Nurturing mental health: writing

When we use writing as a tool for awareness and healing, we find the outcome, the written word, to be useful, but frequently not as useful as the process of writing itself.


Personal writing of this nature is intentional writing.

Its deepest intention is to heal.

Like water flowing, effortlessly finding its way around and through obstacles, the healing power of writing uses words effortlessly to to transform pain, confusion and internal chaos.

Listen to the words of Gabriel Rico in Pain and Possibility,

"Writing helps to direct your pain into a constructive act...thus transforming it.”

(11) People soon to be on loan at B.C. library

Gone are the days of rummaging through card catalogues and dusty shelves.

A new library in Surrey, B.C., will be home to a "human library," with people on loan as living books.

The $36-million Surrey City Centre library, set to open at the end of the month, will allow users to "check out" people and pick their brains about their experiences with blindness, immigration, religion or a disability, among other things. The goal is to break down stereotypes and start discussions, said deputy chief librarian Melanie Houlden.

"What we're aiming to do is bring the library to life for people. There are huge repositories of experience and knowledge in their own brains," she said.

People with various personal experiences have already agreed to volunteer, she said. Users will be able to request an "expert" and chat over a cup of coffee in the library's new cafe.

The idea began in Europe and has already been successfully applied at another library in nearby Coquitlam, B.C., and a local college, she said.

lkane@vancouversun.com

Twitter.com/ellekane

http://www.canada.com/life/story.html?id=5266639

(10) The Human Library Project

Library's "Living Books" Program Will Loan Human Experts

Like every other taxpayer-funded public service, libraries have been hit hard by budget cuts during the economic slowdown of the past several years. Adding insult to injury, fewer people read, and those who do are increasingly likely to use e-readers instead of print books. Those forces have combined to send many libraries searching for new ways of doing business.

One of the most innovative new initiatives comes from the City Centre Library in Surrey, British Columbia, which is scheduled to open next month. Realizing that bound volumes are far from the only source of knowledge, librarians in Surrey will also lend out "living books"—in other words, people. Staff will maintain a list of local residents who have volunteered to share their knowledge of any topic, and other library patrons can make appointments for 30-45-minute conversations.

Librarian Ravi Basi told CTV British Columbia that the Surrey library staff initially imagined the living books initiative as a way to break down barriers between people of different races or religions, but people with interesting careers, life experiences, or academic research topics would make good volunteers as well. The program will certainly give students writing research reports access to information they can't get on Google, though everyone will be encouraged to take advantage. Giving people a reason to come to the library and connect with their neighbors? Sounds like a win-win to us.

The Human Library Project at Emily Carr PS in London Ontario

A short video about the Human Library event at Preston College. For more information on the Human Library visit http://humanlibrary.org/



Humber College and Humber Libraries are proud to present the second annual Human Library event, March 24th, 2011, at Lakeshore Campus. Readers at the Human Library sign out "human books" -- real people, willing to share their unique experiences and perspectives in open, informal conversation. Challenge your preconceptions and assumptions, broaden your awareness and understanding of others, and be curious! Learn more and reserve a book at
http://library.humber.ca/HumanLibrary/


World mental health Day, human library event 2010.
The human library brought together people with experiences from bi-polar to employment, spending time talking to the public.



An amazing group of human books bravely tell their stories to browsers at Cromer library in North Norfolk.
Open a book ... all human life is there.
Save Our Local Libraries!
(for 2 minutes of your time film project)



Go to Acadia's Vaughan Library and check out a human book. Ask questions, talk about their experiences, whether it's the Belly Dancing Librarian, a student intern returning from Ghana or a CBC radio personality. Human books are interactive and diverse.





Have you ever wondered what living with bi-polar is actually like? Do you know what having the label 'personality disorder' really means? Have you ever secretly wondered why people with depression don't just
snap out of it?!
The project has been developed as part of the Time to Change campaign as it aims to reduce the stigma around mental health. Conversations are shaped by the reader and the book together, but a common theme is personal experience of coping with a mental health issue and ideas about how society adapts to improve this experience.



Martin Etheridge
The Human Library

(9) The Hour: Kevin Smith

Director Kevin Smith on breaking into the big time with "Cop Out."

(8) Kevin Smith talks about Twilight

Kevin Smith gives his opinion about Twilight in the San Diego Comic Con 009

(7) Kevin Smith - Dogma

Kevin Smith (2 August 1970, Red Bank, New Jersey, USA)

"Dogma" (1999) de Kevin Smith

(6) Kevin Smith about talk Superman

(5) Bing Sundance 2011: Kevin Smith Interview

Ross Mathews interviews Kevin Smith, director of "Red State," at the Bing Bar at Sundance 2011. Kevin Smith discusses how he likes to reach an audience with films and his feelings about Sundance. For more Sundance videos and more, visit BingSundance.com:
http://www.bing.com/videos/browse/Sundance?form=MFEVID&publ=YOUTUBE&crea=TEXT_MFEVID_SM0121_bb0121_YT014_1x1

(4) Kevin Smith - Jay & Silent Bob Strikes Back

Kevin Smith (2 August 1970, Red Bank, New Jersey, USA)

"Jay & Silent Bob Strikes Back" (2001) de Kevin Smith

(3) Kevin Smith Clerks 2 Interview

Kevin Smith is interviewed on a now defunct talk show. From June 27, 2006.



Part 2 of Kevin Smith interview.



The third and final part of the Kevin Smith interview. Silent Bob rules!

(2) Kevin Smith in an exclusive interview

Writer / Director Kevin Smith in an exclusive interview discusses his upcoming film "A Couple Of Cops", set to roll with stars Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan. Smith talks about Mirmax, selling out and more.



Kevin Smith Part 2: Writing & Filmmaking

Writer / Director Kevin Smith talks about how he started writing and making movies, his growth as a film maker and the advantages of being in film school for 16 years.



Kevin Smith Part 3: Change, Death, Legacy

Writer / Director Kevin Smith in an exclusive interview discusses his upcoming film "A Couple Of Dicks" discusses his career, what his Dad would think, what motivates him and his legacy.



Kevin Smith Part 4: The Dark Side Of The Internet

Writer / Director Kevin Smith in an exclusive interview talks about his recent revelations about the internet.



Kevin Smith Part 5: The Curse Of Chasing Amy

Kevin talks about his film Chasing Amy.



Kevin Smith Part 6: Bright Side of The Internet

Keven Smith talks about his first experience with the internet, community building, adn Anthrax.



Kevin Smith Part 7: Talking To People He Wrote

Indie legend Kevin Smith talks about his father's taste in movies, Bruce Willis, Tracey Morgan and success on his own terms



Kevin Smith Part 8: Gretzky, Gratitude & God

Writer / director Kevin Smith talks about Wayne Gretzky,



Kevin Smith Part 9: Risking His Life & Starting A New One

Writer / director Kevin Smith discusses why he thinks he'll die young and working with new people.



Kevin Smith Part 10 : Stuff From The Cutting Room Floor

Mostly for real fans but I think there's lots of interesting little bits here including stuff about Bruce Willis & Kevin's favorite performance from his movies.

(1) Kevin Smith (Filmmaker)

Kevin Patrick Smith (born August 2, 1970) is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob. His films include Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma,Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Cop Out, and the horror film Red State. His first several films were mostly set in his home state of New Jersey, and while not strictly sequential, they frequently feature crossover plot elements, character references, and a shared canon in what is known by fans as the "View Askewniverse", named after his production company View Askew Productions, which he co-founded with Scott Mosier.