Accomplished Derry singer Conor McGinty has had a whirlwind week, with the pre-sale launch of his debut album and a New York audition with a top Broadway producer.

The well-known performer has told the Journal of the exciting past few days and how he feels his two late grandmothers have been looking out for him.

Conor also paid tribute to Derry woman Cliona OHara, who lives in America and is helping as many Derry people as she can to achieve their potential. He said she has been a huge support to him.

The pair connected by chance through social media platform Instagram. But Conor told how Cliona, who works directly under Bob Proctor from The Secret as a personal development coach, had seen a pop-up banner of him previously while in Derry and asked about him. When they connected, they spoke about Conors career and he told her how his mental attitude was his biggest block.

Conor and Cliona put a plan in place to ensure he was at his physical, mental and vocal peak.

Cliona also connected Conor with a Broadway producer, who she had sent his work to and who loved what he does. Conor flew out of Dublin at 8am on Wednesday, auditioned in Brooklyn for the producer, and returned home the same day as he is performing in local venues this week.

He will hear if his audition for the top-secret new show was successful in the next few weeks. Conor described the opportunity as amazing and added that while he would have loved to have had a look around New York, he didnt want to let any local venues down, so returned home. Conor said he wasnt tired after his mammoth trip and thinks he is kept going on the adrenalin from it.

He is also busy preparing for his concert in the City Hotel on November 1, for which hes hoping to release more tickets. His album, A New Dawn is on pre-sale at iTunes and Amazon.

He had been working on it for three years with Eamonn Karran, but the death of his grandmother, June, recently, prompted him to finish it.

On her death bed, she said she hoped I got my break. That sparked something within me.

My other granny, Madeline, who was like a second mother to me, died two years ago. Things have started to happen now and I think the two of them are looking out for me.

Conor said that even if things dont work out with New York, he is going to undertake an Irish tour next year, which is he really looking forward to. He said he has found that positive things happen when you have a positive mental attitude.

See more here:
Its A New Dawn for Conor McGinty with album and Broadway audition - Derry Journal

Location Edinburgh, GB Organization Name HR Directorate

About Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney), one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science, engineering, design, business and languages.

With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and practical, leading-edge research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for business and industry. We connect with industry at every level and develop programmes to match their needs so employers get work-ready industry-fit graduates.

Heriot-Watt is also Scotland's most international university, boasting the largest international student cohort.

We have an established set of values that help us to nurture innovation and leadership, and show our commitment to continuous improvement and development in all our activities.

For full details on our University please view our Careers at Heriot-Watthttp://www.hw.ac.uk/about/careers-at-heriot-watt.htm

About our Team

Covering all University Campuses internationally, the HR Directorate provides a range of strategic and operational HR Support and Guidance to the Leaders, managers and employees of the University.The services cover the full employee cycle from the point of attracting staff as potential employees, through their recruitment and induction, career development and reward and recognition.There are HR colleagues based in Edinburgh, Dubai and Malaysia organised around five Divisions, Recruitment, Organisational and Professional Development, Reward and Wellbeing, Employee Relations and Policy and Operations.

The Head of Recruitment is a new senior leadership position and a key strategic appointment for the University.The post holder will define the talent attraction and recruitment strategy and operational processes for the University, creating a centre of excellence to manage the recruitment and selection process, supporting hiring managers with the end to end process. They will build a small team in Edinburgh and oversee the recruitment approach globally, developing our Employer Brand and candidate proposition, positioning and selling the unique opportunities we have within our academic and professional services communities.

Attracting academic leaders and world class professional services is critical to the Universitys ability to deliver its ambitious strategic goals set out in Strategy 2025. The Head of Recruitment will work with the Global Director of HR, Senior HR colleagues in the UK, Dubai and Malaysia along with senior stakeholders internally and externally to build a best in class, flexible and creative recruitment function for the University.

Detailed Description

Purpose of Role :

Key duties and responsibilities

Summary of Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Education, Qualifications & Experience:

These are the criteria on which the short-listing and recruitment selection will be made

Essential

Desirable

Competencies, Tasks and Responsibilities

The tasks and responsibilities listed under the following Competency Headings form part of all leadership roles in the University at this level and it is expected that the role-holder will perform them to at least an effective standard at all times.

Strategic Outlook

Leadership

Management Responsibilities

Team Work

Championing Change

Decision Making

Planning and Organising

Initiative and Problem Solving

Service Excellence

Clear and Consistent Communications

Citizenship

This job description is intended as a flexible framework which outlines the key general areas of activity in your position. Other activities may be required which are not outlined above but which are appropriate to the position and grade. Your personal objectives (Forward Job Plan) will also set out specific tasks and objectives for you to achieve, including objectives to help your career development.

How To Apply

Applications can be submitted up to midnight(UK time)on Friday 18th October 2019. Please submit your CV and a covering letter as to why you are a suitable candidate for the role.

At Heriot-Watt University we understand that being diverse makes us better which is why we support a culture of respect and equal opportunity, and value diversity at the heart of what we do. We want to increase the diversity of our workplace to underpin a dynamic and creative environment.

This role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UKVI to enable sponsorship of non-European nationals. Therefore we cannot progress applications from candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK. For further information on this please visit the UK Visas and Immigration website:https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.

Use our total rewards calculator:https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htmto see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

Minimum Salary 51034 Maximum Salary 59135 Currency GBP Amount of Travel Minimum Travel

View post:
Head of Recruitment job with HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY | 182480 - Times Higher Education (THE)

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA - National Bullying Prevention Month occurs every October, and it shines the spotlight on how school districts address instances and consequences of bullying. How does the Seneca Valley School District address the problem?

"We host a number of programs aimed at addressing bullying prevention," district spokesperson Linda Andreassi said. "In addition to kick-off programs that include school-wide assemblies, students participate in weekly classroom meetings that incorporate a variety of community-building activities, career-readiness and soft-skill activities and, of course, bullying prevention strategies."

The bullying prevention programs are now a part of a personal development effort the district calls Learn, Explore, Act, Develop (LEAD). The iniative is designed to help students grow personally as well as academically.

The district website details the phone and online bullying reporting processes in place, as well as additional resources and parent tips.

The district's bullying policy defines the practice as an intentional electronic, written, verbal or physical act, or a series of acts directed at another student or students occurring in or relating to a school setting. It's behavior that occurs in or relates to a school setting, that is severe, persistent or pervasive; and that substantially interferes with a student's education, creates a threatening environment or substantially disrupts the school's orderly operation.

Bullying includes, but is not limited to, the following:

School setting includes school buildings and grounds, including travel to and from school, at a designated bus stop; on school vehicles and all activities and events sponsored, supervised or sanctioned by the school, whether or not on school grounds or during school hours.

Students who violate the policy are subject to disciplinary actions that can include counseling, a parent-guardian conference, detention, suspension, expulsion or other consequences.

Here is the original post:
Seneca Valley Proactive In Anti-Bullying Efforts - Patch.com

Dr. Mike Nally is a doctor from Manchester, England who set off in February on an around-the-world bike ride and hes still on the journey.

In the process, hesraising fundsfor Mind UK and the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, raising awareness about the mental health struggles experienced by medical professionals. Sometimes he bikes along with other doctors and sometimes he bikes alone.

A version of this article first appeared as the Sunday Scaries newsletter. Sign up for free to receive it on Sundays.

I spoke with Nally as he rode along a rural stretch of road by Lake Superior that was, we spoke once he was able to wait out a sudden downpour. You can follow his journey here.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Hi Mike! Where are you en route to?

Were going to Wawa, Ontario, and we have about two weeks until we reach New York. Weve gone about 112 miles today. We got caught in a downpour, but were all dry now. We caught a tailwind and were flying along.

(Note: Nally made it to New York.)

Why are you doing this crazy ride?

There are many reasons. Personally, this is me achieving a dream. Ive been on what I call a conveyor belt since high school just going with studies, moving along, and never looking back. Ive been working as a doctor for two years and have come to a natural hiatus in my career because Im at a point where I need to choose my specialty. I came to the realization that if I didnt do this now, I would never.

This is a chance for me to realize a dream, but also to test my limits to put myself out there and see what my body can do. Working in medicine, theres a lot of pressure put upon you, and I found it difficult to cope with the emotional stress of the job.

There was this moment where a middle-aged gentleman came to where I was working at a family practice. He was very stressed at home, stressed in his family life, and had a breakdown that morning. At the time, I was 26 and found myself giving advice to this man with far more life experience that I have. I just thought that was wrong I needed to get out there and experience more of life and develop more as a person before I could properly advise my patients.

The relationship between doctors and mental health has also been something on my mind since Ive left university, so I also saw this as an opportunity to raise awareness about those issues and raise a bit of money, too.

Have you personally experienced any mental health struggles while working as a doctor?

I am lucky enough to have a really supportive group of family and friends around me, so during the times where Ive been low, Ive had them as a safety net. But many people dont have that, and this is my way of supporting my colleagues.

Being a doctor is something I have always wanted to become, but Ive become a bit disillusioned by the system and the support that is and isnt offered. Ive seen so many of my colleagues struggle, and had heard from friends who are doctors of stories of young doctors straight out of university taking their own lives.

The suicide rate amongst doctors is double that of the general population. My hope is that this ride not only raises awareness about that, but hopefully it helps doctors open up about their feelings and feel like they are in a position where they can share. Theres a lot of focus in medicine about professional development but not necessarily about personal development. I dont think we are properly prepared for the emotional stresses of the job.

Theres a huge stigma amongst the medical community against showing any kind of weakness. Obviously, feeling a certain way is not a weakness because competition is so intense I think people are afraid to reveal any chink in the amor. But happily, during this ride Ive received so many messages from doctors saying that they feel supported.

Have there been any moments over the past several months that have been particularly psychologically testing?

Oh yes. The hardest part of the cycle has been when I was in India. There was one day in particular: I was doing the ride in the middle of the summer, so it was 113 degrees Fahrenheit and 90 percent humidity. It was as hot as it can get. I was arriving at guest houses close to collapsing, just exhausted.

India is a fantastic country, but you cant ever switch off. Youve got cars and mopeds coming at you left, right, and center; people wanted to take selfies with me. In a lot of ways its fun, but when youre exhausted and there are constant distractions around you, it can be sensory overload. Ultimately, I ended up in a bike accident. I smashed into a taxi that was parked into the side of the road after being distracted by a lorry coming past me. My bike was completely destroyed. I hit my head on the car, but luckily I was okay.

To be honest with you, in that moment I was in tears. My bike was destroyed, there was cracks all through the frame. The whole family that was in the taxi was laughing at me; they just obviously didnt understand the significance of what just had happened. I felt like a school kid in a playground. I called my parents and I said, Mom, Dad, Im coming home. Its over.

But my dad said to me: Look, theres no problem with you coming home, but how are you going to get home? And I looked around and realized Im in northeast India, not close at all to any airport. So I put the phone down, the family in the taxi helped me re-bend my bike into a workable shape, and I was able to barely cycle to the next stop.

I thought that was the end of my dream, but then I received all these messages from people saying they wanted to help me get back out there on the road. I went to sleep and when I woke up, I found that friends, family, and strangers who had been following the journey on Instagram had rallied together to get me a new bike and raise $8,000.

I was so close to calling it. But it went from the worst part of the trip to a reaffirming life event where youre reminded that, wow, humankind can be the best.

Have you experienced other beautiful moments on the road?

Many, but one in particular was a stretch across the Australian Outback. For miles and miles, all you can see is bush and this flat straight road. It was the first time I have ever been completely alone to that extent. You dont have any phone signal; youre just alone with yourself and your thoughts. I dont want to say it was exactly a spiritual moment, but it was something quite like it.

It was just unbelievable landscape: A never-ending road with kangaroos bouncing alongside you and eagles flying above.

Have you noticed any changes in your mental state since you took in London?

Not to be cliche, but I had a lot of growing up to do. I left the United Kingdom with a more negative outlook on things, although Im not sure why that was. But as Ive travelled, Ive seen all these acts of kindness, and its filled me with emotions that can be overwhelming at times. You see someone waving at you, and you just want to give them a hug.

Im more positive now, pushed my limits and realized that my mind and body can go much further than I ever thought they could. The other really important thing has been learning how to be more aware of myself, physically and mentally, and this has come from spending eight to nine hours on the road cycling. Im much better at realizing when Im feeling stress or anxiety, and the ability to realize that those things are happening is a new, invaluable ability.

Whats next for you and what are you looking forward to when you get back?

So from New York, well fly to Portugal, and from there well cycle back up to London. The goal is to get there on October 26. Well have a bit of a celebration there and then Ill complete the last leg to Manchester.

Im looking forward to having a roast dinner, a good cup of tea, and a slice of cake. Thats my moms speciality, so Im sure there will be a cake waiting for me when I get home.

A version of this article first appeared as the Sunday Scaries newsletter. Sign up for free to receive it on Sundays.

The rest is here:
Dr. Mike on a Bike: The reason he's pedaling around the world - Inverse

LIVING the single life in Leamington is a sociable affair and advice on enjoying time alone has scooped a town author an award.

After being single for many years and loving the time to herself retired civil servant Christine Ingall decided to pen a self help guide for those who find it difficult being on their own.

And her book Solo Success! You can do things on your own won the gold award in the personal development category of the Janey Lee Grace Platinum Awards after judges recognised the increasing numbers of single people in the UK needing support.

Christine told the Observer: One thing I wont take for granted is that people who are without a partner, who live on their own, are somehow second class citizens even in their own eyes.

More and more people are living alone in the UK, but not all of them happily. Many people who find themselves suddenly single after a break up are not accustomed to living without a partner.

I realised I had many years experience of being single, living alone and overcoming the fears and challenges of being solo in a couple-centred society, which is why I wrote the book.

And Christine says while those on their own must refuse to be treated like a second class citizen, they must also not treat themselves that way by avoiding social events.

But it is mostly good news for those living in Leamington, which she says is one of the friendliest towns for single people.

She said: Leamington is friendly and sociable. I wouldnt live anywhere else. Costa coffee on The Parade is a member of the Chatty Caf scheme, where people on their own are encouraged to go in for a coffee and mix with others at a social table.

But most restaurants dont actively encourage solo dining for example even though tables for one requests have dramatically increased in the last few years.

And despite loving the single life, she refuses to rule out a relationship.

Christine added: I have been in relationships, some long term, and never expected to find myself in this position.

There are up and downsides to being alone and being in a relationship. Ive got used to being solo, but I would never say never to a relationship if the right person came along.

I say, live the best life you can everyday.

The book, priced 10.99, is available from Amazon and the Leamington branch of Waterstones. It is also available to download as an e-book.

View original post here:
Living the single life in Leamington is a 'sociable' affair and local author wins prize for her self help guide - Leamington Observer

Dr Jenny Hallam, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, and Dr Kay Owen, Lecturer in Childhood Studies, of the University of Derby, explain how their work with Derbyshire-based theatre company WinterWalker and Derby Theatre has given a new insight on the positive impact of performance upon young children.

Research reports that the arts play a vital role in supporting childrens development and wellbeing. Participating in arts-based activities provides children with a much-needed opportunity for self-expression and a place where they are able to develop creativity and imagination[i].

It has also been reported that arts-based activities are an important site of personal development as they give children the space to gain confidence and feelings of self-worth[ii]. However, in recent years primary school teachers have reported that pressures to focus on subjects such as English and maths means that they are unable to provide a consistent and meaningful arts education[iii].

At a time when screen time and mental health issues in children are on the rise, external agencies play a vital role in supporting childrens involvement with the arts and promoting wellbeing[iv]. In a recent research project, we explored the ways in which young children responded to a live theatre intervention run by WinterWalker, with financial support from the National Lottery and the Arts Council, at Derby Theatre.

The research centred on exploring the experiences of children aged between three and six who attended a performance of Five an intervention which combines stay and play activities and a live theatre performance which uses music and dance to explore the senses. In order to reflect Derby Theatres ongoing commitment to making cultural events more accessible to all children, particularly local children living in poverty, the research focused on a performance in which a group of children from a nursery situated in a socially deprived area of Derby attended free of charge. Observations made during the stay and play and the performance itself revealed the immediate impact that the performance had.

Before and after the performance, children and carers had access to a play area which had a number of zones based on the different senses that the children could explore. These included a sandpit, colouring station, chalk board, dressing up area, a board with percussion instruments and a small sensory garden. Before the performance, most of the children played in the sandpit which was positioned centrally in the stay and play area.

There was little interaction between the children as they focused on enjoying the sensation of the sand between their toes and used the sieves and buckets to tip the sand and watch it cascade back into the sand pit. There was a lack of exploration of the space and the different areas, and the play seemed somewhat subdued. Some of the children commented that they had never been to the theatre before and were unsure as to what to expect.

Advertisement

You are using adblocker please support us by whitelisting http://www.fenews.co.uk

During the performance itself the children sat for the full 45 minutes and were clearly engaged. There was a look of awe upon many of the childrens faces and laughter as the children enjoyed the dance and music.

After the performance the children returned to the stay and play area with much more confidence. There was much more exploration and activity moved to the percussion area as children enthusiastically made rhymical sounds together. The noise became louder and louder as two girls engaged in a musical duel. There was also much more social interaction as carers became more involved in the play and children who did not know each other began to talk and play together. Elements of the performance were also incorporated into activities as two sisters used the dress up box to engage in dramatic play.

There was also evidence of re-enactment as a boy used props in the play area to re-create what he had observed, and a girl mirrored the smell aspect of the performance by taking the time to smell the flowers in the sensory garden. Many of the children reported that they enjoyed the performance and their first visit to the theatre had been positive.

Carers who had attended the performance with their children reported that the performance had made a lasting impact upon the children. Children used household items to recreate elements of the performance and spontaneous dance and storytelling was woven into the play which was observed at home. This is something that will be explored further with the nursery staff in a future research project.

Dr Jenny Hallam, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, and Dr Kay Owen, Lecturer in Childhood Studies, of the University of Derby

[i]Arnheim, R. (1989).Thoughts on art education. Los Angeles: Getty Center for Education in the Arts; Chapman, L. (1978).Approaches to art in education.New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich; Dyson, A. (1989). Looking Making and Learning. Art and Design in the Primary schoolLondon: Kogan Page.

[ii]Barnes, R. (2002).Teaching art to Children 4-9. London: Routledge/Falmer.

[iii]Hallam, J., Das Gupta, M., & Lee, H. (2008). An exploration of primary school teachers understanding of art and the place of art in the primary school curriculum.Curriculum Journal,19(4),269281.

[iv]Office of National Statistics: Mental health of children and young people in Great Britain 2004.

Read the original post:
Making a performance of child development - Top 5 tips to help develop creativity - FE News

Max Whittaker for The New York Times

I used to think calling cars death machines was kind of extreme. Then my niece was hit by one.

She was only 9 years old, out with her family in Los Angeles and running toward an ice cream truck. She was hit with such force that most of her front teeth were knocked out. She is lucky to be alive.

Thinking about my niece made me recall all the other times members of my family had been injured by cars. My husbands grandmother was killed. My aunt and uncle were seriously injured. I was even involved in a hit-and-run in a crosswalk in front of my school when I was a kid and broke my leg.

Most of us have stories like this a car coming into our lives and unleashing horrendous damage on our loved ones, friends, family and even ourselves.

Cars are death machines. Pedestrian fatalities in the United States have increased 41 percent since 2008; more than 6,000 pedestrians were killed in 2018 alone. More than 4,000 American kids are killed in car crashes every year I am thankful every day my niece wasnt one of them.

Heres the thing: Statistics clearly dont seem to persuade anyone of the magnitude of this problem. Not policy makers or automakers, technologists or drivers.

If numbers dont change minds, can personal experiences?

I conducted an experiment on Twitter this summer, asking people to share my tweet if a car had hit them, or anyone they knew. It was shared thousands of times and more than 500 people shared stories of being hit, losing family and friends, and sustaining injuries that impact their daily lives.

A driver bolted toward traffic without stopping at the stop sign. He hit me broadside, sending me into traffic that was thankfully empty at the moment. The next thing I remember was being helped onto the grass with my bent-up bike and someone asking me where I lived. I was in 5th grade at the time. That's only one of three stories I have.

Alexandra Watson, Boulder, CO

Nick Cote for The New York Times

I was hit by a car when I was 15. Riding a bike down a street near my house, a car turned left in front of me. I survived only because the hood was low and broad enough that I catapulted over it rather than impacting the side.

Skip Pile

A truck pulled up alongside me at a red light. When the light turned green, I started going, but was whacked on the back of my head by a side mirror (I think), was sent into the right lane, bounced off the side, and, still fighting to keep upright, finally fell under the moving gravel truck. I ended up with a broken pelvis and an education in how judges assign liability.

Dan Turner, Oakland, CA

Max Whittaker for The New York Times

I was doored by a car twice and hit in a crosswalk all on bikes. Dont tell my mom.

Molly Cohen

I was hit by cars while on a bike three times in two years in L.A. Two right-hooks, one road-raged me into a row of parked cars. Hit once on San Pablo in Oakland: a thrown-open door that I bent all the way back and flipped over the top. He demanded I pay to repair his car door and threatened to get his gun before he ran.

Christopher Kidd, Oakland, CA

Max Whittaker for The New York Times

There are many who say that autonomous or smart cars will solve this. So far, Im unpersuaded. Since 2014, over $80 billion dollars has been spent on smart or connected cars (more on these in a minute) and autonomous vehicles, arguably to make cars safer. But investing in the car of the future is investing in the wrong problem. We need to be thinking about how we can create a world with fewer cars.

Among the safety measures proposed by car companies are encouraging pedestrians and bicyclists to use R.F.I.D. tags, which emit signals that cars can detect. This means its becoming the pedestrians responsibility to avoid getting hit. But if keeping people safe means putting the responsibility on them (or worse, criminalizing walking and biking), we need to think twice about the technology were developing.

This may be the worst outcome of the automobile-centered 20th century: the assumption that its people who need to get out of the way of these lethal machines, instead of the other way around.

I was biking in the street after work when a car pulled out of a parking garage without looking and clipped my back tire. I went down, but fortunately only did some deep tissue damage that healed in a week. My bike tires were pretty bent and had to be replaced; I was a lucky one.

J. R. Raith

I was hit by a car in July 2017 in San Francisco. I was getting out of an Uber and the driver, who just dropped me off, backed over me as I waited to cross the street.

Danny Harris, Upper East Side, Manhattan, New York

Joshua Bright for The New York Times

Two years ago, a drunk driver ran over me with his pickup truck. He kept going hit and run. No one on the scene thought I'd make it. The doctors didn't believe I'd make it. I had skull fractures, a broken jaw in three places and wired shut, a punched lung with added tracheotomy. I was in a coma for a week, and woke up alone.

Ryan Cary Wear

I was hit by a car when I was 11, in Queens. I was knocked to the ground, but otherwise unhurt because the car was moving slowly. The driver got out and made sure I was O.K. before leaving. Three of my friends (one pedestrian and two cyclists, all adults) were killed by cars.

Lauren Weinberg, Waterloo, Ontario

Tara Walton for The New York Times

Many so-called advances in car design may, thus far, be making things much worse. The internet-equipped connected car, for example, initially introduced by Cadillac in 1996 as a luxury safety feature known as OnStar, has morphed into something else entirely. Increasingly large and complicated dashboard screens take cognitive resources away from the task at hand, which is driving, and have the potential to be as dangerous as texting while driving.

Just as all these interested parties scramble to make cars more technologically complex, theyve gone all-in on making them bigger, much bigger. Americans are buying and car manufacturers are producing more S.U.V.s than ever before, a shift that has led to a 69 percent increase in pedestrian fatalities, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Because the front end of an S.U.V. is higher than the average cars front end, it is far more likely to hit a pedestrian in the chest or head and twice as likely to kill walkers, runners, cyclists and children, compared to regular cars. And yet, S.U.V. sales account for 60 percent of new vehicle sales.

One of the easiest ways to make cars safer would be to make them smaller. Another way? Figuring out how to get people to drive less by providing safer, more sustainable alternatives to the car.

I was hit by a car when a lady had a seizure and ran headlong into me. Its been over nine years now. I had one cervical spine surgery and need another. I have headaches every day and terrible neurological symptoms. I used public transit for years when I was more able-bodied, and fewer cars isn't the answer when you have disabilities.

Erin Gilmer

Once as a cyclist in the burbs. Once as a pedestrian in Brooklyn. And another time as a cyclist in Brooklyn, I was forced off the road into a parked car

Ronald Marans, Upper East Side, Manhattan, New York

Joshua Bright for The New York Times

I've been hit by cars twice in San Francisco. Both in the Mission District. Both drivers were making illegal left turns into me. Both drivers were irate that my body impact damaged their car.

Jeff Tumlin

I was hit while cycling by a left-turning truck driver who said I "came out of nowhere." I was airlifted to the hospital and had seven broken bones, five surgeries, spent three months in hospital, one year in a wheelchair. The driver went to jail ... Just kidding, of course he only got a ticket. No real consequences.

Lou Savastani, Narberth, PA

Mark Makela for The New York Times

I got knocked down by a taxi that sped off outside Jemaa el-Fnaa in Marrakech, Morocco. A lovely rug merchant rushed over, insisted I drink his tonic water for the quinine. I said Shukran! But I dont think I got malaria. Yet I was revived and appreciate his kindness.

Lila Kerns

My 12-year-old son was killed in a crash in front of our home on Oct. 8, 2013. Sammy kissed me goodbye and said, I love you Mommy. I never imagined those would be his last words. Sammy was bright, kind, athletic and had a huge heart. We miss him every day. After his death, I joined with others and helped found Families for Safe Streets in N.Y.C.

Amy Cohen, New York City

Demetrius Freeman for The New York Times

Im not so nave to think we can get rid of cars altogether, but we have so many tools to eliminate traffic-related injuries and fatalities right now. Banning all passenger auto-driving vehicles above a certain weight and front grill height would be a great start. Other solutions run the gamut from the quick and easy fixes like reducing speed limits, eliminating right turns on red, building protected bike lanes and instituting congestion pricing to major and necessary commitments like funding new transit projects (upgrading, maintaining and expanding existing transit systems) and rethinking land use to encourage walkable development rather than sprawl.

We can all commit to driving less, which reduces both CO2 emissions and the potential for crashes. We need to be as defensive about crosswalks and bike lanes as drivers are about their cars (and where we believe we are entitled to park them).

Until then, the streets will belong to the death machines.

See original here:
Opinion | Cars Are Death Machines. Self-Driving Tech Won't Change That. - The New York Times

The mother-daughter duo making skincare from native plants and traditional medicines in the Pilbara have taken home the grand prize at Generation Ones inaugural Dream Summit.

Josie Alec and her daughter, Adrianna Irvine-Stanes, from Karratha, WA, were awarded $30,000 of Minderoo Seed Funding to help move their business, Jummi Factory into its next stages.

Ms Alec said she is still processing the win.

I think we are still a bit shocked! But weve come home and now were moving forward into planning, Ms Alec said.

Jummi Factory uses native plants to create skincare such as lip and skin balms, deodorants, rubs, exfoliators, insect repellent and perfume.

The business was inspired by Ms Alecs mother, who was a traditional healer.

My mum is a traditional healer [and] she passed on all her knowledge of that and plants, healing plants from our local area. She passed it to me and my kids, Ms Alec said.

Stepping into the business world has been a difficult transition for Ms Alec, particularly creating a contemporary product with ancient roots.

I had to walk that invisible line of where the business was and where I had to take it but being very clear of legalities whilst modernising something very ancient. It was really hard, Ms Alec said.

Self-funding the entire business before the award, Ms Alec said this funding award was a huge relief and makes moving forward easier and more successful.

The biggest picture is sustainability and cultural development. Its doing what we do best, we have a wonderful gift, we have a beautiful country and we have amazing products that come from that, Ms Alec said.

Sharing the beauty of our culture is the main aim for me, sharing that love that makes our culture so special and changing perceptions. If I can bring healing from my culture to someone else in this country or another, thats it for me.

The Dream Summit saw over 80 of Australias most talented Indigenous entrepreneurs come together in Sydney for two days of mentoring and personal development.

Head of Dream Summits Indigenous Advisory Group and a key force in building the event, Mr Leslie Delaforce said the event was aimed at connecting Indigenous business owners from across the nation.

It can be a really fragmented space, the idea was to get these business people in one room and create that network and fabric of community, Mr Delaforce said.

Having his own experience building a business, Mr Delaforce knows the struggles all too well.

You know when you look around to share stories and collaborate with mob, there wasnt really anyone there. But we tried it out, and we made mistakes but we made it in the end. And I think now its about looking at what we have and thinking, how do we pass this onto other mob?

Mr Delaforce said the amount of talent that Dream Summit witnessed was incredible, but he commended Jummi Factory particularly.

It is really powerful seeing mob get up on stage and talk about their personal story and how they have applied that to a business whether they have battled with domestic violence or self-harm, Mr Delaforce said.

Hearing Josies struggle that she had trying to grow her business, she had those business factors, but also had the viability of the business to grow and its her family passion.

Mr Delaforce said a goal for the summit is to continue to support its participants.

Even though its back to work, we must keep up that drive through products and services to help the participants move that ignite stage to the accelerate stage, Mr Delaforce said.

We want to help mob come together and we want to build that Indigenous entrepreneur ecosystem.

By Rachael Knowles

The rest is here:
Skincare brand infused with traditional knowledge wins thousands in business funding - National Indigenous Times

Most productivity advice for the workplace tells you how to produce more and more, without helping you examine how much you really want to produce, and what external forces might be mitigating productivity. That amount can differ, largely depending on what you are required to produce in order to succeed at work. One could also argue that the standard productivity advice assumes that you are already treated fairly in the workplace.

If you work for yourself, there may be even more pressure to produce, because in many small businesses, you are the sole producer. But in all the talk about increasing productivity, weve lost a key question: what is a reasonable amount of work to produce? And how do you produce effectively when you may be sabotaged at work?

We logically cannot produce work product all the time. Aside from the standard breaks we take for eating and sleeping, there is also the question of practicing good self-care. For some, that means having time completely alone; for others, it means spending time with close friends and family; for others, it means having as much social time as possible. Its not a one-size-fits-all plan for mental replenishment. But it may appear that as much as you try to reach that mythical work-personal balance, the more it seems out of reach.

You may have read self-help texts that recommend you meet with your employer about prioritizing your tasks, ask for more meaty assignments, or even ask for support staff. But what chance do you really have for reaching your desired productivity when roadblocks are put in your path? Consider that women of color are more likely to be asked to do less-important office tasks (like putting paper in the copier and getting coffee) than their white counterparts, in addition to their regular work duties. In addition, women and people of color are more often given worse assignments than their white male coworkers.

Also considered being disabled in the workplace. If an employee has depression and his or her manager avoids talking to the employee about their needs, that employee is more likely to take days off of work due to depression. Likewise, when employers reach out to their employees with depression, they are less likely to miss days of work. Consider that having depression already leads to a decrease in the ability to produce work product. Missing days of work increases that amount of uncompleted work. As you read, a leader in the workplace can make a big difference in an employees comfort level and ability to continue with their work.

Discrimination in the workplace can be overt and covert. It can be a blatant slur, or it can consist of microaggressions smaller yet noticeable attempts to demean you. If you are experiencing bias in the workplace, call it out when you see it. You may be told that the person didnt mean it, or that you must have misunderstood what the person was saying to you. You may be told to look at someones intent rather than their actual behavior Oh, Im sure they didnt mean to say that to you. Still continue to speak out about it, keep documentation, and know the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions guidelines on harassment in the workplace.

It is only when the issues of blatant and covert discrimination are addressed in the workplace, and consequences are given for that discrimination, can many members of the workforce truly be as productive as they want. Education in the workplace regarding overt and covert discrimination can also help make progress and only if everyone attends educational sessions, from entry-level positions to executives. Encourage open communication from employees about possible mistreatment in the workplace.

The more we educate ourselves, the more we are prepared to confront instances of discrimination. The more we speak out, the more we are empowered to make changes and also push for them.

View original post here:
Trying to Reach Full Productivity When You Are Being Held Back - Forbes

CreditSarah Maxwell

First things first: This is not another article that simply tells you to go on a date night.

Nothing against date nights. The best ones can remind you why you fell in love with your spouse or partner in the first place.

Or they can involve staring at each other in a sleep-deprived haze over an expensive meal while intermittently glancing at your phone for updates from the babysitter.

If date nights arent working for you, or if youve been struggling to maintain intimacy for months or even years after having children, here are some different ways to stay close to your spouse or partner, despite the stresses and frustrations of parenthood.

[Learn how your partner can take on more emotional labor.]

Just as there was never a perfect time to have children, there will rarely be a perfect time to rekindle a connection with your partner.

Its easy to push your romantic relationship to the side: Lets get through sleep training first. Or: As soon as I get back into shape. Or: Maybe when Im less tired.

Then winter arrives. Everyones sick again? Lets wait until we get better.

But if you keep waiting, experts say, regaining intimacy can become increasingly difficult.

It seems to have been the norm for so many couples to say to themselves, Now that the kids are here, well focus on the kids. Our day will come, said Michele Weiner-Davis, a marriage and family therapist whose TEDx talk about sex-starved marriages has been viewed more than 5 million times. But heres the bad news from someone whos been on the front lines with couples for decades. Unless you treat your relationship, your marriage, like its a living thing which requires nurturing on a regular basis you wont have a marriage after the kids leave home.

Couples may start to lead parallel but separate lives and discover they have nothing in common.

Theyre looking at a stranger, and they ask themselves, Is this the way I want to spend the last few years of my life? Ms. Weiner-Davis said. And for too many couples the answer is no.

But all of that is preventable, she added.

Its absolutely essentially not to be complacent about what I call a ho-hum sex life. Touching is a very primal way of connecting and bonding, Ms. Weiner-Davis said. If those needs to connect physically are ignored over a period of time, or are downgraded so that its not satisfying, I can assure people there will be problems in the relationship moving forward.

If you had a vaginal birth, you and your partner may expect to begin having sex as early as six weeks after the baby is born, if you have been physically cleared to do so.

[Read our guide to sex during your pregnancy.]

For some couples, that signals the clock is now ticking, said f, author of Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life.

But a lot of women simply wont be ready that early. And thats O.K.

After the postpartum checkup, I didnt feel like myself, I didnt feel physically ready to have sex, said Emily Stroia, 33, who lives in Los Angeles. In terms of libido, I didnt really have one.

Ms. Stroia, the mother of a 10-month-old, eventually starting having sex with her partner once a month but before she became pregnant, they had sex nearly every week, she said.

I still kind of forget that Im in a relationship, said Ms. Stroia, who is struggling with sleep deprivation. I have to remind myself that I have a partner.

After any potential medical problems are ruled out, Dr. Nagoski advises couples to start over with one another by establishing a sexual connection in much in the same way they might have done when they were first getting to know each other: making out, holding each other and gradually moving in the direction of bare skin.

Thats especially important if theres a birth parent involved, she added.

That persons body is brand-new, Dr. Nagoski said. The whole meaning of their body has transformed.

It also helps to remember that intimacy isnt just hot sex, said Rick Miller, a psychotherapist in Massachusetts.

Its steadfast loyalty, a commitment to getting through stressful times together and, most importantly, enjoying the warm, cozy moments of home together, Mr. Miller said.

Taking the time to nurture your individual physical and emotional needs will give you the bandwidth to nurture your relationship, too, so that it doesnt feel like another task on the to-do list.

When you experience your partners desire for intimacy as an intrusion, ask yourself, How deprived am I in my own self-care? What do I need to do to take care of myself in order to feel connected to my own sexuality? said Dr. Alexandra Sacks, a reproductive psychiatrist and host of the Motherhood Sessions podcast.

That might mean going to the gym or talking to your partner about decreasing the invisible mental load that is often carried by one parent.

Enlisting the support of your family (or your chosen family) to take some time for yourself or discuss some of the struggles that accompany parenting can help you recharge.

Relying on others is an indirect way of working on intimacy, Mr. Miller said.

This is especially important for gay couples, he added, who may not typically share vulnerabilities because the world hasnt been a safe place.

Practicing self-care as a couple is equally important.

Dr. Sacks recommends making a list of everything you used to do together as a couple that helped you feel close, and thinking about how those rituals have changed.

Is your toddler sleeping in your bed, spread out like a sea star between you and your partner? Have you stopped doing the things together you used to really enjoy like working out or going to the movies? Dr. Sacks recommends thinking about how youre going to make an adjustment in order to create physical and emotional intimacy with your partner.

For example, if you always used to talk about your day together and now that time is completely absorbed by caregiving, the absence of that connection will be profound.

You cant just eliminate it and expect to feel as close, she said.

According to Dr. Nagoski, one way to nurture intimacy is to remind yourselves of the context in which you had a great sexual connection together.

What characteristics did your partner have? What characteristics did your relationship have?

Then, she said, think about the setting.

Were we at home with the door locked? Were we on vacation? Was it over text? Was it at a party in a closet at a strangers house against a wall of other peoples coats? What context really works for us? Dr. Nagoski said.

When doing this exercise, and when thinking about your current libido (or lack thereof) its also helpful to remember that not everyone experiences spontaneous desire the kind of sexual desire that pops out of nowhere. For example, youre walking down the street and suddenly cant stop thinking about sex.

Millions of other people experience something different called responsive desire, which stems from erotic stimulation. In other words, arousal comes first and then desire.

Both types of desire are normal.

Dr. Nagoski suggested cordoning off an imaginative protected space in your mind where you can bring forward the aspects of your identity that are relevant to your erotic connection and you close the door on the parts of yourself that are not important for an erotic connection.

With enough focus, this strategy can work even if the physical space youre using contains reminders of your role as a caregiver.

It can also help to think of your bedroom as a sanctuary, advised Ms. Weiner-Davis.

For couples who have spent years co-sleeping with their children, that can be somewhat difficult.

I do believe there comes a point where its important to have those boundaries again, Ms. Weiner-Davis said.

Its easy to forget how much time and effort we put into our relationships in the early days: planning for dates, caring for our bodies and (gasp) having long conversations with one another.

People feel sort of sad when they get that news that yes, it does require effort to build a connection across a lifetime, Dr. Nagoski said. You dont just dive in you dont just put your body in the bed and put your genitals against each other and expect for it to be ecstatic.

Karen Jeffries (a pen name she uses as a writer and performer to protect her privacy) said her sex life with her husband is better than ever after having had two children. Theyve always had a strong physical connection, she said. But they also plan ahead and prioritize.

There are times where Ill text him and Ill be like, Were having sex tonight, and hell be like O.K. or vice versa, she said. Sometimes Ill send him a picture of a taco and hell send me a picture of an eggplant.

Ms. Jeffries, 37, a fourth-grade dual-language teacher in Westchester County, N.Y., is the author of Hilariously Infertile, an account of the fertility treatments she endured to conceive her two daughters. Her children, now aged 6 and 4, are on a strict sleep schedule with a 7:30 p.m. bedtime, allowing for couple time in the evening.

Think of building good sexual habits just like you would develop good eating or exercising habits, she advised.

Sex begets more sex. Kind of like when you go to the gym, she said. It takes you a while to build that habit.

Then, she added, Youll notice little by little that it becomes more and more as opposed to less and less.

A small 2018 study found that attending group therapy helped couples with low sexual desire as well as those who had discrepancies in their levels of sexual desire.

Individual or couples therapy can also be a good place to start.

For many parents, however, and especially those with young children, finding the time and money to go to a therapist can be challenging.

Esther Perel, a psychotherapist whose TED talks on sexuality and relationships have been viewed by millions, offers an online course, currently $199, that includes a section called Sex After Kids.

Ms. Perel also hosts the popular Where Should We Begin? podcast, in which couples share the intimate details of their troubles during recorded therapy sessions.

A number of other podcasts also offer advice to couples, including "Marriage Therapy Radio and Relationship Advice.

Regardless of what steps you take to rebuild a connection with your spouse, experts say its important to take action as soon as possible.

The child is not going to take up less space over time, Dr. Sacks said. So the question is: How do you carve out space for your relationships around the child, as the child continues to develop with different but continually demanding needs.

Christina Caron is a parenting reporter at The New York Times.

Here is the original post:
How to Reconnect With Your Partner After Having Kids - NYT Parenting