Shannon's Corner

  As a nurse, when teaching health education to my patients and their families there were times when I would ask questions to make sure that they were understanding the information, and sometimes I would get blank stares or even very short answers. Then there were times when the same patient or family member would give a longer explanation to my questions. I didn’t know then what I now have learned about having the right keys.   A life coach helps their client’s process by providing the keys to help unlock their client’s potential. Asking the right questions will aid in their process of learning, understanding, growing, and adapting in order to achieve their goal. The “Why” questions help to bring meaning, purpose, and reasoning. The “What” questions help to bring concepts, actions, and details. The “How” questions help to bring skills, methods, and operations. The "What if" questions help to bring adaptation, imagination, curiosity, and risks. How important it is to have the...

   SHANNON’S CORNER Happy Thanksgiving! “You only have today what you were thankful for yesterday.” How would that change your perspective of being thankful for all things?     Have you ever thought what is the difference between thankfulness and gratefulness? Being thankful is a response to what we have received. Gratefulness is a way of life that we choose without the need for someone else to do something for us.     There is power in gratitude.     The most important reason for cultivating an attitude of gratefulness is it glorifies God who is the Giver of life.    What steps are you taking to practice gratitude? I am thankful and grateful for the opportunity to share in person with Faith Fellowship Church of Rimersburg of God’s goodness and faithfulness in investing in the lives of those serving on the frontlines of ministry.  Over this past year, we have ministered and served people who are on the frontlines proclaimi...

  Have you ever experienced a time when you lost your confidence or being competent that it affected your identity?   In the excitement and adventure of finally being able to do the assignment that I felt God had assigned for me, I did not realize nor anticipate all the losses I would encounter along the way. My focus primarily was on being part of a team and being able to use my gift and skills of nursing to care and love on those kids. Those first few years as I was learning the Spanish language and culture, I did not realize nor understand the effect of not being able to communicate professionally would have on my personhood.    In caring for the kids at the children’s home, I could do what needed to be done for them medically without needing to communicate professionally.  When they needed to go to see the doctor, I would try to communicate what the complaint and the symptoms were to receive the care the kids needed, but what ended coming out was me spe...

Have you ever walked on a swinging bridge? What does it feel like? How do you feel when on a swinging bridge? My family and I did a lot of hiking on our family vacations through some beautiful forests in the eastern states on the east side of the Mississippi River. One of the hikes I remember most, and probably because we visited it the most was a trail in Cook Forest, PA in the Allegheny National Forest that had a swinging bridge. I loved walking on that bridge as it moved and I would even do my best to make the bridge move by running, jumping, or swaying back and forth. It is the oddest sensation of trying to walk while the bridge is moving beneath your feet. Some people would be holding onto the railing as they crossed the bridge so they would not fall or misstep. Others would cross it quickly to be done with it. Some would wait until the bridge was clear of people, so they could cross it in peace. This bridge in particular served to connect one trail to another trail.    O...