Inspiration

The Blessing Is Next To The Wound

A Conversation with Hector Aristizábal About Torture and Transformation. Diane Lefer interviews Aristizábal about his remarkable journey from the violence, crime and oppression of Colombia, to his work with torture survivors, gang members, prisoners, AIDS patients, and low-income immigrant families,  as a therapist in California.

How cards made a difference for Jean

Source: Dying Matters. Brian Hill was one of the participants in the Small Actions, Big Difference photography exhibition, commissioned for Dying Matters Awareness Week in May. While his wife, Jean, who had dementia, was an inpatient at one hospital, Brian would go home every night after spending the day with her and make a card to bring her the following day. Soon staff started talking to Jean about the cards. Previously, says Brian, they had found it difficult to relate to her. Read More >>

Jeff Ragsdale: The man who gave the world his number

Source: BBC News. When Jeff Ragsdale went through a difficult break-up last year, he found himself isolated and alone in New York City. Desperate, he put his phone number on a flier along with a simple message: "If anyone wants to talk about anything, call me." He posted copies all across the city, and waited. The response was overwhelming, with thousands of calls coming from across the US and around the world. Jeff and two collaborators then transcribed the conversations, text messages and voice mails, publishing them in Jeff, One Lonely Guy. Read More >>