Dr. Gayle J. Hall, Author at Dr Hall on Call • Your Lifestyle Health Success Coach

Stellar Service Learning Psychology Classes – Dr. Gayle Joplin Hall at Trinity River Campus.

I’ve Never Been So White

‘’I’ve never realized just how white my skin is until the Zimmerman Trial took place. Don’t get me wrong…I know I’m a white chic, but I’ve really never FELT this white before. The death of Trayvon Martin made me angry, sick, and furious. At first, I thought Zimmerman was doing his ‘’duty’’ as a neighborhood watch man. But, as the details of the trial came out, I realized this was all about race and hate. That my friends, makes me really pissed off’’ ~ Dr. Gayle Joplin Hall.

Everyone has had their say about the Zimmerman Trial – I realize that. Today is my day to deliver this message to the world or at the very least, to those who read my words. ‘’Damn, if ever I’ve been feeling white, this is the time.’’ Please let me explain.

All my life as a child and as a young teen, I was bullied for having red hair and freckles. I was never part of any subgroup…I was not the most intelligent one (yes, smart, but not the smartest), not into drugs, not a cowboy, and not a cheerleader or into athletics. I was just me – the one who questioned everything and rallied as an underdog for others who were in similar shoes. I cannot stand to see anyone being bullied. When I finally started wearing make-up at the age of 15, I was not bullied anymore and even became ‘’cute’’ – or so it seemed. I had boyfriends.

You see, when we are in our teens, the normal things to think of (if you are a white girl) are, ‘’Do the boys think I’m cute?’’ and ‘’Is my outfit hot?’’ Most WHITE boys are thinking of things such as, “I want to get that hot girl’’ and ‘’Man, that’s a really cool car…I want to go banging in it.’’ Okay, so what’s my point in all this? Before a BLACK girl or boy leaves their home to go out for the night, they are reminded of what to do or not to do, just in case they are stopped because of their color. Forget the fact that one of us may be wearing a hoodie…I wear them every time I fly and I haven’t been a teen for decades. My opinion is this – it’s dangerous to be BLACK in our society, especially if a creep has decided to target you. So, how do I know this firsthand if I am so white?

I used to conduct Race Discussion Panels in my college classrooms. These were not part of my written, dictated curriculum, but rather, something I did as a method of bringing awareness to all ethnicities with my students, while bonding and educating them. As the Professor, I set up the ground rules, but that’s it. I did no teaching – my students became the teachers. Quite often, the Panel Discussions became very heated and when they did, I would switch around the hot-seats. Students wrote to me in advance to be in my classrooms for my Panels, to participate, to listen, and to learn.

One of the first and without a doubt, the most significant thing I learned during the Race Discussion Panels in my Psychology Classes was that if you are BLACK, you must be fearful if stopped by the police – just because you are BLACK. One of my black students explained this so eloquently and stated that the darker the skin tone, the more in danger you are.

Interestingly enough, I referred to my students who were black as ‘’African Americans’’ and was quickly told by some that they were not that and had never been to Africa. They wanted to be labeled as ‘’BLACK.’’ I had several races in my classes including Hispanics, Asians, Blacks, Whites, and Latinos. There were also gang members in some of my classes, along with Skinheads. Everyone learned. My boss and Department Chair sat in on one of the most heated panel Sessions. She watched as I took control when it became escalated and afterward, told me she wanted me to teach other professors how to teach. That never came to fruition, unfortunately.

When my WHITE son was 17, I never had to fear that he might be killed if he was stopped by someone and questioned. The only thing I worried about was that he would speed and kill himself, thinking he was invincible (most teens in the U.S. die of automobile wrecks).

I already know that my article, ‘’I’ve Never Been So White’’ is going to piss off many people and you want to know what I think about that? GOOD! I have never been part of any big crowd that just goes with the flow and I never will be. Nope, that’s not my style. I am so sick and tired of seeing people be quiet, not saying what they really think, not sticking up for the ones who are hated, who are stereotyped, and discriminated upon. How would YOU feel if it were YOU who was hated, just because of your skin color, your freckles, your hair, your size, your IQ, or your socioeconomic status? Yes, that’s what I thought. You would not like it. I know how my champion, Dr. Martin Luther King, would feel about all of this, and I feel the same way.

Now, go out and do the right thing. Your comments are welcomed on my website: www.DrHallonCall.com. Go to the article, write your comment, and submit it for review.

What Is Your Truth?

By Dr. Gayle J. Hall

How to Sympathize When We Are Traumatized as a Nation

By Dr. Gayle J. Hall

‘’Today was the Boston Marathon, a true tradition in the City, run since 1897 on Patriots Day. There were 96 Countries represented with a total of 27,000 participants. The 26^th mile-marker had been clearly denoted as a dedication for the 26 Sandy Hook Elementary School Victims from last December. Several parents from the School were running the marathon also. This was supposed to be a joyous day, happy for the City, prestigious for the runners, and meaningful for many. Instead, it turned out to be a bloody war-zone at the finish line when two bombs exploded within 20 seconds apart. Dear God, where are we safe in a land that touts freedom for all?’’

~ Dr. Gayle Joplin Hall

When the bombs blasted, sending 140 people to hospitals, killing three, and seriously injuring many, people were left running for their lives just like on 9/11/2001. Smoke filled the air and what was short-lived bliss had been replaced with complete chaos.

The scene was an ugly one, according to the reporters and all the photos streaming through the Internet. I didn’t even know about the deadly incident until I sat down with my laptop and turned it on to start writing. Then, the news streamed in through CNN. My heart was sick, so sick in fact that I felt like puking.

Tents that had been set up to hydrate the runners were now becoming Triage Units until the ambulances could arrive. Several people, both runners and bystanders, had missing limbs. The sight was horrific. Hospitals later reported removing pieces of shrapnel and performing amputations.

So, what can us as friends and a community, do to help those who are suffering pain and loss from this or any other tragedy?

The following is a list of the six most helpful things to offer immediately following disaster or traumatization:

The first thing to do is to comfort your friend, co-worker, neighbor, or family member and let them know you will always be there emotionally for them. This is ultimately the most important thing for the one who has suffered a loss to know.
Assure the one who has suffered the loss that you will not leave or abandon them physically. You will stick by their side as best as you can.
Arrange for professional help, either with a Psychiatrist, Psychologist, or Life Coach for ongoing treatment. Group therapy and talks are very helpful in many cases of emotional or psychological trauma.
Ask the one who needs the help if you can accompany them or drive them to their physician or therapist’s appointments. It is not uncommon for those who suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) to decide they no longer need help, when in fact, they do. One way to ensure they receive treatment and help is by driving them.
Remember that we as humans, all process information differently. This means, we will have our good days and at other times, those in need will have a ‘’bad’’ day for no apparent reason. The tiniest little noise, sound, or smell may set them off. Learn to recognize your friend’s triggers so you can help deal with them.
Self-care is of the utmost importance. Secondary trauma is very common when one has endured a hardship for an extended period of time with their partner, friend, or loved one. You must learn how to care for yourself and give some tender loving care to your own self so you can be the best you can be for others.

How do we stay soft-hearted through life’s turmoil and endless tragedies? Do we become ‘hard’ around the edges, not caring about our brothers and sisters on the streets, and only think of ourselves? I learned years ago that when we give of ourselves, we only have more and more to give. I remember explaining this concept to my youngest son when he was seven years old. I told him this is like love. The more love you give, the more love you have to give away again.

So, while the idiots or terrorists who want to harm people do their crap for attention-seeking purposes, let us pray, plan, and have a bigger vision that we will see sympathy towards others one day regardless of where they live, what they do, and what socioeconomic status they are.

I believe in love, sympathy, and compassion for all. God bless you.

I Must Confess – I’ve Been Living a Lie and My Body Paid The Price

By Dr. Gayle J. Hall

‘’Readers, I have been living a lie and I must confess. I have tossed and turned in my bed over this and come to the conclusion that I just needed to fess up. I have not been treating my body like a temple, like a goddess, like a beautiful woman, or like a person who needs to be in daily training so I can be healthy. I have misused food, eaten unhealthy snacks, and have been skipping many meals due to deadlines and time that has been overlooked. I guess I thought I could keep up this pace forever. After all, I have been running like this for the past 13 years. Well, it all came tumbling down on me last week in Charlotte. I got food poisoning and became deathly ill. Being sick at home is crummy, but when you are out on the road, being critically ill is super miserable.’’

~ Dr. Gayle Joplin Hall

Whew. I got packed in two hours for a five day trip, staying up all night to finish work deadlines and to make sure I had my clients’ needs taken care of before leaving Dallas. I pulled another ‘all-nighter’ as I like to call them – you know, the ones where you just do not go to bed – you stay up all night. I figured I would get some sleep on the airplane since I had my eye mask and earplugs with me. I knew I’d be at DFW in plenty of time before the flight took off. I also knew this trip would be a bit easier on me physically since I had just been released from wearing the arm sling from my repaired torn rotator cuff surgery. I opted to pack most everything, except for my meds and lap-top, in my big suitcase and have it checked all the way through, leaving me with virtually no carry-on luggage, except for an oversized Michael Kors Handbag. Yes, this trip was going to be my last one for this business mastermind, so I was super-excited to see my friends. Plus, I had a total of three additional business meetings before and after the main two-day seminar set up. I was pumped.

I landed in Charlotte, grabbed my 50-pound suitcase, hailed a cab, and arrived at the Blake Hotel in the downtown section. It was beautiful. Since I arrived a day earlier than most others in my special mastermind group, I acquired all of my special requests…top floor room with a view and far away from the elevators, plus extra feather pillows. I asked if they had coffee in the room, but they did not. So, I was offered a small coffee pot that they keep on hand for special guests. I was feeling quite exceptional. I got everything unpacked, took a quick tour of the hotel, walked around outside for a bit, and then went back up to my room and got out my lap-top. I did some work and prepared for two of my meetings that night. So far, everything seemed to be just wonderful. I even took pictures from my hotel window and posted them in a private Facebook forum to share with the world. The hotel room reminded me very much of a hotel in Denmark with its European, sleek flair and furniture.

At 7:30 pm., I went down to the only restaurant that was open and had half of a Reuben Sandwich and a glass of cognac. The front desk asked me about my meal and I told them the meat and cheese on my sandwich were cold, but it tasted good to me because I had not eaten all day. As I walked up to my room, my stomach started to churn. Within 30 minutes of eating that half of a sandwich, I began cramping and running to the bathroom. I could not leave the bathroom for the first three hours. At 11:30 pm, I called down to the front desk and asked them to bring me up some Sprite and bottled water. They told me they did not have room service. I informed them I was sick and could not leave my room. Two hours later, the same bartender brought me up a can of Sprite and a bottle of water. I drank the entire can of Sprite and then spent the night in the bathroom – the entire night. I finally took pillows in there and laid them on the floor at 6:30 am. I slept until 8:30 am. And it started all over again…explosive diarrhea, cramping, sweating, chills, and feeling very weak. This was not the flu…this was food poisoning. I called the front desk the next day and reported it.

Why did this happen to me? As sick and violently ill as I was, I posted on Facebook that I would at least ‘get to stay in bed all day long and do my work.’ I told that little white lie because I knew my parents would be reading my posts, especially while I was out of town (and sure enough, they did). Two full days later, I was so dehydrated and weak, I thought I was going to have to go to the hospital and get IV Antibiotics. I started making plans right then to get back to Dallas somehow so I could be here in the hospital, instead of in a city where I did not know the doctors. I went 30 hours without eating or drinking anything so I could get on a jet on the fourth day. I changed my flight and flew back home a day and a half early.

Somewhere in this mess there had to be a lesson for me to learn. I prayed a lot, asking God to help me get strong enough to fly home. Once here, I meditated, journaled, and went to my Zen Zone the first full day, but was only able to last for 30 minutes. I went to bed and slept for 10 hours straight. I have changed my ways and you can, too.

Do you want to know what I learned from getting so sick?

Here are five quick facts:

I cannot abuse my body. I cannot keep going for days on end with no sleep. The day I took the flight out of Dallas, I had not slept for almost 48 hours. Added to that the night I first got food poisoning, I ended up going nearly 72 hours without sleep. I became delirious.
I am eating healthier now. I refuse to eat anything fried, or at the very least, really limit my intake of fried foods.
Meal time is earlier in the evening. Very many nights, I was not having dinner until 10 pm. We all know this is just not healthy.
I am not putting junk foods in front of me – then I will not be tempted.
Continue drinking my green teas, avocado smoothies, and carrot juice. Learn to love more healthy green juices.

Our body can only hold on so long when we abuse it. I learned that I have been living on a very fast treadmill for a precise period of time…13 years. My doctor had been asking me about this every time he saw me. He would say, ‘’Wow, Gayle, you are going bombshells crazy, but you need to take it easy sometimes and learn how to relax.’’ I always remarked that this was why I took two vacations each year.

I will not abuse my body, nor take it for granted again. God gave me this body as the structure to live in and put me here for a mission. What service can I possibly be of or do if my structure wears out from abuse by me? I would have nobody to blame but myself. And, I know that is not in God’s plan.