Andrea Reynolds' Crisis Advice Column
Your newspaper may now carry Andrea Reynolds'
Crisis Clinic
column, up to 5 times a week.
COLUMN
DESCRIPTION
CRISIS
CLINIC
is a 350-750 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, 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 one of her companions was
killed minutes after leaving him. She uses her experience
and empathy to give caring support to those currently
experiencing a mind-numbing crisis.
SAMPLE
COLUMN
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