I have thought a lot about the changes I have made throughout my life. \u00a0I have been prompted to think about this because of the next book I have begun to write. \u00a0It’s a memoir but not a simple chronology of what it was like, what happened, \u00a0and what it’s like now. \u00a0 That kind of story has merit, for sure, and I have read a number of excellent memoirs. \u00a0But I feel compelled to help others do a memoir too because I think gauging the changes in our lives is so very important. \u00a0Thus I hope to guide readers to begin looking at their own lives from the various vantage points that I explore.<\/p>\n
My entire life, since coming into recovery in 1975, has changed so dramatically that I simply don’t resemble the woman I was before. \u00a0I had been terrified most of my life that others didn’t really want to spend time with me. \u00a0My fear of rejection fueled my obsession with what others were doing and thinking. \u00a0I didn’t have a life of my own. \u00a0Not really. \u00a0I was wrapped up in the thoughts, the actions, the opinions of every one who crossed my path. \u00a0I mirrored others to the best of my ability, thinking this was my key to being safe, free from the worry of abandonment. \u00a0Woe is me. \u00a0What a difficult memory this is to this very day.<\/p>\n
But the good news is this: \u00a0I am not that woman any more. \u00a0And it thrills me to be able to talk about who I have become. \u00a0Memory lane has its place in our lives but not dwelling too long in the muck allows us to see how we have bloomed as the result of being open to new ways of thinking, acting and planning for the day before us.<\/p>\n
As the title of this blog says, change begins with willingness. \u00a0And not very much is actually needed. \u00a0When feeling frustrated or fearful, remembering that there is “another way” to perceive what ever seems to be the stumbling block is all the beginning we need. \u00a0That little statement: there must be another way<\/strong>, is what opens the door to hearing the guidance that is simply waiting for our “call.” \u00a0I placed the call<\/em> that began my journey when I heard a friend say, “I think you should go to a 12 step group.” \u00a0I went and my new guides were every where. \u00a0That’s how it works. \u00a0A little willingness is all we ever need and the people and their messages of hope will find us. \u00a0I was “found.” \u00a0We all become found<\/em> when we finally decide to let others into our world. \u00a0That experience of “coming together with others” is the shift in our very being that has been waiting our whole lives.<\/p>\n Don’t postpone the changes you might want to make. \u00a0There is no better time than now to become even a tiny bit willing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I have thought a lot about the changes I have made throughout my life. \u00a0I have been prompted to think about this because of the next book I have begun to write. \u00a0It’s a memoir but not a simple chronology of what it was like, what happened, \u00a0and what it’s like now. \u00a0 That kind […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[143,190],"class_list":["post-344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-what-i-believe-you-and-your-higher-power","tag-memoir","tag-sharing-our-story"],"yoast_head":"\n