Karen's Musings Archives | Page 13 of 15

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June 5, 2010

The oil spill could be perceived as an opportunity. . . Couldn't it?

The blame game has taken over the news media again. Perhaps it's always been this way or maybe it's just because the media is every where now and we get instant 24/7 feedback. But to be an official in these times, from the president on down, means the opposition will choose to make you the sole person responsible for every disaster as well as the instant fix. Obviously Obama didn't cause this oil spill. His opposition knows this even though their rhetoric suggests otherwise. BP caused it. Some even suggest the real cause of the spill goes back a few ye[...]

Karen's Musings

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May 28, 2010

Memorial Day week end feels like the real beginning of summer.

And our weather here in MN feels like summer too. It's rather nice, actually. When we left Naples a few days ago the weather was hovering near 90 every day so having it in the 80's here is perfect. But what's important about the holiday is that we are remembering those who gave their lives in service for our country. The first official observance was in Waterloo, Iowa in 1866 but the previous year, formerly enslaved blacks observed it following the Civil War in South Carolina. I find it amazing that we can put our differences aside, as is generally the ca[...]

Karen's Musings

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May 20, 2010

Moving north. . .

My winter sojourn in Naples, Florida has come to an end. My husband and I head to Minnesota today, with a stop in Tampa for me to do the Hazelden Womens Healing Conference, a program that Hazelden has been offering in various locations around the country for fifteen years. It's really a wonderful program and CEU credits are awarded for attendance. It's always a two day program, a Friday and a Saturday. Check my web site (www.womens-spirituality. com) or the Hazelden web site: www.hazelden.org for dates and locations. It's always with mixed feelings that I[...]

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April 17, 2010

Our state of mind is reflected in every encounter we have. . .

I can well remember that when I was a young girl, I wanted to blame others for how I was behaving. "He made me do it," was my common refrain. Pointing fingers at others is far easier than looking at ourselves and we aren't alone in opting for this excuse for our unseemly actions, even though the wise among us don't buy it. Some of us aren't very eager to consider that there might be another way to interact, to interpret the experiences we are having. It wasn't until I had been in recovery for a couple of years that I seriously tackled taking responsibility[...]

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March 28, 2010

We are experiencing deeply troubling times . . .

The rhetoric on cable news has become deafening. I am reminded of Rodney King's words a few years ago: "Can't we all just get along?" As I've said in other posts, I am not intending for this site to be political. We all get enough of that every time we turn our televisions or radios on. But I do feel an obligation to respond to the rhetoric with some words of sanity. Much of my life as a writer and speaker has been devoted to "spreading a message of peace." I am only one voice, for sure, but I firmly believe that a lone voice is a beginning. In fact,[...]

Karen's Musings

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March 8, 2010

Being here, fully, is the gift. . .

I spent the first four decades of my life mostly living in the past or anticipating the future. I had no awareness that was what I was doing. It astounds me, actually, that a person as well educated as I was could be so unaware of the nuances of my life. But quite truthfully, I was pretty consistently blind to the moment and the people crossing my path. I don't mean that I didn't see them but I didn't allow their presence the opportunity to rise to the level of true awareness. I glanced, perhaps listened superficiality to their words, but stayed heavil[...]

Karen's Musings

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February 22, 2010

Recovery, step by step by step. . .

I am on the uphill curve right now. I am using a cane to get around and after only 9 days. I am amazed at the body's ability to heal itself. Of course, I have worked hard too. I never fail to do all of the exercises. It's a lot like early recovery. Do what's suggested to the best of one's ability and the results will amaze you. My physical therapist is a lovely young woman who on her first visit noticed my ACIM book on the table. As it turns out, she too is a "student" and wants to come to our study group when she has completed another class that[...]

Karen's Musings

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February 17, 2010

A new hip is like a new beginning. . .

Sorry I have been away for a while. Surgery has a way of doing that to you. It went well. I got home from the hospital on Sunday afternoon but have not been able to sit at the computer. Physical therapy is helping but the pain has a way of interfering with my thought processes. I am getting around with a walker and will graduate to a cane in a few days. My therapist and I walked outside for a short distance today and that was great. The sun felt good and healing. And what a miraculous thing: she is a "course" student too and wants to come to the gro[...]

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January 30, 2010

The will of God is perfect. . .

As I said in my last post, I have been trying to manage the schedule of many others so that my impending hip replacement could be done at a time that benefits me. I succeeded. God did get his will in line with mine. Of course, I am making a joke here. But it did happen smoothly once I got myself out of the way. While it's true I did have a window of time that worked best for me because of the many workshops I already have scheduled, I knew that I had no real control over the chosen date. I could accept or refuse whatever date the surgeon offered, but I[...]

Karen's Musings

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January 25, 2010

God's timing is perfect. . .

I have been out of sorts lately. I have been told I need a hip replacement and I have a very busy travel schedule. I know when I would prefer having the surgery. However, God's plan may be different from mine. Every thing I have "preached" for years has come back to haunt me. It's time to practice what I so freely preach. We are always in the right place at the right time. There is a perfect plan unfolding for my life. If I listen to my higher power, I will be able to experience this next stage of my life peacefully. And on and on. But then I come b[...]

Karen’s Musings