Every now and again my curiosity and ongoing struggle to stay focused pays off. Back in graduate school, when I was praying to be hit by a lightening bolt of clarity to help me make sense of my dissertation research, I met a scholar who stalked disasters. Within hours of hearing about an earthquake, tsunami, … Continue reading »
resilience
What’s wrong with grit?
Grit is all over the news these days — the “latest fad in schools, ” according to author Alfie Kohn. With research suggesting that grit is linked to academic success, many policy makers, school leaders, and educators are crossing their fingers that this might be the silver bullet needed to give a boost to struggling students. … Continue reading »
Tips for resilience in the face of horror
In December, in the wake of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, we created a list of resources for helping children cope with trauma. We had hoped that we would not have to feature that list again anytime soon. Sadly, a number of these resources are newly relevant after the explosions at the Boston Marathon, … Continue reading »
9/11 reaction and resilience
New demographic reports about New York City have firmed up an impression that any casual walker in the city can draw: Manhattan is booming – booming in business activity and in human activity. The Times summary reads, in part: “Two new studies show that downtown has become a magnet. Between 2000 and 2010 . . … Continue reading »
Battle hymn of the jellyfish son: On life after a parent’s death
“Here,” my mom’s oncologist said, handing me a thumb-sized vial of her spinal fluid, “take this down the street for analysis.” Too shocked not to do exactly as told, I reached out over my mom’s anesthetized body and took the vial. It was still warm. I slipped it in the little pocket of my jeans, … Continue reading »