Crisis Advice Column
Your newspaper
may now carry Andrea Reynolds'
Crisis Clinic column
COLUMN
DESCRIPTION
CRISIS CLINIC
is a 350-650 word idea column
written by Andrea Reynolds in
question-and-brainstormed-answer format. I brainstorm 10 or
more do-able, practical and unconventional solutions you
can choose from.
Gossiping,
intimidation, bullying, vandalism, aggression and violence
are prevalent in the news because they are pervasive in our
communities. We must do something to stop the increasing
mean-spiritedness before it becomes murder in our homes,
workplace and schools. Signing a civility pledge is not
enough. We need to take specific behavioral steps to reduce
hostility and aggression and increase compassion.
It sounds simplistic
and idealistic, but I believe empathy
is the first
step toward reducing and
eliminating violence. My column promotes very simple, but
seemingly forgotten concepts: respect, empathy and
compassion (kindness) in an effort to counteract the
mean-spiritedness I have both seen and experienced. My very
specific ideas can work if I can distribute them through
the press and encourage the public to follow through on
them.
Think about this: Why
do people pick on others, intimidate, bully, cheat, steal,
become violent, hurt others and destroy property? Because
they feel inadequate, unloved, unwanted, unworthy, unheard,
hurt, ripped off, etc., and they haven't developed
the critical thinking
skills to be able
to identify other, more constructive behavior choices.
What if we treated
those individuals (everyone) with kindness, understanding,
and patience. Yes, that sounds New Age-y, but there are
specific, practical things we can do and I'm happy to share
some of the offbeat things I've done that have worked. I
offer specific creative ideas for change that anyone can
use; and I can talk about my own experiences
challenging swindlers, bullies, and stalkers."
I speak, write, teach,
and do what I can to reduce domestic and "stranger"
violence, senseless murders of pregnant wives and abducted
children, school shootings, and suicides resulting from
bullying, by diminishing all the thousands of hurts that
bring a person to act out his frustration and feelings of
low self-worth.
THE
AUTHOR
Andrea Reynolds has a degree in Family
Studies and Marketing and has been interviewed as an expert
on manners, morals, and civility by such media hosts as
British journalist Sir David Frost, the late Peter Gzowski
on CBC radio; and by Time, USA Today, National
Post, Financial Post, and Canadian
Business. She has
escaped a violent stalker, handled a home invasion by
herself, handled a family member's suicide attempt when she
was 14, and survived a school shooting in which 4 students
died and 9 were wounded, and narrowly missed being caught
in a bomb blast in Belfast where her companion was killed.
She uses her experience and empathy to give caring support
to those currently experiencing a mind-numbing crisis.
SAMPLE
COLUMN
Ask me for a test column.