Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

“One With Nature: A Day in the Life of a Lobster Fisher” is a nonfiction photographic journal written by Christopher M. Meuse with photographs by CMDM. In 2014, the author spent a day with his son, Captain Anthony Meuse, and his crew on a lobster fishing trip on Baie Sainte-Marie, Nova Scotia. The day began hours before sunrise, and the captain’s boat, Major Expense, set out on the water while it was still dark. Navigational equipment has gotten quite sophisticated, and Meuse was able to familiarize himself with the arsenal of GPS units, radio devices, depth sounders and sonic equipment that enable boats to avoid collisions and wrecks and navigate the waters safely as they prepared to set out. Lobstermen drop trawls, which are lines that have traps attached to them, and the location of each trawl is marked by a buoy bearing the distinctive colors of that fisherman. Meuse spent his day working alongside his son and the crew, dropping the trawls, baiting the traps and then going through the catch to release undersized lobsters. Meuse shares his son’s family history as fishermen; his great-grandfather, Eugene, began his working life as a Nova Scotia fisherman when he was 15 years old. There’s are archival photographs of Eugene from the early 1900s. Meuse shares each aspect of his day aboard the Major Expense with the reader. He also includes a number of inspirational quotes and poems.

Christopher M. Meuse’s “One With Nature: A Day in the Life of a Lobster Fisher” is a grand and glorious adventure aboard a lobster boat on a picture-perfect day. I’ve often wondered what the life of a fisherman would be like, and while I’m not too keen on getting up hours before dawn, CMDM’s brilliant photography had me picturing myself aboard the Major Expense along with the author and Captain Anthony. Meuse gives the reader a good look at the work and effort that goes into not only getting a boat like the Major Expense, but keeping it functioning where there are no guarantees of profits and the work is perilous to boot (between 1999 and 2015, the Transportation Safety Board data shows 55 deaths on Canadian boats). I was also fascinated to learn about eco-psychology, which the author has studied, and its focus on nature’s healing powers. “One With Nature: A Day in the Life of a Lobster Fisher” will give an aspiring fisher a good idea of what the field is all about, and the rest of us the peace and inspiration that a day of sun and sea can bring. It’s most highly recommended.

 Detailed information about book can be viewed at the following link:

 https://lobsterfishingandnature.blogspot.ca/

                                        

                       

 

                             

Cherry in Kids Book’s Corner

     By Brian Medel

                                                Halifax Chronicle Herald

Don Cherry pulls no punches. He dresses like a 19th-century dandy and talks tough about pro hockey. That is why it might be hard to picture Don as a 15 year-old with red eyes, wiping away the tears as he trudges home through the crisp Kingston, Ont. night air after playing the worst junior B game of his life.

 “That’s a true story,” Cherry said in a phone interview from his Toronto home. He has seldom told anyone that tale from his youth, but thought it would fit in nicely in the pages of a new children’s book published in Nova Scotia.

 Cherry told about events on a snowy evening in Kingston... where he tried too hard and played a lousy game.( Details in book ) Cherry has tried to keep a positive attitude about everything in life ever since.

 Cherry rarely allows his name to be used in connection with books, but this time has made an exception.

 As a result, Christopher Meuse, a first-time author, has something few others will ever get- accolades from Hockey Night in Canada’s resident curmudgeon.

 “ I’ve seen hockey books before, but I’ve never seen one like this that hits the mark as good as his,” said Cherry.

 This children’s book is entitled, “Dear Don Cherry: Does Hockey Love Kids?” It’s written from the perspective of a ten -year-old boy and deals with the often intense emotional pressure placed on child hockey players by their parents or coaches.

 “ I get about 9,000 offers to be in books and stuff like that and I usually turn them down, but with this one I liked it so well, I said, ‘Let’s go!’ ” Cherry said.

 (The book) is a fiction flavored with truisms.

 In the book, young Tony loves to play hockey, but things are taking a strange twist. His coach wants him to be more aggressive while his dad wants him to exercise more and give up the junk food he enjoys.

 Tony needs someone to talk to and turns to writing Don Cherry a letter.

 The star of CBC-TV’s Coach’s Corner responds with a true story from his own youth that changes everything.

 Kids must be accepted for who they are and what they can do, on and off the ice. That parents and coaches should not live their lives cariously through young hockey players is the book’s message.

 Cherry agrees. “I’d like to get 50,000 of the books and give them to every parent, that’s what I’d love to do,” he said.

 “The only word I can think of is sad, the way (parents) yell at the kids on the ice. You know, they can see the poor kids looking up wondering what’s going on and everything. The book, I think, tells what parents should do- let the kids have fun.”

 “I never ever liked parents hollering at kids during a game. I know it’s tough. I had a son playing and you want to yell and scream at them and all that, but it doesn’t do any good at all,” stated Cherry.

 The only way to win a hockey game is with a positive attitude, former coach of the Boston Bruins said.

 When Meuse wanted to included Cherry, he sent him a fax with the request, which was politely turned down. Undaunted, he (mailed) a portion of the manuscript. Cherry liked what he read and sent back his own reply to the book’s fictional protagonist.

 (Detailed information about book can be viewed at the following link:)

https://thepositivecoachingparent.blogspot.com/

 

 

Books That Entertain, Educate

 

                                                      By Ron Barry

 

(Sports editor and long-time columnist for the New Brunswick Telegraph Journal)

 

It's a story played out in arenas across Canada- a youngster’s love for the game of hockey wavers against the backdrop of overbearing parents, a win-at-all-costs coach and mean words that "opposing" mommies and daddies roll off their tongues with impunity.

Dear Don Cherry: "Does Hockey Love Kids?" (New 2nd Edition’s Title: "Hockey, Kids & Positive Coaching" is one family's tale of an important lesson learned. Author Christopher Meuse takes us to a small-town Canada-Saulnierville, Nova Scotia- where a youngster's wish to have fun playing a game, he loves is quickly consumed by the collective will of those around him.

They want more-so much more- from the boy that he begins to question the very nature of the beast: Michael knows he loves hockey, but does hockey love kids? He is torn by the puzzle...for many reasons:

* Is it part of the game to endure peer pressure to excel?

* Is it necessary for the game to tear away at the very fabric that bonds a family together?

* Is it part of the game to have a child become the subject of abuse from grown-ups he doesn't even know?

* Is it part of the game for a coach to lose touch with the "real" purpose of team sports?

Of course, any human being knows the correct answers to these questions. Sadly though, all of us can walk into any facility where minor sports are played-any day- and witness this dark side. We all know where it starts-in the stands. When it filters down to the bench, any hope of fun is gone.

Michael needs help, and he calls upon the most famous hockey face of them all- Don Cherry. He writes to Grapes about his problem and gets a reply that fills a young boy's heart with hope. Once his parents read the letter, a wonderful thing happens.

"Hockey, Kids & Positive Parenting" is a quick hit that should be required reading for those who find beauty in simple words. It has a message for the millions of kids out there- an easy read for young children.

 

And, guess what, parents? We could learn something from it too.

https://thepositivecoachingparent.blogspot.com/

 

                      Messages of Hope

 "Messages of Hope" is a Canada Book Award Winner “in recognition of dedication, passion and outstanding accomplishment and contribution to the publishing world”.

The book contains short articles and true stories written with the hope of inspiring a positive approach to one’s journey through life. These Messages will offer insights for parents, educators, health care professionals and politicians that will result in increased cooperation between all members of society and, in doing so, lead to a greater positive co-operation between individuals and country … for the "common good" of humanity and our planet.

The Messages also offer suggestions on how to turn our experiences of pain and suffering into the creation of a human being with greater understanding, compassion and loving-kindness towards self and others. We can learn to know and experience a life of joy and happiness. This is not an illusion…this is a noble truth.

Detailed information about book can be viewed at the following link:

https://inspirationarticles.blogspot.com/

Author's Profile

https://christophermeuse.blogspot.com/

 

 

Christopher M.D. Meuse

 

 

 

PERSONAL

      Christopher M Meuse

       Yarmouth NS, Canada

 

Ancestry: Canadian, Acadian/Métis, Scottish Descent

 

 EDUCATION

 

v  Ph. D. Candidate: Applied Ecopsychology

 v  Grade 12, Yarmouth Memorial High School

v  B.A., Saint Anne's University

v  B.A., Dalhousie University

v  B.Ed., Saint Mary's University

v  Masters Eq. Educating & Counseling with Nature: Project Nature Connect

v  Certified Practitioner Level Neurolinguistic Programming 

v  Certified Master Practitioner of Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP-Counseling & Psychological Therapy)

v  Certified Master Practitioner Level of Quantum TLC(TM) Counseling & Psychological Therapy

v  Certified Master Facilitator Level in the WEL-Systems Counseling &

      Psychological Therapy

     *Orientation to Organic Psychology: The Natural Systems Thinking Process

      *Certificate in Educating and Counseling with Nature, from the Institute of Global 

  Education Washington D.C.

      *Certificate in Well Mind, Well Earth, Institute of Global Education, Washington, D.C.    

      *Facilitated several distant learning Ecopsychology Courses for Dr. Michael Cohen

v  Certified Hockey Coach (National Coaching Certification Program)

v  Certified Recording Engineer

v  Psychology of Exceptional Children Course (Acadia University)

v  I.E.I.E. Computer Course (Dept. of Education, Information Economy Initiative)

v  Leadership Seminar: with instructor Dr. Stephen Covey

v  Project Wild Program: Nova Scotia Dept. of Education & NS Dept. of Natural Resources

v  Jerrold Mundis Coaching for Writers Course, (The New York Times former editor)

v  Dale Carnegie Course 

 

CAREER EXPERIENCE

 

Ø  26-years Nova Scotia Public School Teacher

Ø  2-years sheet metal laborer and construction worker

Ø  2-years maintaining & repairing apartment buildings

Ø  1-year laborer with local paving company

Ø  25-years part time musician and audio engineer

Ø  4-years owning and operating a recording studio

Ø  Volunteer Yarmouth Regional Hospital (ALC & Hospice Unit)

Ø  Member of the Retired Nova Scotia Teachers Union

Ø  Award Winning Author: (3 Canada Book Awards)

 Books

  *Messages of Hope (2017)

                 *One With Nature: A Day in the Life of a Lobster Fisher (2017)

           *Hockey, Kids & Positive Coaching?  (2016)

           *Dear Don Cherry: Does Hockey Love Kids (1996)

 

 I have facilitated several online distant learning Ecopsychology Courses for Dr. Michael Cohen, a Special NGO Consultant to United Nations Economic and Social Council Program. (1999-2001) Dr. Cohen received the 1994 Distinguished World Citizen Award, presented by Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr. Robert Muller

 For more than 35 years I have had the opportunity to attend numerous seminars, read, analyzed, synthesized, and evaluated a variety of books related to education, and child & adult development.

 Over many years I have communicated with many doctors and counsellors throughout North America, Europe and Oceania.

I have taught English, Social Studies, Health, and Art at the junior high school level, and all compulsory subjects, including eight years as a Resource Teacher (PST), at the elementary school level. I have been a participating member and chairperson of Program Planning Teams, and overseen the setting up and maintenance of the computer lab at Carleton Consolidated School, where I coordinated a Grassroots Project.

I have facilitated workshops regarding the value of creating a classroom atmosphere that supports the growth of self-esteem in children for the Tri County School Board, and for the Primary Elementary Teachers Association (PETA) at their annual provincial conferences. I have conducted workshops, explaining the writing process, editing, and publication of books, and demonstrated the use of educational software, for these organizations.

 I volunteered in a unit at a hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was a unit where I worked with youth who were in a state of severe physical, mental and developmental disarray. They were described by such terms as severe "deformity", "dysmorphism" or "dysmorphic". They were existing at the most severe acute phase of mental illness.

I volunteered at Yarmouth Regional Hospital (Rehabilitation Services) where I visited patients who had limited social interaction due to mobility, loneliness, limited family visits, or physical ability to leave their room. The Patients were waiting for placement in long-term care.

In 2013 I experienced a powerfully positive learning and life changing event. I had a seizure and car accident which led to a 21-hour surgery to remove a massive brain tumor.

I have had articles related to child development (self-esteem) published in the following journals, newsletters, newspapers and web sites:

 

1.    Self-Esteem Advisory Council Service – United Kingdom

2.    The Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, and Dance

3.    Child Welfare Research Centre – University of California, Berkeley

4.    Search Institute: Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth – Minneapolis, MN

5.    Child Welfare Research Center – University of British Columbia

6.    Ohio Leisure Leader, Ohio Parks & Recreation Association

7.    Mind Publications: Behavioral Medicine Center – Cleveland, TN

8.    Sports Psychology Today

9.    The South Shore Breaker – Nova Scotia

10.  Yarmouth Vanguard

11.  Halifax Chronicle Herald

12.  Atlantic Books Today

13.  Youth Sports & Sportsmanship Association – Colorado

14.  Southern California Amateur Hockey Association

15.  Massachusetts Hockey Association

16.  Ontario Minor Hockey Association

17.  Minor Hockey Life

18.  USA Hockey Officiating Program

19.  Moms Team –The Place for Mom’s In Sports

20.  Florida Sports Commissioner, Coach Jerry, Web Site

21.  Hockey Manitoba

22.  Capital Youth Hockey – New York

23.   Colorado Coaches & Officials Newsletter

24.   Hockey Alberta

25.  www.fastsports.com

26.  www.askcoachwolff.com/

27.  Southeastern District Hockey Association – Florida

28.  Arvada Hockey Association – Colorado

29.  Capital Amateur Hockey Association – Ohio

30.  Oklahoma City Youth Hockey Association

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

  Neurolinguistic Programming

 

 

“NLP is used to develop strong, predictable influence, to manage stress, pain or trauma, and to accelerate learning and enhance performance”.  As a science, NLP has been recognized as one of the singularly most powerful tools that supports rapid and profound change in human behavior”.  Louise LeBrun

“I have used NLP techniques with individuals suffering from anxiety related disorders and have received greater results in an hour session than some individuals were able to receive in 14 years of therapy with psychiatrists and psychologists.” Dr. Don Blackerby

“NLP may be the most powerful vehicle for change in existence...” Modern Psychology

 

 

WEL-Systems Counseling & Psychological Therapy

 

 The WEL-Systems® approach offers “a proven pathway to access a context for change that will do just that: profoundly alter the way you see your 'self', your world and the way you move through that world”.   

 

 Quantum TLC(TM) Counseling & Psychological Therapy 

 “Quantum TLC creates a powerful and sustainable context/process for living that allows us to grow, expand and engage our own evolution our own way and in our own time - as a way of life”!

 

 Ecopsychology

“Ecopsychology is an emerging field that is developing in recognition that human health, identity, and sanity are intimately linked to the health of the earth and must include sustainable and mutually enhancing relationships between humans and the nonhuman world. Ecopsychology places human psychology in an ecological context and is aimed at healing the divisions between mind and nature, humans and earth. The central concern of Ecopsychology is the physical, psychological, and spiritual health of both the human and non-human world and an understanding of the psychological processes that either bond us to the natural world or alienate us from it”. (Davis & Fields)     http://www.ecopsych.com/

 

 Practitioner of Guided Imagery and Relaxation Techniques

 

Meditative techniques used to help induce Dr. Herbert Benson’s Relaxation Response.  According to Benson, “Any condition that is caused or exacerbated by stress can be helped by a well-designed mind-body approach. Furthermore, because all health conditions have some stress component, it is no overstatement to say that virtually every single health problem and disease can be improved with a mind-body approach.” Dr. Herbert Benson is an American medical doctor, cardiologist, and founder of the Mind/Body Medical Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He is a professor of mind/body medicine at Harvard Medical School and director emeritus of the Benson-Henry Institute at MGH.  https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/heart-and-soul-healing/201303/dr-herbert-benson-s-relaxation-response

Plato once said: “The greatest mistake physicians make is that they attempt to cure the body without attempting to cure the mind; yet the mind and the body are one and should not be treated separately!”