And they have to be convinced that adding job training to their bag of assets will help them, not break their hearts. This is where Melissa's background in conflict resolution comes in very handy. After 10 years on Cape Cod, and a year living on a Greek island, Melissa and her family moved to an intentional community, in Tennessee. And lives get changed. New livelihoods are developed.
New hope is sprung.
But first she has to get their attention. Sometimes I'm treated like the harbinger of bad news, she says. But more and more they recognize me as someone who keeps coming back with information that's useful to them, she says. Of course, I have to be mindful of my timing. Getting them at a time when they're busy unloading is not a good time to talk to them about changing careers.