 ____________ I stroll down the street--- My mind races Numerous thoughts---with no cohesion It has been a busy day-one crisis after another-the next starting Before the last finished Remember to breathe Slowly I breathe in and out I picture the tension flowing out of by body A couple of minutes later—the tension is gone Still thoughts race through my mind I’m picking up Bob Bob has a lot of energy-and seems to have a strong affect on his teachers He can be a challenge I’m tired Remember to breathe-I think about Bob-he can Remember to breathe I picture my center as I breathe-tolling toward the school I laugh-one of us needs to be there I pull up to the curb—backpack-coat going in every direction The car door opens Joseph-Joseph you’re late-I’m going to tell my Mother you left me I left you—You told me to pick you up at 3pm Yeah but I wanted you to pick me up early Oh—I forgot to turn on my superpower mind reading today Seatbelt Seat belt is latched At the same moment the radio is adjusted Singing begins even before I hear the song I slowly pull away—wishing I did have superpowers-to deal with the energy I laugh—bob laughs We slowly talk about school/family/his weekend He speaks rapidly at times At times I breathe We move onto what worked for him today-what didn’t I breathe We laugh
Joseph Stanley
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Among
the members of our research group, Joseph Stanley's style is the most free
flowing. He lets his stories come out naturally as was seen in his first
stories in this column. I think of him as Kerouac-like in the sense that
he is a stream of consciousness writer, and in so being, he captures the
essence of his experiences as a youth worker. The following story/poem
is an example of his work, what he has learned, and his influence on
youth.
For some of the youth I work with — being centered doesn’t happen for
them. This can lead to barriers to them functioning in the community.
One strategy that seems to work is to center myself, and providing a
calming in the eye of the storm.
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