relationship | A Peace of My Mind

Penina Bowman

June 2, 2018 by johnnoltner

Penina Bowman was 17 years old when soldiers showed up at her home in Hungary and told her family they had 20 minutes to pack their bags. They were told they were being sent away to work, but the train brought them to Auschwitz. Penina lost her parents and 42 other relatives to the Holocaust, but she and her three siblings survived. She credits her sisters and her faith for her survival. “Having something to believe in helped us survive. […]

Categories: Podcast • Tags: atlanta, Auschwitz, belief, family, forgiveness, georgia, hate, Holocaust, relationship, strength, survival

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Deanna Thompson

April 2, 2018 by johnnoltner

Deanna Thompson was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer at age 42 that had metastasized to her bones. The doctors told her she had fewer than five years, but when I interviewed her, it was more than six years after her diagnosis. She lives in St. Paul with her husband and two daughters and teaches religion at Hamline University. “Initially, I thought I was on sabbatical to get ready to die. Then it became clear that I wasn’t dying right […]

Categories: Podcast • Tags: cancer, community, grace, gratitude, illness, Minnesota, relationship, Saint Paul, St. Paul

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Dan Gallagher

March 7, 2018 by johnnoltner

Dan Gallagher served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967 and when he returned home, he was met with protests and derision. At first, he couldn’t feel proud of what he had done, or even talk about it, but as time passed, Dan found it useful to discuss his experience. When people thank him for sharing his story, he is only half joking when he replies, “No, thank you, because you gave me a free therapy session.” […]

Categories: Podcast • Tags: activism, army, common ground, courage, Missoula, montana, protest, relationship, veteran, vietnam, war

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Alex Lowe

January 26, 2018 by johnnoltner

Alex Lowe is a fifth grade student at Kurn Hattin Homes, a Vermont residential school designed to offer kids “a secure and supportive haven during a troubled period in their families’ lives.” Alex’s favorite animal is the great white shark and he plans to become a marine biologist. “When I think of peace, I think of people shaking hands on the street and picking them up when they feel down.” “Peace means that everybody gets along, people are there for each other, […]

Categories: Podcast • Tags: anger, famiy, friendship, interaction, kid, relationship, Vermont, Westminster, youth

Brett Menzie

January 5, 2018 by johnnoltner

Brett Menzie had a history of kidney trouble in his family. His grandmother was on dialysis. His middle son suffered in utero from a kidney malfunction known as hydronephrosis, which required surgery when he was born. While Brett was not a medical match for either of his family members, he joined a national donor registry and gave one of his kidneys to a total stranger just before Christmas 2007. “It’s important to tell these stories because it could inspire others […]

Categories: Podcast • Tags: care, death, hospice, medical, relationship, st george, storytelling, utah

Jimmy Ta

December 12, 2017 by johnnoltner

Jimmy Ta moved from Vietnam to the United States with his mother and siblings when he was in elementary school, but his father was unable to join them for another year. Jimmy struggled with the language, the culture, and with a lack of self-confidence. When a teacher invited him to join a mentoring program called Youth Ambassadors, Jimmy learned that everyone has struggles of some sort and he found a deep satisfaction in helping others overcome theirs. “We should remember […]

Categories: Podcast • Tags: community, friendship, helping, immigration, kindness, mentor, relationship, seattle, washington, youth

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Peg Carlson-Hoffman

August 23, 2017 by johnnoltner

Peg Carlson-Hoffman is co-director of Holden Village with her husband, Chuck Hoffman. Holden is a faith-based intentional community nestled in a remote valley of Washington’s North Cascades, accessible by a 30-mile boat ride and a 10-mile gravel road. Peg and Chuck create art around conflict and healing. They lead creativity workshops with people who have historically experienced conflict as a way to build relationships. “The beauty of art has always been that it doesn’t use words. The visual arts give us another way to communicate […]

Categories: Podcast • Tags: art, collaboration, communication, conflict, holden village, relationship, resolution, washington

Amy Robinson

January 12, 2017 by johnnoltner

Amy Robinson is a reporter for a weekly newspaper in Watford City, North Dakota—the epicenter for the oil boom in the Baaken Oil Fields, which took off just as the rest of the nation was in recession. With economic prosperity came social challenges—alcohol and drug abuse, human trafficking, domestic violence—as people flocked to the region for jobs. Like many other residents, Amy moved to Watford City for a fresh start. “The person you’re with shouldn’t make you cry more than […]

Categories: Podcast • Tags: abuse, Baaken, divorce, domestic, North Dakota, relationship, struggle, Watford City

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Laura Patey

October 11, 2016 by johnnoltner

Laura Patey has been with her partner, Leigh, for 30 years. They have been married since 2004. Together, they adopted two adolescent boys out of the foster care system who are now in their 20s. She has always been interested in advocating for the marginalized in society. She recalls her own struggles of not quite fitting in as she was growing up, and she believes that experience has led her to be a protector of and an advocate for the […]

Categories: Podcast • Tags: adoption, advocacy, Connecticut, connection, foster care, GLBTQ, identity, peace, relationship, stories, vulnerable

We did it!

October 1, 2016 by johnnoltner

Tuesday night was a great celebration of a long effort to produce our new book, A Peace of My Mind: American Stories. Thanks to everyone who came out to Squirrel Haus Arts for the release party. There were people who’ve been in my books, people who helped support and fund the books, friends, family, and more. If I could judge it right from up front, there were smiles, tears, nods of understanding. Neal Hagberg provided great music to balance and […]

Categories: Blog • Tags: book, books, community, justice, love, peace, photography, relationship, social justice, spiritual, stories, story, travel

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A Peace of My Mind

Exploring the meaning of peace, one story at a time.

Tag: relationship

Penina Bowman

Deanna Thompson

Dan Gallagher

Alex Lowe

Brett Menzie

Jimmy Ta

Peg Carlson-Hoffman

Amy Robinson

Laura Patey