The Beauty of Failure

There is an immediate emotional impact when you receive a rejection letter – a sense of disappointment –but even at that young age, I had an optimism that life works itself out… It’s how you leverage failure that is the defining point. 

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real-life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging”, as I know each of these pieces represents something…

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5 Ways To Add Laughter During Caregiving

Here are some simple tips to encourage humor in caregiving to bring the benefits of laughter and joy into each day:

  1. Use the “Yes, and…” rule (like in improvisational theater or comedy) to keep the conversation moving rather than correcting or questioning someone. It could result in a funny story you create together.
  2. Tell a joke, literally. If you don’t know any, buy a book of jokes and read a few together each day. This one is silly and fun.
  3. Poke a little fun at yourself and it might get the giggles started between both of you.
  4. Remember that you are aging too, not just caring for someone who is older. Putting things in perspective can be relaxing and funny.
  5. Try a 15 minute laughter yoga video (free).

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Social Work Breaks Barriers

To the Editor
“Social Work Breaks Barriers.” That was the theme for this year’s Social Work Month. However, have we as social workers addressed the barriers to becoming and being a social worker? Self-advocacy is so important for our profession.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 700,000 social workers in the United States. The median salary of a social worker in the United States is $50,390 annually or $24.23 an hour. However, the average cost of gaining a master’s degree in social work, according to the US Department of Education, is roughly $75,000. This does not include the fees for supervision, licensing exam, continuing education, and licensure.

In addition to this, the Association of Social Work Boards exam to become a licensed social worker has been shown to have clear racial disparities. People of color are less likely to pass the exam on the first try, further incurring fees and barriers to becoming a licensed social worker. Licensure could help social workers increase their earning potential.

If we are going to claim that “social work breaks barriers,” there should be a focus on breaking barriers for social workers first. There should be more advocacy on behalf of social workers by doing an across-the-nation salary study, comparing the salaries of social workers with those of other comparable, masters-level professionals. Furthermore, there should be an overhaul and commitment to reducing the barriers to becoming a social worker so that more passionate individuals can join our profession and assist with breaking more barriers.

Let us advocate for ourselves as we advocate for others.

Sincerely,
LeeAnne Thompson-Forte, LCSW, LCAS, CSI

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Questions & Answers

Which person do you admire most? People who do hard, honorable work in obscurity. What is the trait you most deplore in others? The inability to listen. Inauthentic vocal registers. Calling anything other than food “delicious” or “yummy.” What is your greatest extravagance? Fancy dishes. On what occasion do you lie? When I’m talking about Santa Claus and the tooth fairy and trying to make time stand still. Which living person do you most despise? Anyone who is deliberately cruel. People without empathy. People without compassion or curiosity. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Being abandoned, being alone, not being seen, not being understood. What do you most value in your friends? Honesty, loyalty, and a wicked sense of humor. Who are your heroes in real life? People who overcome. What is your motto? I decide.  How would you like to die? Quietly, in my sleep. At peace. On a boat in Italy. Next to an empty bowl of pasta.

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…

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A Marriage of Inconvenience

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…

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