Who Cares: Simple Ways You Can Reach Out

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Summary: Practical ways to show care and interest for others.
Review: In today's society, it's so much easier to NOT care. We don't have time, it's not our job, and besides, that person needs a little tough love, right? If you want to care and need a little encouragement and inspiration read this new book: WHO CARES? Simple Ways YOU Can Reach Out by Marcy Heidish.This practical book is designed to bring out the caring person in each of us. Marcy Heidish offers simple, specific ways to practice the art of caring, especially within our immediate circle of concern: family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers.Whether it's a non-intrusive note, an open invitation to lunch, or a tray of cookies, Heidish reminds us of the many little things we can do to open the door to a caring relationship. Highlighting the roadblocks that sometimes keep the caring self locked inside, she helps us focus on the "basics" of this art: hot to get in touch with our own hesitancies and fears, how to listen sensitively to another, how to develop a ministry of presence. Drawing on her varied experience as a chaplain, counselor, and teacher, Heidish offers specific ways to express our caring in words, in actions, or by just being there. She points out the common pitfalls of caring that can lead to burnout and reminds us of the joys we discover along the way. A chapter on "specialities" of caring addresses the unique situations of caring for people with AIDS, severe depression, or suicidal behavior. "I believe that the caring impulse can be translated into everyday action," Heidish says. This book is designed to facilitate such everyday transformations. Her inspiring accounts of ordinary people who care, her wise guidance, and her helpful strategies place the art of caring within reach of us all. Marcy Heidish has served as a chaplain in hospitals, homeless shelters, jails, and nursing homes, and has trained volunteer ministers in various forms of pastoral care. She has studied widely in the Washington D.C. Consortium of Seminaries and has taught at George Washington, Howard, and Georgetown universities. She is the award-winning author of numerous articles and six novels, including A Woman Called Moses, the noted historical novel about Harriet Tubman which became a TV movie starring Cecily Tyson. - [e-mail]