1/3 of the proceeds of Inch by Inch – Growing in Life sold on Amazon go to CHEO’s NICU. #inchbyinch http://ow.ly/zSjIm

Inch by Inch – Growing in Life is available now! Get your copy today, and change your life – step by step! #inchbyinch http://ow.ly/zSjIm

So in my University Continued Education Management Communications:  Interpersonal Skills class, we had an origami project where we received the origami instructions 4 ways and then had to answer 2 questions.  It was via a powerpoint presentation (being distance learning), with the following step-by-step instruction delivery types:

1.  Written only instructions
2.  Verbal only instructions
3.  Visual only instructions
4.  Visual & Verbal instructions

Share how you felt through the process and which mode you enjoyed the most.

I was so excited to start the project, thinking it was going to be a complicated project and I would have some work of art at the end… 

I read the instructions and realized it was only 5 folds!  And then, having the written instructions, reading them and putting them into action, I found I had no idea what they meant!  Parallel?  Triangle?  WTH does that mean?  This thing is going to be a cup????  How the heck is that supposed to be?!  I ended up with a mangled mess and thought of scrapping the whole project.

But I chose to soldier on and continue to the next set of instructions, thinking there would be more information within the verbal instructions.  NO!!!  This female just read out loud to me the instructions I already couldn’t follow!!!  Now, this was annoying.  Who does she think she is… her tone of superiority slicing into my dysfunctional brain like Sister Rose Marie in Grade 4 catching me with cigarettes.  NEXT!

YES!!! Visual instructions!  Thank the Gods.  I could now see what my paper should be looking like and where the folds should be exactly.  No haughty voice telling me how it should be done, like I’m an imbicile.  Last fold, and… PERFECT!  I have a cup!  I am awesome, and I did it all by myself.  (Ok, maybe I had help from Leroy Phillip Michaels III.  MAYBE.)

Wait a minute.  A last set of instructions?  Visual instructions plus the snob from hell?!!!  Uh-huh. No way, not gonna do it.  I made my cup already.  Take that, disembodied voice from hell.  HA!

Now I’m going to have a much deserved ‘I worked hard’ beverage in my new paper cup.

How does this experience translate into how you communicate in your personal and professional lives?

Well, I’ve learned through other courses and through life experience that I am a visual and kinesthetic learner.  Give me a set of instructions or show me how to do a thing once and I’ll be able to do it again and again without fail.

At work yesterday, I had the #5 instruction experience where my supervisor decided we had to review a new procedural manual.  For an hour I listened to her vocalize exactly what I was reading in my hand… Not very cool… I CAN READ.  Just let me go and experience it for myself!  Ah, the things we sit through to show our bosses we care (lol).

I discovered I can learn via audio but only if there is an energetic passionate orator… even then I still have to kinesthetically write the words down for myself so they stick in my brain.

The last instructions (visual + verbal) would normally work for me, but apparently I was predisposed to dislike that voice, so I tuned her out entirely!  

Family, friends and co-workers have all been apprised of my learning style and if they are teaching/telling in their style, I must reformat the message for better understanding for us all.  It can be frustrating for both sides, but more so if I completely misunderstand the message and continue about my merry little way!

Having said all of that, it’s time for a ‘I worked hard’ beverage.  Where’s my origami paper?

**Big Breath In**

Hello everyone,

So, it’s Bell’s Let’s Talk about Mental Health day #BellLetsTalk. One of my favourite days. Through work, I’m aware of a lot of mental health issues in our city that go undiagnosed until a third party gets involved – police, child welfare, concerned family members… 

I am posting to let you, my friends and family, know I am the face of mental health disorder.

As many of you know, I have suffered from depression for many years, but last week I got a new diagnosis. I only told my daughter, mom and one girlfriend about it.

I am Bipolar II. This means I have very extreme depressive states and very extreme highs, but what makes me ‘Bipolar II’ and not ‘Bipolar or Bipolar I’ (aka Manic Depressive) is that my highs are not manic. That’s it. It’s a very fine line. High moments can come around once in a lifetime, once a year, once a week – there’s no definate timeline for either extreme.

Bipolar has been given such a bad name – I struggle with the label myself, but mostly with the label mood stabilizers has been given. The worries (from the stigma) of ‘will mood stabilizers take away my me-ness’ and ‘I don’t want to be an emotionless zombie’ do come forward and my solution is to talk, learn, listen, ask. In reality I know my ‘me-ness’ will forever shine through – breaking the stigma for myself is the first step.

I am still sitting with my diagnosis and weighing my options… mood stabilizers are what is most commonly prescribed for my Disorder. Do I? Don’t I? I will discuss with my doctor and determine what is the best option for me personally. Currently I am on 2 anti-depressants (last year was stellar for the depressive episodes). Whatever the choice, I will continue to see my psychologist as well as probable check-ins with my (new) psychiatrist.

This has been difficult for me to write and share… My hope is that those of you who think they don’t know what mental illness looks like will realize you’ve been socializing with it as long as you’ve known me. If you think you know someone may be suffering from a mental disorder, don’t ignore it! If you think YOU might be suffering from a mental disorder, talk to your doctor, a psychologist, or at the very least a friend who can help you make appointments or just talk through it with you. 

PLEASE talk about mental illness. It doesn’t go away when ignored.

The following web page has much information about Bipolar Disorder. I’ve included an excerpt below. Please help me help you and all those we know by reading and sharing all information you learn.

THANK YOU,Tara 

“How can I help a friend or relative who has bipolar disorder?

If you know someone who has bipolar disorder, it affects you too. The first and most important thing you can do is help him or her get the right diagnosis and treatment. You may need to make the appointment and go with him or her to see the doctor. Encourage your loved one to stay in treatment.

To help a friend or relative, you can:

– Offer emotional support, understanding, patience, and encouragement- Learn about bipolar disorder so you can understand what your friend or relative is experiencing- Talk to your friend or relative and listen carefully- Listen to feelings your friend or relative expresses-be understanding about situations that may trigger bipolar symptoms- Invite your friend or relative out for positive distractions, such as walks, outings, and other activities- Remind your friend or relative that, with time and treatment, he or she can get better.- Never ignore comments about your friend or relative harming himself or herself. Always report such comments to his or her therapist or doctor.”

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml

I am so excited! I am now an INTERNATIONALLY PUBLISHED AUTHOR!

The Missing Piece: A Transformational Journey is a collaboration with 26 other amazing women who have co-authored the book. Check out this review on Amazon:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, Humbling, Wonderful and Powerful, December 7, 2013
By Country Girl – See all my reviews
This review is from: The Missing Piece – A Transformational Journey (Paperback)
Take the time to read each chapter and you will truly be inspired and humbled by the way each of these people have dealt with the most challenging and painful events that life can throw at you. They have opened their hearts and souls and shared their innermost thoughts and feelings with authenticity and directness. If you have ever felt that you need to escape from your current surroundings and you deserve a better life than you have, then this book is a must read. It will give you the strength, self-belief and ability to break free and become the person you truly are deep inside yourself. Wonderful and powerful reading.

You can purchase the book here:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Missing-Piece-Transformational-Journey/dp/0957556179/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

I’ve just finished all of the files I needed to finish my submission for a book I am co-authoring.  What a sense of accomplishment!

Stay tuned for details!