"Don't you know what's going on out there? It's no Sunday picnic!" -Night of the Living Dead

My name is Deanna and I am in my first year as a MSW student at Virginia Commonwealth University. I am starting this blog to help prevent burn out and compassion fatigue among fellow social workers and those in the helping profession. So, you may inquire, um, what does that have to do with with the awesome zombie movie from 1968, Night of the Living Dead?

Since you asked, part of burn out and compassion fatigue, as I understand it, is becoming a zombie. Going through the motions, being so overwhelmed that you cannot do your job as a social worker. Perhaps you even forget the reason why you got into the profession to begin with! And the burned out (burnt out?) social worker finds no joy in his or her work. You see where I'm going with this.

So, this blog is a process. A journey, if you will. In my search for mindfulness and peace in what I hope is a lifelong career, I will share all the neat knowledge that I come across! Let me know what you think about my articles, information, and adventures in the world of being present!

So here we go, here's hoping that all we human services types can remain un... undead? (Yeah, I know, I've belabored the point.)