Today, we’re joined by Kelley Kennedy, special education teacher in Medfield’s Wheelock School (grades 2 & 3) and her Assistance Dog for the Classroom, Franklin. Kelley and Franklin have been together for 6 years and were matched together after a rigorous training and matching process through the NEADS World Class Service Dog organization in Princeton, MA

Franklin is Wheelock school’s ambassador of good will and helps Kelley support students who may have a learning disability overcome challenging writing or language skills or reading comprehension…..he’s a “reinforcer” who rewards students for achieving; Franklin is also a teacher who demonstrates patience and compassion, patiently waiting for his turn to “visit” with his head resting gently on a student’s leg…only when asked, yet with expressive eyebrows he becomes that loveable, furry tool who supports learning, compassion, resilience and empathy simply by his presence.

Kelley and Franklin embody Solo Passages premise that kindness, resilience, empathy, compassion, and mindfulness can be learned and enhanced through the gentleness and leadership found in teachers overall and also within teachers using a service dog for the classroom, or a lovable furry tool!

RESOURCES:

· NEADS, World Class Service Dogs – www.neads.org

On today’s Solo Passages podcast, we’re joined by Tracy Buckley, the owner of Medfield Yoga here in Medfield, MA….Tracy is a certified yoga instructor and also is a Reiki Master.

Tracy and John discuss how Tracy originally came to practice Yoga for the past 20 years and the natural phenomena we all experience….creeping age and curiosity about “what is yoga; is it exercise?; what is “creating space” & don’t I always “think clearly?”; is there a body, mind, connection I can “feel”?; am I drawn to its potential for ?, something, more?”

Inspired by her life and those closest to her, Tracy has chosen to share her belief in yoga’s healing and meditative powers through physical postures, breathing exercises, being present in every action in every moment, helping to connect our bodies, mind and spirit to help us be present with many aspects of ourselves.

RESOURCES:

· Medfield Yoga - https://www.medfieldyoga.com

· Yoga and Mindfulness as a Tool for Influencing Affectivity, Anxiety, Mental Health, and Stress among Healthcare Workers: Results of a Single-Arm Clinical Trial (research from the National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information at National Institute for Health) - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7230658/

On today’s podcast, John is joined by Rabbi Karen Landy, a Chaplain at NewBridge On The Charles in Dedham, MA and her Service Dog for The Ministry, Tamari, a 10-year old black Labrador retriever, specially trained and matched with Karen for work within ministry settings, geriatrics and health care.

Karen (Rabbi Landy) & Tamari work at the NewBridge On The Charles in Dedham, MA where Karen is a Chaplain and Tamari is at her side every day engaging with patients, residents, and staff to be that steady, furry companion who supports everyone!

John and Karen talk about resilience, 1-1 relationships, her calling to service, empathy and how true and meaningful Tamari, a loving, peaceful lab, is as a physical and emotional bridge between humans that inevitably brings our connection and purpose to light.

RESOURCES:

· NewBridge on the Charles – Senior Living on the Charles in Dedham, MA

· HABRI – Human Animal Bond Research Initiative

o Older Adults and Animal Programming –

· NEADS, World Class Service Dogs – accredited service dog organization, Princeton, MA

Is It True ?

Science Has Found that our bodies & our overall health benefit from mindfulness & meditation practices…..Yes, it is True!

Meditation and Mindfulness Offer Many Health Benefits – and May Be As Effective as Medication in Some Cases, with Hilary A. Marusak, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, at Wayne State University in Detroit.

Dr. Hilary A. Marusak, PhD studying Translational Neuroscience from Wayne State University, Detroit, MI and John discuss the recent study that claims meditation may work as well as a common drug named Lexapro for the treatment of anxiety plus additional evidence about mindfulness and meditations broad array of health benefits for purposes ranging from STRESS and PAIN reduction to DEPRESSION treatments.

Hilary is a neuroscientist studying the effects of stress and trauma on brain development in children and adolescents and in particular, children and adolescents grappling with cancer and the perspectives these youth have in common.

Join us as we discuss mindfulness and meditation and their opportunity to help humans navigate anxiety, pain and trauma coupled with the science behind these discoveries.

RESOURCES:

· Article in the Conversation - https://theconversation.com/meditation-and-mindfulness-offer-an-abundance-of-health-benefits-and-may-be-as-effective-as-medication-for-treating-certain-conditions-195276

· Kids Kicking Cancer – a global organization

· Wayne State University, THINK LAB –

· Solopassages.com – additional information & resources

Even the word “pain” conjures up images of fear, cringing perhaps, and not something we welcome with a smile. Some of us grapple with long lasting, chronic pain, some of us have just returned from a trip to our dentist, perhaps surgery is upcoming due to an injury or something else that is painful in our future that conjures up negative images & emotions.

Over 150 million people around the world suffer from pain that limits mobility and independence. If there is a way to look at our pain in a different light or context and perhaps exploring it brings us to a different relationship with our pain, would you consider it?

Ginny helps us see separation between our thoughts, giving us space to respond versus react to a given sensation and actions we may take (or not take) because of these sensations and their accompanying thoughts.

Join Ginny and me for a guided meditation and take Mindfulness for Making Peace with Pain for a test drive.

The Great Transition is not new…it’s people being curious & giving themselves permission to venture beyond our boundaries (conscious & unconscious), basically, those we have set for themselves…life might be short!

Are you curious about changing your focus, what you are doing for work, or how you approach your work day? Are you looking for your “purpose, and a career that matters” to you?

Today, we’re a bit older, wiser, having acquired knowledge & experiences thru these years of work and life……whether short or long.

In this episode of Solo Passages, Deb explores the motivations, and opportunities for a transition that feeds your talents, skills, goals and what matters to you. We also explore the natural barriers to transitioning: fear of change, knowing which direction to go?