 The 4Ps of #Marketing is crucial to your brand remaining relevant during #covid19. Now is not the time to let your loyal customers forget about your brand.
Whether your business is currently closed due to stay-at-home mandates, or is operating under new guidelines, focus on the third and fourth Ps - Promotion and Place. To focus on #Promotion, craft clear and concise communications for your customers about your plans for reopening or modifications made to the way you usually deliver the products and services they've come to trust. Advertise your brand on high-traffic websites and make good use of social media for lead generation. To focus on Place, consider taking the time to create or redesign your company website to make it more relevant. If you are not already on social media, establish social media accounts, and engage wholeheartedly in #socialmediamarketing. Explore ways to creatively partner with other businesses to promote your brands. Not sure where to start with a #marketingstrategy? Reach out to The Write Reflection today to help guide you through the process.
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By Shari Berg
It seems like years since college students were hanging out with their friends on campus, attending lectures and brainstorming with classmates on group projects. In reality, it has been about six weeks since most college campuses ordered students off-campus, relegating them to remote learning for the remainder of the semester. College students used to the crowded lecture halls and packed classrooms are scrambling to maintain work productivity from the confines of their off-campus homes. Some are doing better with it than others. And, just like their K-12 counterparts, some colleges and universities were ill-prepared to engage in remote learning. Chris F., a first-year student attending a private research university, said the transition to online courses has been very difficult for him given his area of concentration. “Industrial design is such a collaborative major and career,” he said, which does not translate well into online learning. Chris said he understands the transition to online teaching is a difficult process – especially when done without the benefit of much time to prepare in advance – but he is disappointed in the difference between what he is now receiving online versus what he was receiving in the classroom. “The hardest part of the transition to online courses has been receiving feedback on projects,” he said. “In a studio atmosphere, you are constantly receiving critique that is needed to improve as a designer. Now, feedback is only given at the end of the process.” Minor Adjustments To compensate for the fact that he is not receiving the ongoing feedback in the classroom, Chris has turned to his online design community for collaboration. He has used the online community when previously working on side projects and creative experiments in the past as has found it a tremendous resource. “I have been able to talk with professionals and receive meaningful feedback on my works in progress. A great deal of my education has come from these online critiques of my work.” Chris said while it is frustrating, he advises his fellow students in creative careers to use this time of isolation to experiment and try new ways of working. A few weeks ago, Chris began designing a planter. “With this project, I have used new tools like Virtual Reality along with paper modeling as a form of idea generation and prototyping. Also, try to find a balance between work and life that is healthy and that you are happy with.” Tips for Colleges Colleges and universities need to do their best to help students navigate through these unprecedented times. Validation is important. Students are reeling from a sense of loss that goes beyond the transition of classroom learning to virtual learning.
Reaching out for Help If remote learning just isn’t going well for you, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. College students sometimes need a little extra help, even when we are not in the middle of a global pandemic that has shut down life as they know it. Tutors are a great resource during these difficult times. In keeping with the guidelines for social distancing, most tutoring lessons can be conducted online. Interested in learning more about how a tutor can help? Check out some of these online tutoring resources:  Photo Courtesy Mohamed Hassan, Pixabay The new normal. It’s a phrase being thrown around a lot these days, as the majority of the United States adjusts to life under mandatory stay-at-home orders due to COVID-19. Non-essential businesses are closed, with much of the workforce now either unemployed or figuring out how to work from home. Schools also have closed, with some more prepared than others to remotely instruct students. Some parents are now scrambling to maintain work productivity from home while serving as secondary teachers to their children. It is an exhausting and frustrating reality for all involved. Don’t get discouraged! There are ways to help even the most distracted child to adapt to remote learning. Let’s discuss a few strategies parents may find useful. Create a Learning Schedule For schools that have mandated a daily learning schedule with set start and end times, parents will have little flexibility. But for those providing tasks and assignments to be completed for the day with little to no guidance on required hours of participation, establishing a routine is beneficial for everyone. Allow children some input on their daily schedule. Being thrust into this new reality is stressful for children of all ages, so giving them some choice in how remote learning is accomplished will help ease anxiety for everyone. Choose a start and end time for remote learning. It is important to remember that traditional brick and mortar schools build in time for lunch, recess and hallway transitions. So while a typical in-school day may last 7-8 hours, an at-home schedule will likely be 4-5 hours or less. Just as in school, children should be given breaks throughout their at-home learning day. This includes breaks to stretch, for snacks and lunch and even for physical exercise. If your child enjoys gym class at school, work in physical exercise as part of your daily routine. Studies have shown that regular physical exercise throughout the day improves academic performance and the ability to focus. It also relieves stress, which adults and children alike are under a lot of in these uncertain times. Make the physical activity fun and engaging, and if possible, join your children in it. Once the learning schedule is established, do your best to stick with it to provide a sense of normalcy to the new at-home learning experience. Digesting the Material While remote learning is an entirely new experience for a lot of families, it is equally uncharted territory for many educators. Most teachers, especially those of the primary grades, are used to teaching in a classroom in front of their students. Although remote learning is amazing, it is not an equal substitute for the kind of interaction students and teachers experience in the physical classroom together. Try to be understanding and patient with teachers as they work hard to provide online lessons, lectures and other materials to their students. As with anything else, there is a learning curve for all involved. If something isn’t working for your child, reach out to the teacher to provide feedback. Most teachers appreciate honest – and kind – feedback from parents and students and will make accommodations when necessary. Remember, we’re all in this together! Supervision of Learning Most parents are not teachers. If this coronavirus pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that teachers are amazing human beings who should be thoroughly appreciated for their patience with our children. Teaching is hard and it certainly is not for the faint of heart. But here we are, making the best of a situation. For older students, the good news is, they probably need very little assistance in understanding their work and completing it. Many schools are including live or pre-recorded lectures for harder subjects like math and science. Younger children may require more supervision and reminders to stay on task. They also may need more assistance in understanding and completing assignments. If your school is relying on digital learning, including apps and software, children likely will need help logging in and navigating through it. And as we all know, computers and digital devices are wonderful for learning – when they work. Children may find themselves needing help if an app or device isn’t working as it should. Reaching out for Help If remote learning just isn’t going well for you or your children, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Maybe your child is finding Calculus a little hard without the benefit of in-person teaching in the classroom. Or the instructions for that virtual Biology lab are less than clear, and additional information from the teacher hasn’t resolved your issue. Students – and parents – sometimes need a little extra help, even when we’re not in the middle of a global pandemic that has changed the way we educate our children. When that happens, reach out to those who can step in and explain that differential equation or walk through the science lab step-by-step until students understand the lesson behind it. Tutors are a great resource during these difficult times. In keeping with the guidelines for social distancing, most tutoring lessons can be conducted online. Interested in learning more about how a tutor can help? Check out some of these online tutoring resources:  About the Author
Shari L. Berg is an award-winning writer with more than 20 years of experience. Writing is not just a career for Shari. It is her passion. From poetry to short stories, feature stories and blog posts, Shari has spent a lifetime perfecting her art. She is a published author of "Wars End With Me," (2018) and "Pioneer Proud: Celebrating 50 Years of Butler County Community College" (2015). 3/23/2020 A "Work-at-Home" Nation Adjusts to New Reality Amid Coronavirus Fears, Resolves to "Flatten the Curve"Read Now As the global response to COVID-19 (coronavirus) strengthens, governments worldwide are being forced to take extreme actions to help “flatten the curve” in an effort to gain back control over the spread of this new virus. Among the measures being taken by several states, including Pennsylvania, is mandated “social distancing.” The recommendation from health professionals is for limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people to prevent community spread of the virus. As a result, non-essential businesses are closed, restaurants are limited to curbside pickup and delivery only and residents are being encouraged to stay at home as much as possible. For some companies, the new mandates on social distancing have created a conundrum: their employees are now required to work from home unless they are part of an essential service such as grocery store workers, gas station attendants and healthcare professionals. The sudden move to a 100 percent remote workforce has posed some unique problems. As working professionals enter week two of this new work-at-home reality, some have agreed to share their experiences and how they are adapting to the sudden change. Samantha Supernaw, a clinical social worker and psychotherapist in private practice in Texas, said she has never worked from home until now. The shift from in-office sessions to remote-only sessions was a difficult and time-consuming one. “Instead of enjoying the spring break I had planned, I spent the last week preparing to provide telehealth/teletherapy services to all of my clients and supervisees.” The change required Ms. Supernaw to find a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform to use, working with various insurance agencies to understand their unique requirements, developing a new informed consent form and reviewing the new protocol with each client prior to their session. “It was like starting my business all over again in some ways.” The one tip she said she would offer any professional now working from home – but especially healthcare workers such as herself – is to use a separate room in your home with a door that can be closed if available. To ensure patient privacy while working from home, Ms. Supernaw said she has employed the use of a white noise machine so that other occupants of her home are unable to hear her sessions. Riva Mann of New Jersey owned and operated a spa party business. When New Jersey Governor issued a “stay-at-home” order for all workers, Mrs. Mann said her only choice was to stop working entirely. “It’s impossible to have a business that involves groups and touching people,” she said. “I’m both sad and relieved about that. A products business that I run with a friend also is on hiatus, as event are right now all cancelled, but maybe someday we’ll do it again when this is over.” Mrs. Mann and her husband also own a hot tub repair business. Because the business is considered essential, they have been able to continue operating it. Still, they are taking precautions to protect themselves and their clients. “We are practicing social distancing when he works, not doing indoor tubs for now, just outside where he can work on his own, and he also has gloves and bleach wipes he carries with him for use. I also am talking to clients about the social distance expectations.” The best piece of advice Mrs. Mann said she can offer others is to make a daily schedule with things to accomplish and scratch them off as they are completed. “It’s easy to free float and procrastinate if you’re not disciplined.” For Pennsylvania couple Beth and Brad Wentz, the adjustment to working full-time at home, while raising their six children, has been a bit rough. Mrs. Wentz is a supervisor for an in-home behavioral therapy nonprofit, while Mr. Wentz works as a banker. Mrs. Wentz is a little more used to working at home, as she previously worked a flexible schedule that allowed her to work from home at least three days per week. Mr. Wentz had previously only worked an average of one day per week from home. “The kids busting in the room when I am on a conference call has been the biggest challenge for me,” said Mr. Wentz. “The biggest challenge for me has been being able to maintain productivity with my job, while making sure my 12th grader, 8th grader, 6th grader and first grader are following what their teachers are requiring,” said Mrs. Wentz. “I find myself doing anything I don’t get done during the day work-wise after everyone goes to bed.” The school district the Wentz’s children currently attend is closed through May 1, but is providing remote education to students. Required work is being sent electronically; parents must oversee the work to ensure it is being completed by the deadlines. It has thrown a monkey wrench into the situation for many working parents who now find themselves attempting to be productive at their jobs from home, while supervising their children’s daily education. One of the ways Mrs. Wentz said she is handling the double duty is by being honest with her children’s teachers about how much they can pull off given their current circumstances. “We are doing the best we can,” she said. “I am lowering my usual expectations for grades and screen time, and remembering that my children will always remember this time, so I am trying to make it fun and memorable.” Marilyn Adams, a second grade teacher for 33 years in Pennsylvania, said students are not the only ones adjusting to the new work-and-learn from home reality. Mrs. Adams said the biggest challenge now is not being able to work directly with her students. “I can send information and lessons to the parents, but I’m not there to personally deliver the instruction.” Mrs. Adams said she remains optimistic and engages in creative ways to keep in touch with her students during remote learning. “I am staying connected to the kids via technology – videos and iPad apps that allow me to provide real-time feedback. This is reassuring to the little ones in this time of uncertainty.” Working at home can be difficult regardless of the job. Mrs. Adams said she encourages everyone to take it one day at a time. “Be patient and flexible and allow time for mistakes. It’s only been a few days, and I’ve learned so much already.”  About the Author
Shari L. Berg is an award-winning writer with more than 20 years of experience. Writing is not just a career for Shari. It is her passion. From poetry to short stories, feature stories and blog posts, Shari has spent a lifetime perfecting her art. She is a published author of "Wars End With Me," (2018) and "Pioneer Proud: Celebrating 50 Years of Butler County Community College" (2015).  I was scrolling through my social media feeds, much as I do every day, partly for professional reasons and partly for personal reasons. I wasn’t expecting to see anything beyond the usual “here’s what I’m having for dinner” type posts or the political musings that seem to flood most every social media outlet these days. Social media, without a doubt, can be a great tool for promoting your business or just staying in touch with family and friends. But it also can be mind-numbingly mundane. My morning pass was proving to be more of the second variety until I scrolled past some words that seemed to jump right off the Facebook post and hit me squarely in the face: He apologized one too many times, and I realized he should not apologize for who he is, rather that I should apologize for thinking he should be anything but himself. Those words could apply to so many situations in life. For me, they immediately made me think of my own 13-year-old son, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3. We were fortunate in that his diagnosis came early in life, enabling him to receive the kind of crucial early intervention services that have made all the difference in the world. But then I got to thinking about all the things my son learns he must do every day to fit the norm society has set for him, and the reality of those words brought tears to my eyes. Why can’t he just be accepted for who he is? Why should he have to mold himself into the societal norms and standards just so others deem him worthy? Those 30 words caused me to take a long, hard look at my stance on how individuals with autism should be treated, and just how much conforming they should be expected to do. It wasn’t the first time I had wondered why the rest of society can’t learn to be more accepting. But it was one of the few times I felt so strongly about it that I have made it my new mission to push for more understanding and acceptance of those on the spectrum – to help others learn how to celebrate the beauty of neurodiversity rather than punishing it. I have Tiffany Hammond to thank for my newfound drive for autism advocacy. A lifelong Texan and mother of two children on opposite ends of the autism spectrum, she recently started a blog called 2 Dollops of Autism. If you haven’t checked it out, you don’t know what you’re missing. Run, don’t walk, right on over to her site and check her out. She also has a Facebook page. I asked Tiffany if she would share some of her most private thoughts with us concerning her autism advocacy, her two beautiful children, Josiah and Aidan, and the motivation that keeps her going when she’d like nothing more than to quit. “I decided to launch (2 Dollops) because writing helps me deal with my most intense emotions,” said Ms. Hammond. “I bottle things up so much that it literally hurts me and others around me.” She’s not just talking about the negative emotions, but also the positive ones. “I needed a way to let those out, so one day I picked up a journal and I didn’t stop writing until I filled three of them in a day.” Like other parents of children with autism, Ms. Hammond gravitated toward autism support groups. What she found was other parents who were struggling with the same issues that she had already gone through with her boys. That’s when she decided to take her knowledge and use it to help others who were struggling. “Then I started to make my own posts. People received them so well I thought maybe I could share more advice and tips, and maybe eventually my own story.” Glazing the Ham 2 Dollops of Autism isn’t the first time Ms. Hammond has blogged about her personal experiences with autism. Several years ago, she decided to get her proverbial toes wet by launching a blog she called GlazedHamm. While she shared some of her thoughts and experiences about autism on the blog, she admits she didn’t take it seriously, neglected it on most days and didn’t own the content she was posting because it was being housed on a free blogging site, not her own domain. “I shut it down and a couple years later, decided it was time to start back up again. I promised I would take it more seriously because writing is my therapy. The challenge in creating new content to put onto a site is my therapy.” Thus was born 2 Dollops of Autism. Finding a Community Everyone needs their tribe. People who love and accept them. Others who know what it is like to struggle with the same things you do. Individuals on the spectrum often struggle to find their tribe, even among others who share their diagnosis. “The hardest part about finding a community is that autism exists on a spectrum, and so do their support groups,” said Ms. Hammond. “Then you have groups for those with severe autism, those for high-functioning autism . . . it’s hard to belong to just one group when so many address the many sides of autism.” While diversifying support for those on the autism spectrum based on severity can be a good thing in some respects, it also comes with its disadvantages. Ms. Hammond has one child who is classified with high-functioning autism, while the other is more severe, making the challenge of finding all the support she needs for both of her children in one place. “On one hand, the group that caters to your specific needs (i.e. severe autism parenting group) can provide you with a ton of support from others who are often drowned out in other groups, but then as a parent of a child on the moderate to high end of the spectrum, I often find many of their posts to be demeaning towards that end of the spectrum. Same with being in other groups and their comments towards parents of children with severe autism.” She hopes that her blog will provide the kind of support that applies to all parents of children with autism, regardless of their placement on the spectrum. From Shaun Murphy to Rainman While struggling to find a place among the autism community can be difficult, it can be even more so when trying to fit in among those who deem themselves as neurotypical. The hardest part about finding community support from the general public is that for the most part, the public's knowledge of autism comes from how they see autism portrayed in film and television, not from actual interaction with someone on the spectrum. With estimates of 1 in every 59 people having autism, Ms. Hammond said it’s hard to imagine that there is anyone out there who doesn't know someone who has autism. “I'm not one of those people who views the general public as purposefully unaccepting and unaccommodating. I think it's that they simply do not know what to do, they do not know how to respond. They don't know what kind of help and support that our loved ones with autism actually need. So they see someone like my oldest, who isn't like Dr. Shaun Murphy on “The Good Doctor,” and they don't know how to respond. They do not know what to do. They don't know what he needs. And it's much easier to ignore the problem than it is to address it.” As a result, Ms. Hammond said she believes there are many communities that are underserving this population. “And then you have those with autism like my youngest, who is more like Dr. Shaun Murphy than my oldest, but they still do not understand his kind of autism. They think it’s quirks and intense shyness. They assume that he will be independent, just as they are, because he is verbal and can do many of the things they can do.” Ms. Hammond said her youngest son’s challenges are written off, with the attitude from some that he should know better. “More understanding is given to my child who is severely impacted by autism than my youngest. The general public does not know what autism actually is, and once they do, they'll be better able to address it.” It is a large part of why she still supports autism awareness and not simply autism acceptance. Common Myths and Misconceptions There are a lot of misconceptions and downright myths when it comes to the general population’s understanding of the autism spectrum. “Not all those with autism are ‘Rainmen,” nor do they have some special hidden talent that will blow your mind,” said Ms. Hammond. Autism is a social-relational disorder, meaning there are deficits in how individuals with autism interact with the world and other people. “You do not realize how important it is for a human to engage with the world until you have met someone who chooses to not do so at all. How we develop biologically, psychologically, emotionally, and physically depends on our interactions and connections with other humans,” said Ms. Hammond. “Because of their autism, they have deficits in communication, relating to others, and forming connections.” One such misconception is that of individuals on the autism spectrum being unable to learn. For example, speech is learned by watching those closest to us and engaging with them. Those with autism are in their own world and they do not engage with others, unless it is on their terms. This can result in speech delays. “People need to understand that simply because someone with autism is delayed or severely impacted in one (or more) areas, doesn't mean that they cannot learn,” she said. “They can still develop these skills. Humans are lifelong learners, including those with autism.” One of the biggest myths about those with autism – and one that is upsetting to many on the spectrum – is the belief that they do not desire a connection with others. “Just because someone has delays or impairments doesn't mean that they do not exhibit any signs of connection with others,” said Ms. Hammond. “Those with autism can show love and emotion for others, they just show it differently. Treat them with dignity and respect, accommodate for their needs, address their deficits appropriately, build up their strengths, and accept them. They have feelings and they understand more than people think.” The Attitude of Gratitude Ms. Hammond doesn’t pull any punches when asked what it’s like to live with autism every day. “My attitude dealing with autism every day, all day, all year long? It's going to suck. It really is. It's also going to be beautiful as hell too. I cry so much, but I also celebrate so many successes that my boys have because I put in the work to get them there. It's okay to cry, to get frustrated, angry. I do all the time, but I don't live in those moments. I have work to do. I can't spend days crying in my room wanting to give up, but I also cannot neglect my own feelings.” Ms. Hammond said she allows herself to cry and be angry because she knows if she keeps it bottled up, she eventually will explode, which is not good for anyone. “So let it out. Take some time for yourself. Self-care is taking care of your children. Make sure you are carving out time for yourself. Then come back refreshed, ready to take on the world again.” She said she has come to the realization that autism is marked by periods of connection and disconnection. “You're going to have so many ups and downs, as are your children. If you spend every waking moment forcing them to enter your world, you're going to be met with pushback, and you damage their trust in you.” Instead, she has chosen to let her children lead the way, to enter their world when they leave hers. When they venture back into her world, she uses that time to work with them, building skills. “I don't embrace the waves as they hit; you get knocked down every single time. I ride the waves. I flow as my children flow, and I adjust often.” Mom, Advocate, College Graduate One of the most inspiring things about Tiffany Hammond isn’t that she’s raising two kids on the spectrum while spending countless hours helping others. It’s the fact that she doing it all while going back to school full time. Already in possession of a bachelor’s degree, she decided to pursue her master’s degree in Applied Psychology with a concentration in Developmental Psychology. She is on track to graduate this May. While going back to school was a challenge, she said technology helped out…a lot. “Colleges and Universities push to make education more accessible to more students – and probably to make more money – and opened up so many opportunities for persons like me to obtain degrees online. When I received my bachelor's years ago, there weren't that many online degree programs. But now, so many schools now offer online degrees. It wasn't hard for me to find a school with the program I wanted and jump right on it.” Ms. Hammond said she is able to learn around her children’s schedule, thanks to courses that allow her to test when she is ready and to turn in assignments whenever she chooses, so long as it’s before the due date. “This freed me up to attend to my children during the day and do my own schooling at night.” In addition to all that she already is doing for the autism community, Ms. Hammond also works as a volunteer advocacy ambassador with Autism Speaks. The position requires her to work with her local Congress members at the federal level to push through initiatives that are helpful to those with autism. A major part of their goals for this year is to get as many members as they can to join the bipartisan Autism Caucus and re-authorization of the Autism Cares Act, which is the foundation for all federal efforts surrounding autism. She also is working hard to get reform in Texas, a state she affectionately refers to as virtually dead in terms of care, supports and services for those with disabilities. “This desperately needs to change. There are wait lists for the Medicaid Waiver programs that are decades long. There is a push to enact policy that will reduce the wait list.” One measure she is focusing on heavily is enabling Medicaid to cover Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Therapy, which is considered the gold standard for autism therapy. The passage of the bill will not only benefit her two children, but countless others across the state of Texas. Expanding medical marijuana laws also is a top priority for her, as well as increasing the pay for personal healthcare workers. “There are many, many issues with Texas and I am trying to address as many as I can, but I think if I spread myself too thin, they won't get the necessary attention that they need. So, I stick with a few at a time so that I can go all in on them. Once I graduate in May, I can focus a lot more on advocacy.” During the month of April – which is dedicated to autism awareness and acceptance – Ms. Hammond will be creating some Zines with her youngest son, whose creative mind will play an essential role in spreading the message of acceptance. The 2 Dollops of Autism blog also will include lots of tips and awareness items, not only this month, but in the many months to follow. ”I hope that through my site, I can help other families like ours see that not only are they not alone, but they can get through it, there's always light at the end of the tunnel, sometimes you just need the right tools to see it. I am there to help them find the light.”   I sighed with relief on Monday morning as I watched my book go live on Amazon.
From the time Patrick reached out to me, until the time Wars End With Me went live on Monday, it's been four long years. With the help - and patience - of a lot of people, we've finally brought Patrick's dream to tell his story to fruition. When we started this book nearly four years ago, we had no idea where the journey would lead us – or that it would take so long to get there. But, like the daily battle our veterans and active military personnel who have been diagnosed with PTSD face, we made the commitment to continue on until every word we wanted to share was included somewhere in the pages of this book. First and foremost, we would like to thank our families. Our mothers, fathers, siblings, children and spouses have been our biggest cheerleaders throughout this entire process. You have been there for us, encouraging us when we felt like quitting, and supporting our efforts to bring hope to other veterans struggling with PTSD. We love and appreciate each and every one of you. This book also would not be possible without the assistance and participation of the veterans and medical professionals who agreed to share their stories and their advice to others struggling with PTSD in the pages of this book. Thank you for your bravery and for your honesty in chronicling your ongoing battle with PTSD. To Dr. Sudip Bose, a heartfelt thank you for not only sharing your efforts to bring awareness to PTSD and abolish the stigma surrounding it, but for continuing to fight for the health and well-being of our veterans. Our readers will want to check out The Battle Continues, Dr. Bose’s nonprofit organization that is dedicated to raising awareness and providing assistance to veterans who have returned from war. Information about the organization can be found in the Resources section of this book. To Kate Dahlstedt, co-founder of Soldier’s Heart clinical psychologist, your candidness about women veterans and PTSD is greatly appreciated. Oftentimes, women veterans struggling with PTSD can be overlooked. But the trauma is just as real and devastating for them as it is for their male counterparts. Additionally, your sharing of the Soldier’s Heart program protocol for the book is something we especially appreciate, as we feel it is something that truly can make a difference in the lives of those who have picked up this book in their quest to be understood and helped. Information about Soldier’s Heart can be found in the Resources section of this book. To Dr. Roger Brooke, a licensed psychologist and Director of the Military Psychological Services at the Duquesne University Psychology Clinic, thank you for sharing your perspective on how PTSD not only affects the mind, but also the soul. Your words, combined with those of Kate Dahlstedt, provide powerful credence to the belief that PTSD trauma resides not in the mind, but in the soul. It is our hope that your words encourage veterans to consider tackling their PTSD in a way that they may not have previously considered. To Samantha Supernaw, a licensed therapist who shared her successes with a specific form of counseling protocol for individuals with PTSD, thank you for taking the time to share this groundbreaking therapy method with our readers, and for your willingness to continue to hone your skills and expertise so that you may be a resource for our veterans. To our editor, Peter Bosak, who helped us to bring this manuscript to life in a readable format, thank you for being a part of this journey. Your wordsmithing abilities have been truly appreciated. And lastly, to the veterans and their families who have dedicated their lives in service to this country, we appreciate you the most. We hope those of you who are struggling with PTSD – whether you are an active military member, a veteran or a loved one – find the contents of this book to be helpful to you, providing a sense of peace in knowing that others share in your journey, and the encouragement to continue the battle. Find our book here on Amazon. In 2010, following a mission trip to the country, Bethany Wentz and her soon-to-be husband, Brad, made a commitment to help improve the quality of life for the people of Pinalejo, Honduras. Over the course of the last eight years, the couple partnered with Bakerstown Alliance Church in Gibsonia, Pa. to provide meals, shoes, school supplies and other basic necessities that most people here take for granted. They called their initiative “Dream Big Honduras.”
Dream Big Honduras has accomplished many things since its inception, most recently being granted nonprofit status. With the approval of its nonprofit standing, Mrs. Wentz said Dream Big Honduras is able to continue to pursue its mission fervently. And dreaming big is certainly on the agenda. Mrs. Wentz said Dream Big Honduras has always supported education for the children of Pinalejo, recognizing that education is the foundation for which future security is built. For those unfamiliar with the education system in Honduras, the statistics are sobering. While the Honduran constitution states that a free, primary education is “obligatory” for children between the ages of 7 and 14, the reality is, fewer than half of all Honduran children complete their education at the primary level. Lack of schools, adequate professional staff and the exorbitant cost of educational materials all contribute to these sobering statistics. (Source: U.S. Library of Congress) Essentially, many children were not making it beyond grade six under the current system. Even those who desire to go on beyond grade six are required to pay up to $400 per year for the privilege. “That might not sound like much, but considering the average Honduran lives on $2 a day, and is trying to pay for food and electricity and other necessities, $400 a year for schooling per child is a lot of money,” said Mrs. Wentz. “And paying for schooling beyond grade six under these circumstances unfortunately isn’t a priority for most families.” Without a proper education, some of those children found themselves in less than desirable situations. “It was hard to see children we’ve invested in ending up in street gangs, or pregnant at 12,” said Mrs. Wentz. “We were running into so many situations with kids we had grown attached to ending up in a bad place because they couldn’t afford to go on to 7th grade. We wanted to change that.” The realization that the public education system in Honduras is not working for the majority of its children prompted Dream Big Honduras to launch the DBH Tutorial Academy – a place where the children the nonprofit has been supporting can go after school each day to receive tutoring and other educational assistance. The academy opened its doors in February 2018 and houses two, full-time staff members who are able to assist students with homework and other educational needs. It also provides access to computers and the Internet and a library. “They basically have all the tools they need, because these kids are going home to a one-room house with nowhere to do their homework.” Between 30 to 40 children use the academy for support purposes. Of those children, Dream Big Honduras also is sponsoring education beyond grade six for 10 of them. The academy costs $1,200 per month to operate. It is a huge undertaking for the nonprofit, which works hard to drum up financial support to keep its missions going. Moving forward, Mrs. Wentz said Dream Big Honduras would like to fund its own school in Honduras for students in grades seven and eight, as well as vocational training. “We want our children to have options for their future, and we think this is the best way to make that happen.” In order to begin the next phase of their journey, Mrs. Wentz said the nonprofit will be required to start a sister nonprofit in Honduras, as required by the Honduran government. She and some Dream Big Honduras board members have planned a trip to the country in January 2019 to begin the process. “Ideally, we’d like to pull it off by 2020, but we’re not sure how financially possible it will be to make it happen that quickly.” How to Donate Inspired to help Dream Big Honduras on its mission to provide quality education to the children of Pinalejo? Monetary donations can be sent to: Dream Big Honduras 11269 Babcock Blvd Valencia, PA 16059 *Please make checks payable to Dream Big Honduras* Online donations also are accepted via paypal. To learn more, visit the Dream Big Honduras website.  As a former journalist, I’m sure some of you will find what I am about to say very bizarre, but here goes: reading the news is bad for you.
No, really. There is study upon study suggesting that reading the news on a regular basis – or worse yet, saturating yourself with 24/7 news coverage – is bad for your mental and physical well-being. For longer than I was a journalist, there was a saying: “if it bleeds, it leads.” And sadly, there is a lot of bleeding going on in local and national media outlets. If you are among the consumers who feels that there is nothing but negativity when you turn on the news or open the paper or a favorite magazine, what do you do? Being informed is important, but so is our sanity. As I’ve been thinking about how to combat this dilemma, I decided that asking people to totally ignore the news is unrealistic. As a community and a nation, we need to be informed about what is happening around us and across the globe. And asking newspapers and TV stations to cover more positive news also is a bit unrealistic. Both outlets only have so much space and so much airtime, and of course they are going to report on the “big-ticket” items before anything else. So, I’ve decided to use my Write Reflection blog to help spread some good news. I’ve admittedly been struggling for awhile to keep the blog populated with fresh content. Blogging only about my business seems not only boring, but also a waste of my writing abilities. Moving forward, I plan to feature “good news” stories on my blog. This might include features on startups, non-profits doing great things or even the guy down the street who might have an amazing story waiting to be told. As the saying goes, everyone has a story to tell. I would like to tell those stories. If you have a business, a nonprofit or know an unsung hero just waiting for the world to hear his or her story, please contact me today to help me share a lot of good news, one blog post at a time.  Have you heard? The U.S. Supreme Court revoked the Church of Scientology’s tax-exempt status in 2016. Didn’t know that? There have been several stories about it. Quick! Find one and share it on your social media and email it to everyone you know. If you think that bit of news was juicy, how about the fact that Pope Francis openly supported Donald Trump during his bid for the presidency? The Daily Presser was first to break the news of Pope Francis’ strong support for Trump and the story quickly went viral on Facebook. How about that story about Glen Eagles hospital issuing an urgent warning after seven women died after sniffing perfume samples that were delivered in the mail? Several outlets were reporting that the killer perfume is the latest attempt by terrorists to hit us on our home turf. Most shocking of all is the news that Ted Nugent, beloved conservative icon, was killed in a hunting accident in April. TheLastLineofDefense.org reported on Nugent’s untimely demise on April 28, with the news quickly being shared all over social media. Wait, what? Fake News by the Numbers Before you open Facebook and share any this dreadful news, you might want to read on a bit. None of the above stories are legitimate, but you’d never know it based on the number of hits they’ve received on social media sites. Fake news is not a new thing, but it certainly has gained in popularity over the last year, particularly during the presidential election cycle. In fact, fake news has become so prevalent that Fortune.com has a “Top Fake News Stories of the Week” section dedicated to exposing it. Facebook – where the spreading of fake news is rampant due to the ease of which you can like and share – announced it is testing a tool designed to help its users identify fake news sites and posts. The educational tool will pop up at the top of your news feed and provide information about how to determine if the items you are seeing in your feed are legitimate and flag items known to be fake. Google, one of the most popular search engines in the world, has banned fake news sites from its advertising network. Like Facebook, Google also is incorporating a fact-checking tool that places fact check tags on snippets of articles generated by its news results search function. Even though search engines and social media sites are doing more to help combat the fake news epidemic, ultimately it is up to consumers to decide whether what they are reading is fact or fiction. According to this report on the Pew Media and Research Center’s Journalism and Media website, 64 percent of Americans polled said they believe fake news is causing confusion about basic facts. Another 23 percent said they had shared fake news themselves, both knowingly and unknowingly. Age does not seem to play a factor in the ability to spot fake news. In November 2016, Stanford University researchers discovered that many students were unable to discern the difference between a news article, a persuasive opinion piece and a corporate advertisement. The researchers warned that this inability to vet information made this age group particularly vulnerable to falling victim to fake news. Real vs. Fake As a trained journalist, I can easily spot a fake news site or article. Sadly, this is not a skill that a majority of Americans seem to possess. Let’s take a look at some of the easiest ways to spot whether that article you’re reading is legitimate news, based on a truth with some misleading facts or an outright fabrication. I’m not even going to address the argument about conservative versus liberal media outlets. While it is true that some outlets lean one way or another, that doesn’t automatically mean they are producing fake news. The suggestion that because something came from MSNBC or Fox News makes it fake is one of my biggest pet peeves. Slanted, maybe. But outright fake? No. One of the first ways to assess if an article is real or fake news is to look at who wrote it. Is there a byline from a real journalist from a real news outlet on the story? If so, then you can be fairly certain the story is reporting real facts. Once you have sorted whether the story is by a real journalist, the next thing you’ll want to do is to look at the writer’s bio. Most media outlets include bios for their professional staff members on their websites. Looking at a writer’s bio will help to determine if the article is a news piece, an opinion piece or a corporate advertisement disguised to look like an article (otherwise known as an advertorial or sponsored content). Among the biggest mistake most novices make when reading an article is failing to recognize under which classification it falls. A news article, by its very definition, is an article written with the intent to inform readers and contains facts that easily can be verified. News stories are never written in the first person, so if you are seeing an article that uses the words I or me in it, chances are, it’s not a news article, but rather an opinion piece. Real news stories include multiple sources, especially if discussing a controversial claim. Sources are almost always identified by name and title. While anonymous sources have their place in reputable journalism, any publication that is always citing anonymous sources and no one else is probably not trustworthy. Keep in mind that facts can always be verified. So, if you read a story and find yourself doubting it, take time to research the facts to see if they are accurate, especially before hitting that share button and spreading misinformation. Opinion pieces take any number of subjects, and present them from the writer’s point of view. An editorial, for example, is the opinion of the media outlet in which it appears. Most media outlets separate opinion pieces from news and features, so they are easily identifiable. Columnists also are a form of opinion writer. Some of the more well-known current columnists include Maureen Dowd, Paul Krugman, David Brooks and George Will. While these columnists are basing their pieces on actual current events, they include their opinion on those current events. I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve seen someone post a column or editorial on social media, mistaking it as a news article. It is a pretty common mistake. Advertorials – also known as sponsored content – generally are identified as sponsored content or an advertorial with a special notation on the article. Reputable media outlets take great pains to properly identify these story-like advertisements. Sponsored content is just one more way for advertisers to reach their targeted audience, and has a better overall return on investment than native advertising, especially where social media and online outlets are concerned. Just keep in mind that they are written from the advertisers POV. As if all of this wasn’t confusing enough, we also have satire sites like The Onion, The Daily Currant and The Daily Mash. These sites are intended to be utter farces and make little attempt to hide that fact from readers. However, that doesn’t mean that readers don’t occasionally confuse them with real news sites. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer was a recent victim of The Onion, retweeting an article titled “5 Things to Know About Sean Spicer,” which assured readers Spicer would provide the American public with “robust and clearly articulated misinformation.” Spicer commented “You nailed it. Period!” when retweeting the article. It is unclear if he realized the article was satire. Dangerous Disguises Some online outlets go to great lengths to disguise the fact that they are not legitimate sources of information. ABC News – a longtime reputable news reporting media outlet – found itself in the middle of a spoofing incident with a fake news provider recently. A spoof site, with the website URL ABCnews.com.co, was being cited by other organizations and social media outlets under the misguided assumption that it was the official ABC news website. Fox News was among the legitimate news outlets that mistakenly used information published on the site, and then later had to retract the story and apologize to its viewers. The spoof site, according to the Whois database, is registered to Paul Horner, an Arizona resident who has made a career out of impersonating legitimate sources online. Horner reportedly makes up to $10,000 annually just from this one spoof site alone. One of the best tools readers have in verifying whether news is real or fake is to examine the website domain on which an article is hosted. Even when a site looks professional – complete with official-looking logos – it may not be trustworthy. In addition to using Whois, it also is helpful to check the country codes for the URL of the site. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is the agency responsible for the global coordination of the DNS Root, IP addressing and other Internet protocol resources. Between these two sources, it can be fairly easy to determine if a site is legitimate or a spoof. If you’re like most people, all of this is enough to make your head hurt. Sadly, it’s a sign of the times in which we live, and consumers can no longer assume that just because it’s online, that it must be legitimate. Have you ever knowingly or unknowingly shared fake news on social media? What methods do you use to decide if something is legitimate? I’d love to hear about it in the comments section. Photo Courtesy Alexas_Fotos/Pixabay  A special note from The Write Reflection: April is Autism Awareness Month. In an effort to spread awareness about autism, The Write Reflection will feature guest bloggers this month on the subject of autism. The third and final post in our series is written by Marcy Dadich.
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