I don't know about you but I never let anyone know who I really was for the first 35 years of my life. I did my darndest to control whatever interpretation you could possibly have of me. I did this by trying to blend in with your opinions. Or remaining quiet if I had no idea what you were talking about. For sure, keeping a low profile in most public settings if there was a chance I'd be singled out for an "educated" viewpoint was a fall-back position. The insanity was that I both wanted the attention of others and yet was deathly afraid that if they "looke[...]
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Karen’s Musings
3 I had the opportunity to "carry the message" to a large audience at The Recovery Church in St. Paul this past week. I talked about detachment which is the topic of my newest book, (Let Go Now: Embracing Detachment). I have come to recognize it as an extremely key concept in learning how to live more peacefully among our fellow-travelers, and not just those who walk with us on this recovery path. Every day we interact with dozens of people, many we know, of course; but there are many strangers in our lives too, people at the grocery, the doctor's office, the[...]
In the state of Minnesota, September is Recovery Month. Perhaps it is in other states too. If so, maybe some one will write and educate me about that. In any case, in Minnesota it's a big deal. There are breakfasts with special speakers, fairs, social events of myriad kinds; and the last day of the month included a Twins Baseball Game with a local celebrity, Don Shelby, hosting the event. A few hundred of us were sprinkled in the upper decks. The seats weren't great but the atmosphere was fabulous. I have not been a regular at Twins games since firs[...]
I just spent six days on the west coast, working and seeing college friends. I arrived home at midnight on Monday night. It's Thursday now and I'm finally feeling "normal." As I have aged I realize that any travel is a bit more tiring, particularly when one's body has to adjust for the change in time. One wouldn't think a two hour difference would matter much, but it does to this body of mine. My time in San Diego moderating and presenting at the Hazelden Womens' Healing Conference, an event I have been participating in with great enthusiasm for a dozen[...]
This may seem like a "light-weight" entry today but I am frequently entranced by the dogs next door to me. Both are big; one is a blonde Lab and the other a Wheaton Terrier. They play like children. Perhaps better than children. I never see them fight. I sit in my study most days for a few hours and they romp right outside my window. Brandy and Hunter are their names. They seldom bark unless someone is going by their house on foot. And then it's not a ferocious bark, but much more like "I see you out there." There is an invisible fence around the[...]
I'm not sure who coined the phrase, "it is what it is," but it fits for so many situations and it's used by every one. It's not surprising to hear television commentators use it with as much frequency as the ordinary citizen. One reason it resonates with me is that it implies acceptance and surely, there's much we simply have to accept. There is very little in our control at the end of the day. The phrase reminds me of the Serenity Prayer, a shorthand way of saying it, actually. There are things we can change, for instance: those things that relate to ou[...]
Yesterday was my birthday. Admitting my age makes me sound far older than I feel. I was 71. Yikes!! And I can honestly say I don't feel any thing close to that. In fact, in many respects, I feel younger as the years pass. I find that curious but I know it's true for many others too. Perhaps it has to do with how we are choosing to live our lives. Enumerating what's been different in these later years is enlightening. For one thing, I simply am not bogged down by worry any more. I am content with the life I am leading and feel as though I have be[...]
I just returned Tuesday night from the 75th AA International Convention in San Antonio, thus my absence from the blog site. It was a wet, very humid event but filled with great talks, lots of encounters with friends, new and old, and for me, 9 hours of greeting friends and signing books at the Hazelden site in "tent city." I was overwhelmed, again and again, by the wonderful conversations with friends and new acquaintances. San Antonio is a lovely city. The Riverwalk is bordered by great restaurants and every thing was in easy walking distance, once you got[...]
I just got back from a 4 mile walk. I love the morning walk, particularly when the birds are intent on serenading me. The sun was warm and the other walkers wore smiles, as did I. There was an occasional breeze which I appreciated. I use my walk as a time for prayer and meditation. My list of people is long, some times too long for much quiet time to hear God's messages to me. In fact, today I had a lot of difficulty being quiet. I have a long list of projects that feel somewhat overdue. I haven't missed any deadlines but they are looming. The iron[...]
I am feeling so very grateful presently because a very dear friend got a good report from her doctor this morning. We all love her so much and have been walking through this illness with her, as much as we can, but you can never quite prepare yourself for the news, particularly if it isn't good. We are all breathing a big sigh of relief, as is she and her family, of course. But the real lesson here is being able to accept what ever the news might have been. That's not so easy. Practicing acceptance, followed by creating a gratitude list on the spot, are tw[...]