This past Saturday, the Casey clan and their spouses gathered at the Credit River Cemetery in Prior Lake, MN, to honor my husband's parents on what would have been his father's 100th year. It was a truly special gathering with wonderful memories and much laughter being expressed by cousins, children, in-laws and friends from far and wide. Jim Casey had been a pillar in the Credit River Community. He built a housing edition especially designed for first time buyers in Credit River Township and then helped most of them get into those houses by allowing them t[...]
4 I wrote about the importance of listening in my last post but it really can't be stressed enough. It's through the attention we give to others that we both honor them and hear the messages God has for us. I'm convinced of this. When I first came into the recovery rooms, I found it hard to listen to the voices of some people. They were either saying the same thing week after week, it seemed, or they were talking about a topic that didn't interest me. And when they whined, I quickly turned them off. Then my sponsor got ahold of me! She convinced me that e[...]
Just this past week end I led a workshop at the Dan Anderson Renewal Center at the Hazelden Foundation in Center City, MN. Twenty women, one man and I sat together over three days and explored how to "Journal Our Way to Spiritual Health." From my perspective the participants met with great success and that's because trust was quickly established as the result of their willingness to be open and vulnerable from the moment they introduced themselves to the close of the workshop on Sunday. When these qualities are coupled with the fact that the participants "da[...]
The above statement is attributed to Gloria Steinem. The interviewer was pushing her to be upset about the bickering among the "players" in the political arena, and her response was that every one has a right to his or her opinion. She elaborated by saying, in regard to every one, that having compassion is a sign of mental health, compassion for wherever some one is on their path. Truth is simple and nonetheless strong. And her statement was both simple and strong. Allowing people "whatever truth" they choose to live by is both freeing and kind. And i[...]
This no doubt seems to be an odd title for a post but it fits for where I am today. I am experiencing extreme headaches, as the result of deteriorating disks in my upper vertebrae, and the headaches are affecting my attitude, my body temperature, my sense of well-being, (my husband,) even my feelings of adequacy. The bigger issue is that I have a lot of work facing me over the next few weeks and I can't get my mind wrapped around the work that needs to be addressed. That's why I decided to write about my dilemma here. I figured shedding light on it would get[...]
I am here to be truly helpful is the first line of a prayer I carry in my mind and heart every day. It right-sizes me and can be silently recalled in the midst of any situation that has me momentarily tense or baffled. It's similar to another treasured idea: "I can see peace instead of this," when circumstances are inviting me to respond in a way that I might regret a moment or an hour later. Spiritual "shortcuts," I call them; and they never fail to help me be kinder in the moment. I have discovered that kindness translates to peace for me. Consider us[...]
In my last post I said my family was coming and I was thrilled. I want to offer an update. Their visit exceeded my wildest hopes. We talked, laughed, ate lots of great food, and went sight-seeing to the max. Seeing all of it through their eyes, particularly the eyes of Cooper, my 12 year old grand nephew, was the real treat. What a delightful young boy. Clever, bright, funny and eager for his future to unfold. When I think of leaving our world to youngsters like him I am relieved. We are in good hands, indeed. But the real point of this post is t[...]
I was estranged from my family during the last years of my using days. I saw them once or twice a year but seldom more. And they weren't all that sorry about my absence. I was easily triggered to be angry at them about every opinion they held. My presence created tension, constant tension, and no amount of alcohol eased it. On the contrary, any amount escalated my urgency to argue. But that all changed. Not over night, but it changed. For the first few years of my recovery, I can recall still wanting them to share my opinions but I learned to bite[...]
You can teach an old dog new tricks. I'm proof positive. Just ask my friend Dan Griffin. (You can see his work and web page by going to dangriffin.com). I mentioned in the last post that I had received an iPad for my birthday and even though I wanted it, I was intimidated and not at all certain it would be as useful as I'd hoped. Not because it lacked any of the capabilities I needed but because I feared I'd not get comfortable with those capabilities. I have learned how to get around on it, however, even though there are dozens of things that haven't been[...]
I had a birthday on Monday and my husband bought me an iPad at my request. Having it for travel, which I do a lot of, makes sense. However, I have been stressed out since getting it home. It's probably a lot like bringing your first child home from the hospital. I never had children but I am leery of every thing I touch. My shoulders hurt, my head hurts and I am already wondering if it will be the problem solver we bought it to be. I have to take a break from it. That's why I am "talking" to you now. Writing is like meditation for me. I am certain that[...]