Hedria

CPSI 2011 in Atlanta

Problem Solving – what fun it is! I had a great time in Atlanta, solving problems, investigating callenges and working with a variety of adults, children and teens…what could be more interesting and exciting!

This year CPSI, the Creative Problem Solving Institute, provided a wonderful background for seeing family and friends, making connections and having fun. I had the new responsibility of mentoring and guiding some very interesting and motivated teens in facilitating real world problems - what I thought would be work turned into joy as I saw how interested and present they were.

I worked with my buddies Suzanne Chamberlain and Gloria Rapport, presenting a day long “Jump into CPS” (Creative Problem Solving) with an exciting group of educators from Holland. We had a terrific, hard, long, interesting, fun filled day.

I slept with two cute girls from the Youth Wise Program, my granddaughters Isabel 9 and Talia 7. I got to know some of their friends and see the exciting things they were doing, including making the most fantastic posters to raffle off at the auction, and delicious cheese cake. Through their dad David, I was able to meet and enjoy other parents and friends.

I presented my workshop, developed to show creative coping skills presented in my memoir, Square One at 51. That was a highlight for me! I have presented this workshop for many years, to diverse audiences from grieving widows to young adults striving to move forward. The sharing, openness, humor and warmth from these participants was captivating.

And, oh yes! I am back at my BLOG because I told my class I wanted to write again – and they all supported the effort with their emails and best wishes. Thanks guys – here is the first installment!

CPSI is a magical place, where the opportunity for growth and development is expanded beyond expected possibilities. Hope to see you next June back in Atlanta!

 

Springing into Creativity

Hello!
I hope your winter went well and you are as excited about spring and summer around the corner as I am. I have been away and wanted to share some thoughts with you that I had as I drove down to and back from Florida.

I took my first trip to Washington DC when I was 11 years old. My grandfather had died, and my mom packed me up with my school work to join her in driving to Florida to stay with grandma for the cold winter months… two things remain vivid in my mind from that time in 1950:

1.  I was shocked and dismayed when we arrived at the capitol of our wonderful country and I witnessed segregation -- at the drinking fountains in Washington, DC!  Colored fountain and White fountain!

2. I had the impression that the “snow birds” in Florida were very old people!

Move forward to 2009:

1.    We have an African American residing in the white house as President of this wonderful country

2.    I must now be very old, because I am a “snow bird”. How did that happen?