Recognizing my Wife and Misogyny

My wife will finally graduate this year from College of St. Mary and then do a one year intensive to get her Masters in Occupational Therapy.

I remember that it wasn’t too long ago that I was an MA student and she was working three jobs and I was working part-time at Walmart. Now she is blooming into a professional and comes home excited and empowered to do great work. I am a very proud husband and I am sure that she will be a great Occupational Therapist.

If anyone has daughters that want to be surrounded by other young women, I would give a nod to College of St. Mary in Omaha, Nebraska. While Creighton is great and both are Catholic, there has been something particularly empowering about an all-girl school.

To an altogether different topic.

The research of our colleagues in cohort one has been exciting to see and it’s sad that we still live in an incredibly misogynistic country and world. Seeing my wife become incredibly out-going and seeing the leadership skills that were always there come to life has giving me a breath of fresh air. That’s why we chose College of St. Mary in the first place. I don’t know why I am going down this rabbit trail. Maybe it’s partially because of it’s link to the research of my colleagues and the great work they are doing in this area.

On the other hand, I think that I am taking a moment to talk about this because it’s just on my heart.

I have found myself becoming more impassioned about the oppressed. I see great leaders under the tyranny of pseudo-leaders all the time. Whether it is because of gender or color or gender identity, all of it has become heart-breaking for me and I want to do something about it. At my job I continue to come in contact with more and more budding college leaders, many of which are from Creighton, who come longing to get involved in something meaningful. I listen to their stories and I find that it’s no longer okay just to “be,” but to “do.” The two (“to be” and “to do”) are connected for them. Without working out the “being” through “doing,” these new leaders disheveled and unhappy. Truth is, these students have been changed forever by the Jesuit charisms and because of their time in the Creighton community.

I am excited about the future and excited about leading some of these budding leaders. It’s fun to see!

Always Do Something Special on Valentine’s Day!

Don’t be a schmuck!

Don’t listen to the voice say, “I’m not really into that…”

Think of something special to do for your special person on Valentines Day and DO IT!

Why?

Because your special person is a LIAR!

You particularly need to do something if the one that you love is highly creative.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Does your loved one like to create things?

Does your loved one usually make gifts?

Does your loved one like to throw birthday parties and host other gatherings?

Does your loved one rather you make something for them than purchase something for them?

You answered, “Yes?”

Do not blow off Valentine’s Day even if your special person said, “It’s not that big of a deal.”

Otherwise, you just may receive something special via Facebook.

So Boo (my special person), the above picture reminds me of you with our other special little friend, Dapper. There you are with your curls of blonde.

You were a precious child (kind of chunky, but that’s what you get for being so beautiful later on) and an amazing adult.

How we have already started to grow old together. The wounds we have encountered together. I wouldn’t return any of the pain.

The strain of life and the wisdom we have gained together; all of it precious.

So on this Valentine’s Day, 2012, may you recognize my love and pride in you and may you and I live long and prosper with Dapper for many more days!

Something I learned by age 30,

Andrew S. Dungan

Passing on Hope

I am in the business of “Passing on Hope.”

However, one can work on behalf of the greatest mission and easily lose track of why one is doing it all.

And then a story hits me. I meet with someone and their story pierces me. The organization that I have been working for has helped the individual in some way “Pass Hope” onto someone else.

It happens to me often. It is what keeps me going in the right direction.

Every day I feel myself growing as a non-profit developer. However, without the stories, without the motivation bequeathed to me by these mourning, resilient souls, I would not be on the path I am traveling now.

These grieving souls, that have chosen to “Pass on Hope” and strength to others in their time of loss, are extraordinary individuals. Knowing that hope is the answer, these grievers make a conscious effort to find healing through “Passing on Hope.”

Those that I have found to be the wisest know that grief can never be healed or fixed completely. These sages recognize that with loss life is forever changed. These don’t seek to be an answer or the one to fix the problem. Instead, most simply are willing to “be there” if you need them to be. It’s all so refreshing.

What these do is an art form: they “Pass on Hope.”

And they help me make sense of why I do what I do, as if God is whispering in my ear, “You see, there is a reason I have you doing this. You are passing on hope.”

And I am renewed.

It’s all so amazing!