www.owohrod.com.

  If we are denied 'the right to end our lives', and to exercise that 'right', if or when we form the view that, our life has become more of a burden to us and our loved ones? And/or that there is little enjoyment and too much pain to be had from persevering with it? So, why is it that governments and religious institutions conspire to condemn people to live a life of misery, of degradation and skewed reality?  When they are no longer able to participate in and enjoy what we have come to know as 'ordinary life'? Many, if not most of us live in societies where governments and groups are prone to engage in mass killing of their fellow citizens, or those of other countries.  The killing of health people who yearn to continue to live, but but are killed just the same. Often for political or religious reasons.  So, how ironic it is that it is these same religious and political forces, in the form of governments and elite institutions.   That are most prominent among

  So, yes, there are commendable things which former President Trump has done, and/or allowed to take place.  Irrespective of whether his reasons for doing so, were noble and well-intentioned, altruistic or not. After all, not many politicians are motivated by altruistic intents.  More often than not, they are motivated by what they and their country and their hangers-on can get from being or appearing to be the same as us, ordinary humans. So, if Trump's motives were not the best that a President could have, there is probably nothing surprising there.  He, of course, would probably claim that they were, and, as it is clear that he still has intentions to resume a leading role in American politics, are.  He has, for example, spoken of Making America Great Again, and of Making America First. Of course, just as how the former President Trump has set about overturning, root up and cast aside.  The things about former President Barak Obama's achievements that many of us considered

  No longer will he be there to provide the occasion for different members of the family.   Both immediate and extend, to meet up and renew and strengthen the bonds of their own relationship with one another. Ralph's passing will remove another of the bonds which has been holding different generations of his relatives together.  And yet, sad as that will be, it is not an unusual occurrence, but one which is continually occurring and recurring within families. So, yes, Ralph will be missed, but we thank him for his contribution towards the welfare and happiness of his family and relatives. And for those of us remaining, we must, we should use his passing wisely.  Including using it as a rehearsal for our own impending and future passing.  Because this is, indeed, the natural order of things, of our lives, our existence.  That we should be born, live and die, and, in time, which is infinite, be forgotten.   Either because nobody who know of and remember us remain alive, of because to

  Then, should that not be considered as an improvement, if, with an increase in age, these functioning do not deteriorate? Yes, if I were, as I should, apply the principle of logic to what I expect of my dear mother, then, yes, the situation might still be bad, but not as bad as it could have been.  The trajectory is, inescapably, of a downward trend, but it is as should be logically expected, when shorn of any unrealistic expectations that I and/or others might have of what should be happening. And so it is that, while my dear mother remains, for now, mobile and is able to perambulate about her apartment.  Her perception of what is happening in and to her small apartment, which is, outside of what is going on in her mind, her world, which continues to occupy probably much or most of her thinking time.  My dear mother's universe, it appears, is rather small. It is receding, as is the case with us humans.   As we advance into our senior years, and/or, if we are unfortunate enough t

It has meant that Ralf's family and friends have not been able to give him the kind of send off that they would have liked.  Not with only 30 people being allowed into his local church, where the funeral service took place.  Before making their way to the local cemetery where he was interned in the same plot which is occupied by his beloved wife. Restricted and unusual as the circumstance of making the transition from life with Ralf to like without Ralf had been, his send off went as well as had been expected. But how will life without Ralf be for his family and relatives?  Those for whom his life had become a significant part or focal point of theirs?  How will the transition from life with Ralf in the flesh, as it were, to life with our memories of life with Ralf be made?  After all, as it the case with all passing, there are emotional, psychological and physical readjustments to be made.  Life with Ralf now will be devoid of any visiting and the physical and animated interaction

  However, the response from some members of the public, probably especially those who are more at risk of becoming the subjects of social worker interventions.   Is likely to include scepticism, disbelieve, and even hostility.  Some people will put their hands up and exclaim, 'I could not do your job; it is too difficult!' And, some, some with appraise you with a certain admiration. This ambivalence which many people, and society in general, have toward social workers and their role in society.   Is one which is reflected in the social worker's perceived and statutory role and responsibilities. Essentially, social workers are perceived as the 'good fairies.' The people whose job is to protect vulnerable and at risk children, families and adults from harm. They are the people whom society and government expect and hold responsible for ensuring that vulnerable children are not caused significant harm, physically, emotionally or due to neglect of their welfare.  By me

  Probably less so about those paramedics, healthcare workers, first responders, miners and others are likely to have to deal with at any point in their working lives. But there are people from other professions to whom the label, 'survivor' has been and can be applied. Which leads me to what this post is all about; having survived the pitfalls, the dangers which confronted me during my social work profession. Being a social worker, in the sense of a person who has undertake formal social work study and training in an academic institution set up for doing so.  Can be a very rewarding experience. People who trained to become social workers are probably most likely to include the following in their responses.  When asked, 'why do you want to or have opted to become a social worker?'   Yes, they are likely to say, 'I want to help people!' 'I like working with people!'  'I like working with children and young people!' 'I wanted to work with vulne

  At least at those times when we are mentally and cognitively lucid.   And are able to perceive that we are not interacting with the world like how healthier and more in-control people are and should be doing. Such is the fate of those of us who are fated of becoming affected with dementia and/or alzheimer's disease. It has now been just over 14 months since I did the last episode of  a post I did, celebrating Ralph's 90th Birthday. Sadly, Ralph is no longer with us in body and soul, as he was then.  It has transpired to be his fate that, on 15th January 2021, he he closed his eyes and took his last breathe.  Thereby bringing to a poignant and sad end to a life which he had lived for 92 years.  A fruitful and successful life which began all those years ago, in a different country to that which has become his adopted home for over the past 60 years. With fate having chosen, if that can be so, to bring to an end, like it has so many others, Ralf's life during the Covid pande

  Like the classification of 'heroes', being labelled 'a survivor' is meant to be a badge of honour. This partly explains why we hearing a lot about 'Survivors.'  With one of the most recent claimant being none other than the much respected American politician, Alexandria Cortez-Ocasio-Cortez.  Who has recently told the world that she is a 'survivor of sexual assault.'  Truth to tell, as the old adage goes, we are of course all 'survivors.'  The misfortunes and events which we have survived and/or are surviving, might be different.  Either in kind or degree, but all of us are likely to have survived, though probably not fully or unimpaired.  Events, including dangerous jobs, which placed us, as it were, in harms way, at a point or points in our lives. We have heard and know much about the dangers which the police and soldiers are often confronted with.  To be continued!