What do social workers, humanitarian aid workers, substance abuse counselors, and palliative care nurses have in common? Well for one, these honorable professionals are particularly vulnerable to 1) burnout, 2) compassion fatigue and 3) secondary traumatic stress. People working in …
Category / Random Reflections
It has been fun to see that the international humanitarian sector’s most prominent HR actor, People In Aid has been promoting my doctorate research. Between January and May 2015, People In Aid (now CHS Alliance) have run four articles highlighting …
My Don Quixote notions of masculinity
I was raised on Don Quixote and The Knights of the Round Table as a child. I was encouraged to embrace chivalry as a role model and this has undoubtedly shaped my understand/misunderstand of …
The Parable of the Pear Tree
There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look …
BELIEVE IT OR NOT:
In the Autumn of 1621 the Pilgrims held a 3-day festival of thanksgiving. Many would say they had little to give thanks for. Consider the following:
1. The Separatist (as they were called) were compelled to …
A while back I came across an ancient proverb from the Middle East:
…
Go to the ant you sluggard; consider her ways and be wise; who, having no guide, overseer or ruler, provides her bread in the summer and gathers
I think the time is long overdue for us to drastically reduce our binary speech patterns…particularly the way we so easily contrast Western and Eastern world views as if they are two major monolithic cultures that stand in sharp contrast …
I was waiting at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport for a flight to Dushanbe, Tajikistan when I received an SMS from my wife. It read:
mormor is now with the Lord since 1 1/2 hour. all went well. beautiful!
Mormor (Swedish …
The enormous difficulties of attempting to reduce poverty, build capacity, and facilitating sustained development continue to be profoundly under estimated by the international community. Even back in 1992, Jonathan Moore, adviser to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said, “……
This amazing picture was taken by Mr. Aaro Keipi of a beautiful bride and noble hearted groom (Johanna & Simon) on 19 May 2012 in Örebro, Sweden. I know these two newlyweds quite well and am moved by Aaro’s photo. …