Viewpoints - Marblehead Current

14 Jun

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY: Seeing green

Leigh Blander0 CommentsOpinion, Viewpoints, Virginia Buckingham

Last week, I had one of those days that was so hectic I couldn’t stop to go to the bathroom. My eyes had been glued to a computer screen for hours, and I was getting frazzled. I needed a break. I’ve worked out of a home office since March of 2020, first driven by COVID, now driven by choice. Thus my “break” was not to an office water cooler but taking a few steps out to my back deck and yard. Almost instantly, I felt…

08 Jun

Marblehead Cares: Behavioral health challenges in adolescents and the role of hope

Will Dowd0 CommentsOpinion, Viewpoints

The month of May has been designated as Mental Health Awareness Month. The goals for the month and throughout the year are to fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support the millions of people in the United States affected by mental illness. The statistics speak for themselves: — 1 in 5 youths struggle with a mental health illness. — According to health insurance data from 41 million health records released by Blue Cross and Blue Shield (2020), “Major depression is…

31 May

COLUMN: In schools, everyone not ‘OK’

Kris Olson0 CommentsOpinion, Viewpoints

In 1969, Dr. Thomas Harris published a book titled, “I’m OK — You’re OK.” Quite simply in 2023, not everyone is OK. Many of our students, staff and other adults are not OK. Last week Dr. Nicholas Covino, president of William James College, presented on the mental health challenges that have resulted from or been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. And the message resonated. We had 40 participants — parents, teachers, leaders and counselors — who joined and shared stories of their learners who continue…

15 May

ENDING THE STIGMA: Releasing emotion and reclaiming peace in turbulent times

Leigh Blander0 CommentsCommunity Resources, Local News, Top Stories, Viewpoints

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Mother’s Day, so it feels fitting to focus on women’s mental health this month — where we are and what we can do about it. We are living in turbulent times and women’s mental health is suffering as a result. Wendy Tamis Robbins, anxiety expert/author COURTESY PHOTO There is uncertainty in the economy, gun violence, an extreme political divide, dehumanizing directives and legislation in southern states, and the recent Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. And this…

07 May

PLAYING THE GAME: The instincts of Lone Eagle

Kris Olson0 CommentsOpinion, Viewpoints

I had a number of imaginary worlds in my friendless grammar school years, but the Big Three were football, knighthood and Indians. In all my worlds, I'm the hero, of course. I mean, what's the sense of creating a world-class world in the first place, if you're just going to be a waterboy or armor polisher once the cameras start rolling? Might's well lay on your back and count the cracks in the ceiling instead. In football, I'm Johnny Lujack, ace quarterback for Notre Dame…

03 May

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY: A book lover’s pledge

Kris Olson0 CommentsOpinion, Viewpoints, Views & Reviews, Virginia Buckingham

How many books are in your “To Be Read” (TBR) pile? I decided to count mine the other day, after the piles — yes, piles — I’ve made have crowded me out at my desk, on my nightstand and on my overflowing bookshelves. Why am I drawn to the books I’m drawn to? Why don’t I read all the ones I buy? And why don’t I read each new one before the next one is purchased? After all, I don’t buy a second cup of…

29 Apr

SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE: Vacation destinations included France, Disney

Kris Olson0 CommentsMarblehead Public Schools, Opinion, Viewpoints, Views & Reviews

Good people of Marblehead Public Schools: “Oh, the places you’ll go…” The title of that book from Dr. Seuss always resonates with me when we return from April vacation. In particular, this week I enjoyed visiting Brown and Glover and seeing our youngest learners writing about and sharing their experiences from the break. The depth and details kindergarteners and first-graders are able to express in writing underscore the value of these experiences — whether here in Marblehead, across the country and, in some cases, around…

15 Mar

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY: Positively triggered

Will Dowd0 CommentsOpinion, Viewpoints, Virginia Buckingham

Google being “triggered” and content is served up about the psychological effect of being returned to a traumatic experience, a terrible inheritance for those with painful pasts. I recently had two experiences, though, which made me wonder why “triggering” is only associated with pain. Google “recalling happy memories” and the results include terms like “reminisce” which doesn’t come close to capturing what it feels like to revive a happy moment in the same way triggers revive trauma. To reminisce is what you do when those…

15 Mar

FOOD 101: Beware of the Ides of March

Will Dowd0 CommentsCulture, Life Style, Local News, Opinion, Top Stories, Viewpoints

The “Ides of March” falls on a Wednesday this year. That’s Shakespearean slang for the 15th. If you remember your high school Latin and literature classes, Julius Caesar ignored a warning to beware of the date. He was stabbed to death by his buddy Brutus and a bunch of Senate cohorts. Caesar’s fate has nothing to do with salad. It’s just a fun excuse to tuck into a great bowl of crunchy greens laced with garlic and anchovies. To be sure you have a handle…

15 Mar

DOC IN A BOX: Cutting back on spam

Will Dowd0 CommentsLocal News, Opinion, Viewpoints

Anyone who has ever had their email inbox filled with spam knows how annoying it can be. Spam emails can not only be a nuisance, but can also put your personal information at risk. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to reduce the amount of spam you receive. First, you can report spam emails to your email provider. This will let your provider know which emails are spam, so they can apply filters to prevent more from getting through. You can also…