Illinois ImaginesDecember 2015

Spotlight

m Journey of a Self-Advocate - 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20Discussion with self-advocates Marge Parker, Mary Hettle and Alice Kieft on their journey in working with the Illinois Imagines project and the importance of self-advocate involvement. Registration information will be e-mailed in the coming weeks.

Webinar Schedule

Book Review: “An Unquiet Mind”Author: Kay Redfield Jamison; 1995Review by Alice KieftDr. Jamison is a pioneer in seeking a way to livewith bipolar I disorder. She was one of the first totake lithium as a measure to help control the skyhighs and the death-valley lows. This book isabout her struggle to exist day-to-day with bipolardominating her world. In a manic state, you aresure you can conquer the world, and your mindwhirls with the possibilities. In the depressivestate, you are sure you cannot take a step forward;you are alone, tired and empty. She says, “One iswhat one is, and the dishonesty of hiding behind adegree, or a title, or any manner and collection ofwords, is still exactly that: dishonest.” I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an “un-quiet mind” of bipolar I or II. I would also recom-mend it to those who have love ones struggling with this disorder.

ResourceMany children with intellectual and developmentaldisabilities experience trauma. The National Center on Child Traumatic Stress have released anew resource: “The Road to Recovery: SupportingChildren with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Who Have Experienced Trauma.” ThisToolkit can be accessed at the following link:http://learn.nctsn.org/enrol/index.php?id=370

You Get Proud by Practicing

by Laura Hershey

If you are not proudFor who you are, for what yousay, for how you look;If every time you stopTo think of yourself, you do notsee yourself glowingWith golden light; do not, there-fore, give up on yourself.You can get proud.

You do not needA better body, a purer spirit, or aPh.D.To be proud.You do not needA lot of money, a handsomeboyfriend, or a nice car.You do not needTo be able to walk, or see, orhear,Or use big, complicated words,

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Or do any of those thingsthat you just can’t doTo be proud. A caseworkerCannot make you proud,Or a doctor.You only need more practice.You get proud by practicing.

There are many manyways to get proud.You can try riding a horse,or skiing on one leg,Or playing guitar,And do well or not so well,And be glad you triedEither way.You can showSomething you’ve madeTo someone you respectAnd be happy with it nomatterWhat they say.You can sayWhat you think, though youknowOther people do not thinkthe same way, and you cankeep saying it, even if theytell youYou are crazy.

You can add your voiceAll night to the voicesOf a hundred and fifty othersIn a circleAround a jailhouseWhere your brothers andsisters are being held

For blocking buses with nolifts,Or you can be one of theonesInside the jailhouse,Knowing of the circle outside.You can speak your loveTo a friendWithout fear.You can find someone whowill listen to youWithout judging you ordoubting you or beingAfraid of youAnd let you hear yourselfperhapsFor the very first time.These are all waysOf getting proud.None of themAre easy, but all of themAre possible. You can doall of these things,Or just one of them againand again.You get proudBy practicing.

Power makes you proud,and powerComes in many fine formsSupple and rich as butterflywings.It is musicwhen you practice openingyour mouthAnd liking what you hearBecause it is the sound ofyour ownTrue voice.

It is sunlightWhen you practice seeingStrength and beauty ineveryone,Including yourself.It is dancewhen you practice knowingThat what you doAnd the way you do itIs the right way for youAnd cannot be calledwrong.All these holdMore power than weaponsor moneyOr lies.All these practices bringpower, and powerMakes you proud.You get proudBy practicing.

Remember, you weren’t theoneWho made you ashamed,But you are the oneWho can make you proud.Just practice,Practice until you getproud, and once you areproud,Keep practicing so youwon’t forget.You get proudBy practicing.

For more information onLaura Hershey, visit

http://www.laurahershey.com/

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