Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Welcome to the first issue of The True Livelihood Newsletter! I have been dreaming the dream of this newsletter for many years but it wasn’t until I received a comment from a participant from a recent workshop that I made the decision to finally act on the dream of creating a newsletter. This young woman works for a community based organization in Newark, New Jersey which serves individuals who are moving from welfare into work. She said,

“Denise, I work in a place that is supposed to give hope and reassurance to people so that they can become self-sufficient. The problem is that those of us who are employed to give hope are pretty much out of that particular commodity for ourselves. With recent budget cuts and all of that is happening in our country and around the world, how do we refill our own well so that we have something to give other people? While this has been a great training experience, I fear that once I get back into the regular course of work, I am going to lose the enthusiasm and spirit that has filled me during the course of this training.”

I think we can all relate. We have all participated in something that renewed our spirit and got us singing again – an experience that lit a fire within us and restored our faith in ourselves, other people, or in the world at large. Unfortunately, we can also relate to the fear expressed by the young woman – that the fire might die out quickly amidst everyday realities, be they at work, at home or reflected on the daily news. And yet, those of us in the world of career and employment development know that we cannot afford the luxury of even momentary hopelessness much less despair. We cannot afford to pay the toll at the gate of discouragement because the very mantel we undertook when taking the positions we hold, above all else, is that of Keepers of the Flame! We are purveyors of hope, the seers of possibility, the ones who hold the lamp for those whose light has gone out. And we know the truth - if we cannot keep the flame of hope ablaze for ourselves, we cannot pretend to hold it up for other people!

So how do we keep the inner fire lit with the winds of change (and oft times chaos) sweeping around us? How do we help ourselves and one another to stay the course and keep in alignment with our ideals and our core values? How do we establish the sense of solid ground from within our own lives so that we are less influenced and discouraged from forces outside ourselves? How do we see through eyes of hope, faith and courage rather than through the veil of fear, scarcity or apathy?

My fondest hope for this newsletter is that it will provide a kindling for the fire – if only on a monthly basis. Focused on that month’s theme, you will find a few twigs of inspiration offered in the form of quotes and poetry, a branch of encouragement in the form of practical ideas, tips or suggestions and a Fireside Chat – response to questions provided by friends and colleagues in the field related to the theme. As this is this first in the series, we invite you to join us in nurturing and growing this newsletter by sending us suggestions of what you would like to see included, providing questions that you would like me to respond to, and responding to survey questions that will feed the fires of future issues.

I am thrilled to be sending this newsletter and I look forward to gathering round this humble fire each month with all of you who represent agencies, organizations and businesses from all around North America and beyond!

- Denise Bissonnette

Click Here to Read Denise's Poem "Rekindle the Flame"
 

What a great time to practice being a light unto other people, when there is so much talk of doom and gloom, even while in the midst of a war. Anyone can be hopeful in happy, abundant times, but our charge as Keepers of the Flame is to trust that the brilliant sun is always there - even if covered by clouds. While it can be difficult to see possibilities for ourselves, it is far easier to see them for other people. It is a beautiful truth that when we encourage and inspire people around us, we too are encouraged and inspired. Seek out a few individuals in your midst who are carrying a heavy burden, are discouraged or disheartened and find a way to lighten their load. Ask them a question they would love to answer or tell them what you appreciate most about them. Perhaps leave an anonymous flower, piece of gum or inspiring quote on their seat or on the windshield of their car… give them the pleasure of wondering who might care enough to make such a gesture.

Think of someone you deeply admire and whose purposes and principles you respect. Set a time to visit with this person, even if by phone or e-mail. Surround yourself with people who inspire you to your highest purposes.

Rent a movie or re-read a book that fills you with a sense of hope and well-being. A few of my personal favorites are The Power of One, Shawshank Redemption, City of Joy and The Miracle Worker.

Have you ever dropped into a bookstore and just happened to pick up the perfect book for the time and place you were in your life? I was lucky this past summer to have such a book land in my hands and I have been feasting on it ever since – reading it in small bites so as not to have it finished before I am ready to be done. The book is entitled, Self-Reliance: The Wisdom of Ralph Waldo Emerson as Inspiration for Daily Living, published in 1991 by Bell Tower, New York.

Two weeks before this auspicious find, my friend who created the Source Index for my newest book, The Wholehearted Journey, noted that I had quoted Emerson eighteen times in 350 pages. As a skimmed the book and considered the passages I had chosen to include, it hit me that Emerson had been far more an inspiration to me in my writing than I had ever realized. So picking up Self-Reliance in a small used bookstore in Kenora, Ontario, while on summer vacation indeed seemed fitting. Little did I know what a treat I was in store for! Full of optimism and idealism, this abridged edition of Emerson’s essays makes a wonderful companion through the trials of life, providing a feast of inspiration and insight. Reading Emerson is like taking a potent elixir that refreshes the soul, restores hope and inspires faith. He makes his down-to-earth wisdom accessible to the everyday person as he provides intelligent discourse on the essential virtues – such as love, friendship, honor, mode ration and, of course, self-reliance. Particularly in these times when we are challenged in so many ways, we can take heart from this wise man who gently reminds us, “What lies beyond us and what lies before us are tiny matters compare to what lies within us.”

I invite readers of this newsletter to send questions that you would like me to respond to in this section of the newsletter. We will also print responses from you, the readers, to questions that we pose. Here is the question I will respond to next month and invite response from all of you:

What is your advice to the person who has been looking for work and becomes overwhelmed by reading in the news that he/she has been joined by thousands of others who have recently been laid off?

Click Here to Send your Comment by Email
 

April 10, San Diego, CA - Rekindle the Flame Seminar

April 28, Santa Clara, CA - WorkAbility III Conference

May 1, Carmel, CA - Workability II Conference

May 7, Killington, VT - Vermont Association for Persons in Supported Employment

May 8, Boston, MA - Beyond Traditional Job Development

May 9, Boston, MA - Rekindle the Flame

Click Here for Details and Complete Appearance Schedule
 

Please visit our store and browse through our selection of tools for job developers, career counselors and others with similar responsibilities.

Click Here to go to DiversityShop
 

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