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SOON newsletter issue 54
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In this issue:1 ThePracticeofGifting3 IntheSpotlight: StoneTherapyfor SpecialSiblings4 ComingSoon FromInnovativeResources Angels—the strengths of everyday kindness4StrengthsbytheDesk5 ResourcesBank6 ChristmasResources
Tocontributetothisnewsletteremailus:[email protected]
St Luke’s Innovative Resources
137 McCrae Street Bendigo
Victoria 3550 Australia
Ph: (03) 5442 0500 Fax: (03) 5442 0555
international (+61 3)
email: [email protected]
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
2
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
5
Spendover$100onInnovativeResources’booksandcardsetsandmentionthisoffertoreceivea$20vouchertousetowardsyournextpurchase(excludesshelflistitems).Offerends21/12/2012.
SpecIal OffeR
DrawThumbPeopleByKlutz
Yourveryownquirkyartatyourfingertips!Turnyourhumdrumthumbprintsintopicturesofallkindsofpeoplewiththiscompletelyself-containedactivitykit.Thepackincludesalltheartsuppliesrequired:athumb-sizedgreeninkpad,ablackfelt-tippen,andabookofstep-by-stepinstructions,withplentyofroomreservedforpractisingrightonthepage.Perfectforages4andup.Idealforfillingintimewithyourchildrenduringtheholidays!
ProductCode:7453$10.00
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.
AffirmationsAustralia,2011.ProductCode:9713$23.99
Innovative resources is a not-for-profit publisher and bookseller; all sales support the child, youth, family and community services provided by st luke’s anglicare.
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Anholt’sArtistsActivityBookByLaurenceAnholt
Thisbookispackedwithsimple,practicaltipsfordevelopingyourartisticskills.It’swrittenforchildrenandyoungpeople,andintroducesthebasicsofartthatadultsaretaughttoo!Eachsectionispresentedasacomicbook-styleconversationbetweenayoungpersonandafamousartist—thinkDegas,Matisse,Picasso.Lotsofideasforstartingprojectsorimprovingtechniquearesharedintheprocess.Papiermache,papercuts,charcoalandwatercolourarejustsomeoftheclassicmediumsfeaturedintheterrific,fun-packedpublication.
FrancesLincolnChildren’sBooks,2012.Softcover.48pages.ProductCode:6730$17.95
JackandtheBakedBeanstalkByColinStimpson
JackandhisMumrunalittleburgercafethat’sclosetobroke,sowhenJackspendstheirlastpenniesonacanofbakedbeans,hismumthrowsthemoutofthewindow...startingaGIANTadventure!DiscoverwhathappenswhenafairytaleunfoldsinamodernmetropolisinColinStimpson’sirreverantandspellbindingversionoftheclassicstory.Beautifullydetailedillustrationsaccompanythiswitty,thoughtfultakeonthetale.Agreatread,highlyrecommendedforages7to107.
KoalaBooks,2012.Softcover,40pages.ProductCode:6718$14.99
DrawingfortheArtisticallyUndiscoveredByQuentinBlake&JohnCassidy
Here’sasketchbookwithtrainingwheelsfromQuentinBlakeCBE,oneofthemostcelebratedillustratorsofourtime.He’sthechapwhoillustratedmanyofRoaldDahl’sbooks,aswellasinnumerablepicturebooks,postersandevenpublicmurals.Inspirationalexamples,shamelesscheerleading,helpfultechniquetipsandlotsofwhat-to-drawideasshareeachpagewithplentyofwhitespacefortheuseoftheartist-to-be.Includedwitheachbookareanartist-qualitysketchpenandtwowatercolorpencils,onered,oneblack.Suitableforages8andup.
ProductCode:8864$39.95
C h r i s t m a s R e s o u r c e s