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About Madrigalsings
Had I been told that someday, I would find myself a
resource director for anything, my response would have been one of
incredulity. And yet, when looking back on my life, it is a most
natural progression.
From early childhood I studied music and the world of classical
music was my entire focus. Unlike many of my contemporaries I did
not experience the teen angst of what I wanted to pursue as a
career. My world was to be that of a classical
musician/teacher/performer. After graduating from
undergraduate school I taught Junior High Vocal Music for three
years until seriously injured in an automobile accident leaving me
with multiple health problems, so severe, that returning to teaching
or any gainful employment, was an impossibility. I was thrust into
the world of medicine as a patient. Past unresolved traumas/losses/
and insecurities sequestered in the recesses of my mind and heart
were superimposed on my new stressful realities. For the first time
in my life I felt adrift, unsure of myself as an individual and
aware that my life no longer followed the carefully planned
predictable path, I had constructed for it since childhood.
Once sufficiently stable physically, I elected to return to The
University of Michigan
for graduate studies. Thinking I could perhaps still remain involved
in education, I decided to pursue a Master of Arts degree in
Curriculum Development and a Certificate in Aging from The U-M
Institute of Gerontology. Upon graduation I experienced a severe
setback physically. It became even more evident that working within
the K-12 education system was not going to happen. After another two
years of serious medical complications I again returned to the
University of Michigan. This time I obtained a Master of Arts degree
in Rehabilitation Counseling. This seemed a natural alternative
given all I had been through myself. However the pace of the program
negatively affected my health resulting in severe physical and
emotional setbacks. Finally, I had to accept my life was not what I
had ever imagined. I would have to work at discovering what this new
life was all about.
When one is forced to face their mortality at just that moment when
one typically feels invincible, the world can feel overwhelming, and
self-esteem takes a terrible beating. The world of medicine is ill
equipped to address the problems and needs of young adults suddenly
disabled .Unfortunately, one is left to fend for themselves.
My response was to seek out every possible avenue of assistance to
maximize the quality of my life. I sought out skilled
therapists./physicians/psychiatrists/and educators. All encouraged
me to constantly look for anything which would maximize the quality
of my life. They encouraged me to try new hobbies. Given I am one
who does not understand the concept of boredom that was not hard
advice to follow. I slowly discovered new strengths and interests.
The proliferation of information on the internet has made it
possible to research any Subject one can imagine. I find that my
rather diverse education serves me well is this regard as I do not
think in a linear fashion as my mind crosses through several
possibilities when attempting to find a solution to a problem. I
truly enjoy finding resources which are helpful to people so that
their lives can be as rich as possible.
My future plans include finishing a M.S.W. degree and then a
combined Ph.D. in Psychology and Social Work with my dissertation
having something to do with the use of internet message boards as
support/networking/.information communities to people struggling
with mental and emotional illnesses.
For relaxation I write poetry and will have two of my poems included
this year in anthologies published by WaterMark Press. I am
currently writing some children's stories with the goal of
publishing them and hope to one day publish a volume of my poetry. I
enjoy singing with The Ann Arbor Cantata Singers and participated
with them in the 9-11 Rolling Requiem Memorial. In addition I garden
and dry my own flowers which I use in dried flower crafts and take
special orders from people in need of unique gifts. I have been
working on an oil pastel drawing technique I call 'shadow drawing'
and am being encouraged to enter some of the drawings in
competitions. Next year instead of doing dried flower crafts for
craft shows I will be doing sewing crafts specializing in First
Communion Dresses and Veils/ Baptismal Gowns/party dresses for
little girls/ and holiday crafts such as placemats/Christmas Tree
skirts/tablecloths/Christmas stockings/etc, I also make very unique
Christmas ornaments. I read anything that isn't nailed down. I have
a Skye Terrier named Caspar who is an absolute little lover. He
manages to worm his way right into the center of every situation!
I look forward to assisting those of you in need of resources in
your communities or on the internet. Please feel free to post a
question on one of the Resource Board Forums.
At this time Madrigalsings is ill and very
fatigued. When she is feeling better she can take your email. Now is
not a good time to send her email. We wish her good health very
soon.
"I
shall pass through this world but once. Therefore, any good I can do
or any kindness I can show, let me do it now
for I shall not pass this way
again.�
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