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Check out this future icon poster spotted at the Alameda County Office of Education (ACOE).

My son and I listened to this podcast on the way to a high school party in Berkeley, CA. (I didn’t go to the party, I just dropped him off).

Meditation

Wellness

Making $ 💵 Millions losing and making again.

Stand up comedy.

Check it out.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6zW5re2pGCpJGMO4RrGjB6?si=LrDdu2Y_Qg62jMlT4ZiRFQ

Interns, trainees and social workers who I supervise toward licensure sometimes feel insecure when working with parents and family dynamics. “How can I support someone with parenting when I don’t have kids myself?”

In Tokyo, Japan I led parenting classes for parents from all over the world 🌍. We used the “STEP” curriculum as a launch 🚀 pad.

The parents brought the experience of raising children; I brought perspective from developmental psychology, and listening to children.

Once a week for eight (8) weeks, the parents connected with each other, and we shared a sense of community. We normalized disagreement as an opportunity to learn, and acknowledgement of our different cultures and countries interacting with each other.

Life goes in circles, now I’m a father, supporting men to be the father who they would like to be.

We all need someone on our side.

Ichi-go ichi-e (一期一会) is a concept connected to Japanese Tea Ceremony. It expresses the ideal and impermanent way of tea. Some expressions are beyond translation, 一期 一会 roughly means “one encounter; one opportunity,” or as it was said to me when I lived in Tokyo, “one meeting; one chance.”

In Japanese tea ceremony we honor those with us in the garden and ancestors who have been here before us. We respect the moment because it can never be recreated. Like tea, spending time together may be familiar, but each encounter is unique.

And here we are, in this moment.

With love ♥️,

James Wogan, LCSW

Photos courtesy of google images. Let me know if they’re yours. + s/o to artist and Ink Slinger Marissa Walker

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/james-wogan-mft-lcsw-b4633b47_hope-homeless-humblebrag-activity-6588146447798018048-FTHR

Yesterday, I had the chance to take a HOPE (aka formerly homeless) father grocery shopping.

My kids would call this “flexing” or a “humble brag,” but I have to say, this was the best part of my day. I really didn’t have the time or the bandwidth; but I created a carve out. Hunger is real. At the Berkeley Bowl grocery store, we loaded him UP.

He spoke openly his traumatic brain injury (TBI) that exacerbated his health issues and “learning to ask for help, or to accept it when it’s offered.” His son (10) also has special needs, autism. We met last school year when his anxiety and other mental health conditions were flaring up, and he found himself sleeping in a car near Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley, CA. His extended family would take in his son, but on most nights, he slept in his minivan. Three (3) days ago, he moved in to stable housing in Oakland, CA. What a relief.

I appreciate the opportunity to help others. Giving back is good for my mental health and wellness. Dowhatyoulove photo courtesy of someone on google, let me know if it’s yours 🙂