Check my reflex When I was 2 or 3, we were visiting close family friends and there was a fire across the street, with lots of fire trucks and emergency personnel showing up on the scene. The fire was big and afterwards, every time I heard a siren, I’d start to become anxious and cry. […]
Author Archives: jbaldwinglenn
I was raised in the American Midwest by parents whose definition of being punctual is to show up to a gathering or obligation (or for a weekend visit!) at least 20-30 minutes early. When I worked part time as a high school and college student, being on time was showing up at least 10-15 minutes […]
Check your PTSD people. Last Monday night I had a totally different direction mapped out in my head for this week’s post. I had read a column over the weekend about an author’s ‘likes’ so far during the pandemic and I myself attended a really upbeat Coping with COVID Zoom session on Monday evening where […]
Culture Shock Many people who enter and live in a new culture for more than a month experience what has been labeled “culture shock.” This means the newcomer will experience feelings such as not belonging, alienation, unworthiness or inadequacy and may lose touch with his or her own real feelings. In many ways, the person […]
So, this post is for my mom. Simply put, my mom is a beautiful lady. However, that doesn’t even begin to describe just how layered that statement is in truth. This woman has taught me much more than she ever receives credit–such as the importance of family and friends and building community wherever you are […]
ROW’s First 20 Minute Benchmark via Zoom Warm Up: 8 minutes on our ergs at home with our teammates while our 3 coaches figured out how to work Zoom’s break out room option, so we could have more individualized support from our coaches during the piece. Since I became a member of Recovery on Water […]
Much of the first month of COVID-19 Lockdown here in Chicago was challenging. However, for myself, there was also a feeling of newness, almost excitement, with schedules and expectations being different. Embracing and making time with old friends was wonderful, learning how to use ZOOM was a novelty, and only setting my alarm clock once […]
As many of you know, growing up, I spent my summers on Lake Charlevoix at the Cottage with my family. I learned to swim at Boyne City Swim School and throughout high school and college I spent my summers working for the program, going first from an aide to a lifeguard to a swim instructor […]
As I grew up, there were always Reader’s Digest magazines in the bathroom–at home and at the Cottage. As a rather precocious childhood reader, I devoured each issue. From the jokes to the true stories and health articles, I was all in. I especially remember reading the true stories of people who had dealt with […]
Hello All! During my Peace Corps service in the Eastern Caribbean, I wrote at least one letter a week back to the States. Especially the first year, when everything was so new and different, I had plenty to write about. New people, new experiences, new food, new challenges. Truly good times–and some of the hardest. […]
