a fleeting stay ...

I hit a mental block recently and found myself unable to produce a decent post. As you can see my last piece was published on May 3, this year. A conversation with a good friend, who is also a journalist, compelled me to rethink my situation. Until our discussion on the times when we were unable to produce original work, I was quite happy to let 2012 pass without writing anything for this blog. But Suzanna Pillay would not allow me to dwell on my current lack of enthusiasm for writing. She goaded me into action and here I am. Thank you SP! The best place to start is to read about other people's experiences in overcoming mental blocks. I chanced upon these two websites ( see below ) which offer tips to those who often find themselves stuck. 1. 10 ways to overcome mental blocks and boost creativity 2. Do you recognise these 10 mental blocks to creative thinking?

There is a sense of powerlessness about tragedies, and none more so than natural disasters. For observers, they see what is happening (either personally or through visuals conveyed by the mass media), but are powerless to help. The powerful Japan earthquake is a case in point. Admittedly, the Japanese are familiar with earthquakes and they have been taught what to do in such situations. Still, fear, chaos and confusion reign each time it happens and all the preparations in the world could not assuage people's concerns about the future. How do people cope? What about the elderly and children? NASP (National Association of School Psychologists) Resources has put together a handout to help children cope with a national tragedy. Please see below. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A National Tragedy: Helping Children Cope   Tips for Parents and Teachers   Whenever a national tragedy occurs, such as terrorist attacks o...