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I was one of the 2007 honorees for the AMERICA HONORS RECOVERY awards from the Johnson Institute. Their executive offices are in DC so the award was presented at a National Press Club Luncheon in Washington on September 27th. I was overwhelmed by the honor and the event. It was wonderful being able to share it with my husband, Joe, and members of my family too. I certainly never expected my path in life to be what it has become. Like might be true for many of you, I was on a mission to self-destruct and then God intervened in 1975. I am so grateful. So very, very grateful.
Some other news: I do have a new book coming out in December of this year, (2007). ( I mislead you earlier. I told you it would be out in the spring). But it will soon be available in book stores, on amazon.com and through Hazelden. (If book stores do not have it, or any of my other books, for that matter, they can order them.) The publisher of this new one is Conari so you can ask for it when you are ready to take a look at it. It’s called, IT’S UP TO YOU: A PRACTICE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE BY CHANGING YOUR MIND. It’s a companion book to CHANGE YOUR MIND AND YOUR LIFE WILL FOLLOW. You can find a description of the book in the “bookstore” section.
A word about that Change Your Mind and Your Life will Follow. It has been very popular, thanks to you. For a brief synopsis of that book too, go to it on the “bookstore” section of this web site or go to amazon.com to read about it. I have done many day long workshops, both in this country and Internationally, based on that book, in combination with FEARLESS RELATIONSHIPS. If you are interested in sponsoring one in your area, let me know and we will explore the possibilities. You can call me at 239-398-6327 or send an e-mail to this web site.
Next on my radar screen is to “revisit” a manuscript on detachment and its close correlation to codependency. I interviewed a number of people a few years ago about their struggles with detaching from the many people in their lives who took center stage, and how those relationships kept them from doing what they needed to be doing for themselves. I think it’s time to talk and write about that issue again. Don’t you? I am committed to Al-Anon in my personal life, along with AA of course, and I know my struggle to detach would be far greater if I didn’t have the Al-Anon tools close at hand. If you have any particular thoughts about this topic, share them please. I love getting your input. I am going to do a second and related book on detachment too, one based on meditative thoughts, the following year. There is never a “down time” in the life of a writer. I love it!
On to the more personal. My husband and I will be heading south soon for our winter hiatus. Fortunately, there is good AA and excellent Al-Anon, too, in Florida where we winter. I am never far from my computer, however, so write to me. When I am not at a meeting, working on a book or traveling to do a workshop, or on the golf course, I will be checking e-mails. Be well and share a moment of peace with a stranger today.
PS: Check the events section to see the line up of conferences so far for 2008.
October 30, 2007
More Ideas About Improving Our Relationships
Improving Our Relationships Through Our Willingness to Learn, to Forgive, and to Make Amends
The men and women sharing our journey today, along with those who shared it yesterday and those who will come calling tomorrow have not made their appearances coincidentally. We share this path by design because of the lessons we need to learn from one another and it's within these carefully selected relationships that the lessons present themselves.
Just because we have "selected" one another doesn't make every experience easy. Some are very difficult, in fact. But generally, the difficulty lies in our resistance to embracing the lesson, to seeing the experience as hopeful or beneficial or spiritual or necessary to the growth we are ready to enjoy. And our resistance generally invites resistance from our "teacher" too.
Being in the role of teacher or student in all our relationships is "the constant" in our lives. And we switch roles, moment by moment. That's the exciting news, and it makes all interactions purposeful. We may not choose to appreciate the purpose or learn the lesson that's calling to us and that's okay. We are promised a similar experience at another time. There is no time frame that we are being held to. We are held only to the lessons. When we learn them is up to us.
April 8, 2006
Articles
Recordings
Interview with Catherine Bradford, host of The Wellness Roadshow: Searching for Whole Being
Recording: Changing Our Lives by Changing Our Minds
Recording: All We Have Is All We Need
Recording: Guided Mediation
June 18, 2006
