Heroines and heroes

Thanks go to the Melissa Harris - Perry show on MSNBC, for this post's inspiration. Harris - Perry had featured on her January 9 show, a woman of color who runs a comic shop/coffeehouse in Philadelphia. Ariell Johnson noticed that so few women had seen, or had been near people who could be their heroes. Johnson includes among her tasks in her business, helping her customers find their heroes. What a good idea!

Who are your heroes, speech-language pathologists? But before answering that question, why even ponder having a hero these days? What does another person deserve from you, as 'hero worship' or its equivalent? ? Briefly, because books, dissertations and romantic comedies have been written much more adeptly on this topic,  I see that heroes -

* demonstrate for the world a high level of personal integrity and peace about their accomplishments. President Jimmy Carter is my hero in this category: I made some mistakes along the way, but I did this. This is who I am. Carter has shown me that in striving to do your life's work, your focus on your work is unyielding. What the world thinks cannot shake or dissuade you, from making a difference as you see it. The hero lives 'a full life'.

* accomplish great feats  that speak to your soul, like a 'badass'. Peace is the last item of the agenda for your work. I may stress peace in this post, but the achievement part of being a hero is why people who seek heroes, give a darn. Jimmy Breslin, the New York columnist and novelist, is my hero in this instance . He interviewed John Kennedy's grave digger at Arlington Cemetery. He was beaten by a mob when covering racial turmoil at Howard Beach. Son of Sam wrote Breslin letters during his summer murder spree. Jimmy Breslin hasn't brought peace, but a sword. His columns and books are plain spoken gems that shine light on modern good and evil.

* have big ideas! One way you can recognize a hero, is that she or he recognizes relationships, identifies trigger points,  and is incisive about when to 'pull the trigger' to initiate real change in the status quo. Heroes rise to the surface when it is clear the status quo HAS NOT WORKED. My heroes in this category include Will Allen, the CEO of Growing Power in Milwaukee and Chicago. Allen ' s vision for his company has driven a phalanx into the revolution for sustainable, affordable, healthy, tasty, fresh food. Since Growing Power's work emphasizes health promotion, it is a heroic movement that could draw in many speech-language pathologists.

Who is your professional hero? It is often someone who has shaped your professional life: a professor, a supervisor or a memorable colleague. Who helped you make the therapeutic environment your own? Who helped you become a better scientist, teacher, manager of kid secretions, and a champion of bringing people together through communication? Those who mentor you, or those who are extraordinary models of professional  behavior for you, can help take your work as an SLP to the highest level. Ultimately, your distilling a successful career from a hero's influence can bring you to the point - where you are someone else's hero. Take the ride. We can be heroes, ultimately for many days.

 If you have comments for this post, tell us who your heroes are - and why.

Following Instructions

I am in a terrific mood this time of year; since late November, actually - because seed catalogues for the coming crop year are appearing in the mailbox!! Remember that I am a speech-language pathologist who uses horticulture in clinical practice. Storing your own seeds in the clinic is having the supply train that assures you - you can do the work that you want! And while cold winds blow, and soil keeps its secrets and treasures locked tight, the gardener is transported in the catalogues to warm, fragrant summertime.

I do understand that very few of us who gardens in their clinical practice have large budgets. That can be overcome. There is also the concern expressed: what do I order? Also, easier than you think. But first, -

* why grow from seed? You have a profoundly rich clinical environment in which to work, over the lifetime of a plant. The mere suspense of waiting for sugar snap peas to germinate; for tomato stems and leaves to morph to their adult form; for dill plants that had gone to flower and then, produce seed - the beginnings of the next generation; - it is the stuff of great communication. Myriads of wonderful interactions with persons you serve can grow out of the garden work you can help conduct.

* how do you find good seed? Experience in the garden seed market is the best teacher. My catalogues for the current year include horticultural household names such as Burpee, Johnny's, Jung, Park Seed, Gurney's and R.H. Shumway. Newer companies such as Natural Gardening Company, Seeds n Such, Vermont Bean Seed, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, Pinetree and Seed Savers Exchange offer the clinical gardener options of open-pollinated, heirloom and heritage plants. Then there are: Native Gardener's Companion, John Scheepers, Miracle Gro AeroGarden, Seeds of Change, Cook's Garden, Victory,  Audubon Workshop, Summerstone, ... whew!!

* How can you afford such a consumable  in your annual budget? With some popular seed brands retailing below $1, testing your skill is simple. As you become comfortable with your garden design skills,  your budgeting needs grow. It could be an activity fee charged per clinic term, fundraisers, grantwriting, or participation in a community garden that brings you your new budget lines.

The lesson for the novice gardener is : learn by buying a few seed packets from the big companies, and have an initial crop experience.  Above all, follow the instructions on the seed packet. Your garden environment, be it container, raised bed or plot, will tell you if your seedlings are a good fit for it.

Are you a good fit for growing plants from seed? Try it and see.