July 2020 - The Brick Magazine

THE HEALING POWER OF BELONGING

Julie Palmer2020-07-01T07:07:25-04:00

Photo by Simon Rae on Unsplash By Morella Devost A sixth-grade field trip. I remember it clear as day. I was so excited! We got to wear street clothes instead of our uniform of pleated navy skirts, white buttoned shirts, and burgundy pullover sweaters. If you can’t tell already, I went to a private school for the daughters of wealthy families in Venezuela. Except I wasn’t one of them. My very hard-working mixed-culture parents simply wanted me to attend the best bilingual school. That day, I dressed in a super cute outfit of checkered pants and shirt (it was the ‘80s!). [...]

THE HEALING POWER OF BELONGINGJulie Palmer2020-07-01T07:07:25-04:00

GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY

Julie Palmer2020-07-01T07:07:32-04:00

Photo by Milivoj Kuhar on Unsplash By Tiffany Edison Perhaps there’s a line in the sand delineating your domain of expertise; it separates you from those areas where it’s best to leave it to the experts in your community. As a resident of Ann Arbor, I feel very fortunate knowing the high level of talent of my neighbors, friends, and local hospital workers. The lengths to which these individuals are willing to go to help those in need is inspiring. Ann Arbor is a unique microcosm of talent and an epicenter of knowledge just waiting to be explored. Don’t believe me? Just drop [...]

GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAYJulie Palmer2020-07-01T07:07:32-04:00

IT’S NOT A QUARANTINI, IT’S A CLASSIC

Julie Palmer2020-07-01T07:07:38-04:00

Photo by Raoel Croes on Unsplash By Liz Crowe Ah, summer. But yet…not, somehow. We’ve all heard the phrase “the new normal” so many times by now, I won’t beat you over the head with it. But yeah. It’s new, alright. And whether we like it or not, it’s definitely going to be our normal going forward. Right around mid-March of this year, my resolutions to not drink alcohol during the week went sailing right out the window along with basketball tournament season and my daughter’s college graduation ceremony. I have little to complain about as my household remains supported by [...]

IT’S NOT A QUARANTINI, IT’S A CLASSICJulie Palmer2020-07-01T07:07:38-04:00

SETTING GOALS WHILE BEING HAPPY IN THE PRESENT MOMENT

Julie Palmer2020-07-01T07:07:44-04:00

Photo by Neil Thomas on Unsplash By Janice Gervais How is it possible to stay in the present moment while setting goals for the future? Doesn’t planning for the future mean you’re not happy with something in your current situation? Why would we set a goal to make a change in our life if we’re happy and content in the current moment? One can be at peace or content with any situation, but that does not mean you want to stay in that situation. In his book Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl describes finding meaning while being in a Nazi [...]

SETTING GOALS WHILE BEING HAPPY IN THE PRESENT MOMENTJulie Palmer2020-07-01T07:07:44-04:00

NONPROFITS FACE CHALLENGES AMID COVID-19

Julie Palmer2020-07-01T07:07:50-04:00

By Jen DeGregorio While many small businesses throughout Michigan and beyond have been forced to close their physical doors due to COVID-19, nonprofits are still working hard to carry out their missions. I had the opportunity to speak with four Michigan charities to learn about the hurdles they are navigating during this strange time. One of the common challenges many charities are facing right now is how to balance being helpful to the COVID-19 cause with enduring the crisis themselves. Many local nonprofits have been forced to cancel fundraising events, which are crucial to their stream of revenue. Uncertainty over the [...]

NONPROFITS FACE CHALLENGES AMID COVID-19Julie Palmer2020-07-01T07:07:50-04:00

FREE THINKING FOR HEALTH AND HEALING

Julie Palmer2020-07-01T07:07:56-04:00

Photo by Brenda Godinez on Unsplash By Kellie Mox My daughter is the “hippie” of her tween friend group. While part of me cringed at their assignment of labels, part of me cheered inside. I suspect the hippie reference had nothing to do with long hair or drugs. I suspect, rather, that it had to do with the fact that my almost-twelve-year-old doesn’t always conform. This is a good thing. What It Looks Like My daughter exemplifies non-conformity in ways that surprise and inspire me. Somehow, during this most challenging tween time, she’s often fine not doing what everyone else is [...]

FREE THINKING FOR HEALTH AND HEALINGJulie Palmer2020-07-01T07:07:56-04:00