Archive: Around Town

In days of old, towns and villages had just one supply of fresh, clean water, and that was the community well. People would walk from their houses to the well carrying their buckets or casks in which to collect water. Along the way they might meet friends and chat for a while. Once they arrived at the well, they would take their place in line chatting, listening and observing others. In some villages, notices were posted near the well to inform the people of important events or the “latest” news.

The community well was also a place to seek advice for everything in life. The village elders might be found sitting under the shade of a nearby tree discussing topics of interest. Some, who had come to retrieve fresh water, might approach them for advice about a particular problem or concern. The answers these elders provided might be whimsical in nature and take on lightheartedness while in a few cases, debates might arise over more serious matters.

Often, individuals sought practical advice to life’s more immediate concerns: love, family, business, illness, and death. Although these individuals had no formal training, they possessed the knowledge and wisdom gained from experiencing life.

Thus, they took their place of honor near the community well and dispensed opinions, advice, and what we would call counseling. They provided solutions to real problems in a relatively brief timeframe.

Today, people are still in need of good counseling. Most people do not seek counseling or therapy because they want to uncover all subconscious and conscious phenomena which affect their overall well being. They seek out counseling because they are in some form of crisis, which affects their physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being. They want to employ available strategies which will assist them in their quest toward healing. This column, Healing Well, will explore a variety of topics in the field of counseling and therapy. With right mix of motivation and a real desire to achieve wellness, people can reach their goals within a reasonable time frame.

Matthew P. Binkewicz  is a local counselor specializing in grief, loss, and bereavment, as well as anxiety, anger management, separation and divorce, relationships, and HIV/AIDS issues.  This is the first installment of 'Healing Well' in the Lansing Star.

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