Even if you look in the dictionary you know the meaning of the word or phrase, but there's still the feeling of it.

I am a community social psychologist and a lot of my work deals with social work and helping people overcoming addiction and trauma.

For me, the more I understand the story of others, the greater I am able to learn and help other people.

I write and I write and a lot of times I go back to the American lens, though sometimes it's a struggle to come from that perspective.

I'm also developing my own narrative, because I'm the son of a widow. And so, while working with women and gathering their oral histories, I'm taking a step back to do my own art book and visual work.

Whether I affect one person or an entire family, or even a group of people, I feel like I have resources and education and ability and skills that some people may not be fortunate enough to acquire. But by sharing and inquiring, being a listener, and being interested in the stories of other people and their lives, I can also pull things out and say "What can I do for them? What can I share with them that may alleviate some of their suffering?"

I used to despair about the condition of the world, to feel a sense of hopelessness; now I find more and more that I need to focus on what I can do, however little it is, to help others.