Growth – It comes from the problems we face….
My first essay at university earned me a “D”. It was written on the top of the page as a large red letter.
The comment beneath the letter was, “You have a serious writing problem.”
I went to that prof and asked for help.
I told him I didn’t enjoy novels and he said that I should get his anthology of short stories then. That way, I could quickly get through one story and then another. It would be easier for me to manage.
He said by reading Hemingway, I could copy his style. Short sentences. Few sentences per paragraph. My essay was like one run on sentence with little punctuation.
I actually enjoyed reading that anthology of short stories.
That little piece of advice did the trick. My marks rose to a B, sometimes a B+. I never cracked the code for an A. I still got my degree.
I’ve written two books, was a newspaper colunmist for 13 years (650 columns) and have written at least some 5,000 articles.
That critical feedback. That bright red, big “D.” That prof.
He did me a favor.. and then he gave guidance when asked.
Growth. It comes less from what we know than tackling what we don’t.
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I am Gary Direnfeld and I am a social worker. Check out all my services and then call me if you need help with a personal issue, mental health concern, child behavior or relationship, divorce or separation issue or even help growing your practice. I am available in person and by video conferencing.
Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW
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Gary Direnfeld is a social worker. Courts in Ontario, Canada, consider him an expert in social work, marital and family therapy, child development, parent-child relations and custody and access matters. Gary is the host of the TV reality show, Newlywed, Nearly Dead, former parenting columnist for the Hamilton Spectator and author of Marriage Rescue: Overcoming the ten deadly sins in failing relationships. Gary maintains a private practice in Georgina Ontario, providing a range of services for people in distress. He speaks at conferences and workshops throughout North America. He consults to mental health professionals as well as to mediators and collaborative law professionals about good practice as well as building their practice.
Gary Direnfeld 