounsellorstohavereflective,gentleconversationswithchildrenaboutthedeath,griefandtheritualsofmourning.Thissensitive,yetfrank,novellaisforprimary-schoolagedchildren.Itcomeswithnotesandadviceforadults,includingsuggestedresponsestosomeofthequestionschildrenoftenaskaboutdeath.

WonderfulYouThegiftofpraisecantransformachild’slife.Weallknowit.Butsometimesit’seasytoforgetwhenwe’retiredorstressed.Wonderful Youistheperfectresourceforpractisingcomplimentsandnoticingachievements.Itcelebratesthejoyousnessoflanguageandthepleasuresofreadingandbeingreadto.Eachcardfeaturesanalliterativestatementthatmakesgivingpraisefun,whileencouragingchildren’screativityandliteracyskills.Startwiththeawestruckastronaut’s‘Absolutelyastounding!’andcontinuethroughtothezookeeper’szesty‘Zippity-do-dah!’Asmanyparentsknow,awell-chosenstickerslippedintoachild’slunchboxcanbeasourceofsurpriseanddelight.MumsandDads:tryaddingastickertoan‘Iloveyou’notetoprovideapick-me-upforachildwhoisanxiousorstrugglingwithanissue.Teachers:whataboutchangingthecultureofreportcardswithawell-placedstickerortwo?Colourful,zanyandburstingwithenergy,theWonderful Youcardsandstickersareamustforthetoolkitsofcarers,educatorsandearlychildhoodworkers.

CaptainGrumpySometimesthegiftspeoplegiveusdon’tfeellikegiftsatall.Andsometimeswereceivetheminthemostsurprisingways.TakethestoryofCaptain Grumpy.CaptainGrumpywasapirate.Hisparentswantedhimtofindtreasure.Buthehatedbeingapirate.Itmadehimreally,reallygrumpy.Onedayhiscrewgottiredofhisgrumpiness.Sotheylefthimonadesertislandtogrumpalone.YoumightsaythecrewgaveCaptainGrumpythegiftofsolitude.Andwhatavaluablegiftitturnedouttobe...Writtenbyourownresidentpirate,RussellDeal,Captain Grumpyisaboutdiscoveringlife’srealtreasures.Parentsandteachers:here’sadelightfultaleforchildrenabouttakingcontrolofnegativeemotionsandunderstandinghowgrumpinesscanpushusaround—idealforhelpingchildrenacquirethatessentialgiftofemotionalinsight.

20% offWas $24.50 NOW $19.60

CaptaiN Grumpy

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PlantaKissByAmyKrouseRosenthal

“Itgoeslikethis.LittleMissplantedakiss.Plantedakiss?Plantedakiss.”AndfromthatkissspringssomethingbiggerandmoredazzlingthanLittleMisscouldhaveeverimagined!Life,kindnessandgiving:thesearethethemeswoventogetherinthissweetpicturebook,whichpairsbest-sellingauthorAmyRosenthalwiththeaward-winningillustratorPeterReynolds.Glitteredpagesaddatouchoftactilebedazzlethatwilltodelightyoungsters!HarperCollins,2012.Hardback,32pages.ProductCode:6727$20.00

ThreeLittleTwigsByKateKnapp

Here’saboxedcollectionofthreelittlebooksfeaturingthewhimsicalcastofcharactersdevelopedbyartistKateKnapp.Kate’sillustrationsarewoventogetherwithtouchingwordsponderingthetime-honouredsubjectsoflove,philosophyandfriendship.Thistrilogyofminiaturebookswouldmakeanidealgiftforsomeoneclosetoyou—perfectforstimulatingreflectionandcelebratingthelittle,andnot-so-little,joysoflife.

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Anholt’sArtistsActivityBookByLaurenceAnholt

Thisbookispackedwithsimple,practicaltipsfordevelopingyourartisticskills.It’swrittenforchildrenandyoungpeople,andintroducesthebasicsofartthatadultsaretaughttoo!Eachsectionispresentedasacomicbook-styleconversationbetweenayoungpersonandafamousartist—thinkDegas,Matisse,Picasso.Lotsofideasforstartingprojectsorimprovingtechniquearesharedintheprocess.Papiermache,papercuts,charcoalandwatercolourarejustsomeoftheclassicmediumsfeaturedintheterrific,fun-packedpublication.

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