David's Corner

The day after Thanksgiving is a holiday. If you have to work today,  I’m so grateful for your service . If you are just checking emails or picked up work that can be done next week, please put it down and do something that brings you joy.   Brene Brown, researcher and author, tells us that gratitude can bring us joy. Today, try this: Say,  “I’m so grateful for….”  Maybe even repeat it a couple of times and see what happens. I hope it brings joy to your day.   See you next week David Health, Justice and Hope

This Friday's note includes a short video. We invited some people in our organization to say “thank you” in the language they grew up with and we put it together in a 3-minute video.  LCSNW Thank you video .  Thank you Kaeli and Steve for putting it together so quickly! #rockstars. Also, thank you to our staff that took the time to send us a video so fast.    At LCSNW  we have an extraordinary range of backgrounds, cultures and languages, as well as in the people we serve.  Now seems like a perfectly good time to thank you for what you do every day!  I grew up in Minnesota as a good Norwegian boy eating lutefisk and lefsa.  Well - lefsa.  If you know what lutefisk is - you will understand.  My portion of the video is partly in Norwegian  which was taught to me by my  dear Grandparents.  I was lucky that my family felt our traditions were important to pass down while also exposing me to others from around the world. ...

The election is over. As I send this   Note , the final results aren’t in. We are all invested in what the final results will mean to refugees and immigrants, our healthcare, the economy, and so many other issues that are important to us collectively and individually. I am praying for unity, peace, and calm as we try to heal from some of the divisions we have.   I am concerned about the impact of these issues on you. I know that many of you are weary.  You have that rare thing, which is that you do not turn your back on someone struggling. You love and serve, helping vulnerable people live and thrive in the community. You’ve been working hard and doing amazing work. The challenge is when our work raises feelings of both purpose and burden. It is deeply satisfying to connect someone to our services. The emotional and physical experiences can also strain even the most capable person . So,what do you do about your own burnout, depression, or anxiety?...