Minnesota Institute of Public Health

Sometimes you don't know the frequency at which you use metaphors until you really pay attention.

In our gun violence work of past years, we noted how many times we talked about "target audience", being "on target", "bullet points", "fire-away", "bullet-proof data documentation", "loaded for bear", not being "scattergun" in our approach etc.

MIPH Staff today working on the State health Improvement Program (SHIP) many county level contracts we have for program assessment, technical assistance and evaluation get amused at the number of times we "set sail", "keep the ship upright", "anchor" ourselves", seek "smooth sailing", guided by a collaborative ability to "row together" and stay out of deeply "troubled waters".  Then there is "full steam ahead",  and "getting our sea legs".

Our pesticides and human health project in the Red River Valley found us hoping our outreach would "take seed", and that our challenge though proving "a tough row to hoe" ended up "harvesting excellent results".  We also prioritized the strategy that we "focus, not spray".

You are what you eat. No wait, that's another project...

- JJ