Block | Karen Casey

Karen's Musings, What I Believe - You and Your Higher Power

/

September 11, 2011

Honoring our friends when they are still alive. . .

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[...]

Reflections in the Mirror - You and Yourself, What I Believe - You and Your Higher Power

/

September 7, 2011

Listening is an art form. . .

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 recov[...]

Karen's Musings

/

September 3, 2011

Heart to heart is how we truly listen. . .

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 th[...]

What I Believe - You and Your Higher Power

/

August 29, 2011

Compassion is a sign of mental health. . .

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 re[...]

Karen's Musings

/

August 21, 2011

Some days are better than others. . .

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[...]

What I Believe - You and Your Higher Power

/

August 15, 2011

I am here to be truly helpful . . .

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[...]

Karen's Musings

/

August 8, 2011

Blessings abound if we choose to see them. . .

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[...]

Reflections in the Mirror - You and Yourself, What I Believe - You and Your Higher Power

/

August 5, 2011

Recovery offers us the gift of family . . .

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 c[...]

Reflections in the Mirror - You and Yourself

/

July 30, 2011

Technology continued. . .

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 i[...]

Karen's Musings, What I Believe - You and Your Higher Power

/

July 22, 2011

Technology . . .

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.[...]