I found that remembering and then writing about my past, particularly the parts that were grim or embarrassing or sometimes even shameful; released me from their hold. We cannot be held hostage by any thing or any one without our consent. That’s not an easy idea to believe when first introduced to it. I had never ever thought of “hostage” in those terms. But I was a hostage for sure. I lived in the shame of my past for many years. And telling all of it, every last part of it to any one any where seemed fool-hardy. Just the opposite is true, in[...]
0 I spent the past week at the Dominican Retreat House in McLean, VA. I was invited to present two programs to "my sisters" in AA. Both retreats blessed me with spiritual sustenance. Nurturing the attendees with some new information was the primary "assignment," but receiving the love that came my way was a gift that truly overwhelmed me. I certainly received far more than I had expected. The women were lovely, every one of them. The food was more than delicious. And the Sisters couldn't have been kinder to me and every other woman too. I can unders[...]
Circle of Family and Friends - You and Your Personal Community, What I Believe - You and Your Higher Power
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Being available to the needs of others as well as my own. . .
I spoke in my last post about my own recent struggle with remembering that my "work here" is to fulfill God's will, which is really quite simple: it's to show up lovingly in the lives of others, knowing without question that that is where we have been called to be. And secondly, that God will direct our efforts. He will also be in charge of the outcome. Letting go of the outcome is perhaps our biggest challenge some days. Because I am a frequent meeting-goer, I have the opportunity to serve in the capacity of sponsor for many women in both AA and Al-Anon.[...]
I have been in the recovery rooms for more than three and a half decades and most of my movement has been "forward." I detailed much of that in my recent book: My Story to Yours: A Guided Memoir for Writing Your Recovery Journey, published by Hazelden, fall of 2011. However, there are times when the going is rough. Even after all these years, and writing a book detailing my progress, becoming stuck is possible. I have been experiencing one of the stuck times of late. What triggered it is any one's guess. What has maintained its hold on me is my own unw[...]
Yesterday, at about 6PM, my friend Cate left this world for the next. She was surrounded by friends, literally. They circled her bed and read the Epilogue of a Course in Miracles to her, recited the Lord's Prayer and held hands as she took her final breath. The epilogue states that the hovering angels are close at hand and that we will never be without comfort. Cate loved "the course." And she particularly loved the epilogue that follows the 365 workbook lessons. Sending her "home" with those words softly touching her ears is a sweet image for those of u[...]
Welcoming the new year means saying good-by to 2011. That inspires me to pause and consider some of the experiences of this past year that stand out in my mind. Are there some I'd love to repeat? Were there times I didn't live up to my "better self?" Did I make commitments to finish certain projects but didn't follow through? Did I develop some new ideas that were tucked away for a later date? Did I show up in a loving way with friends and family? Did I reach out to new faces and comfort old ones too? Did I let others down at any time? Let me brea[...]
I thoroughly enjoy Christmas. I know it isn't an easy holiday for many, and for legitimate reasons. A number of my friends are always eager for the holidays to be over. But it's always my intent to bring a bit of joy into the lives of the many I touch. I have discovered that's the easiest way to insure that I have a joyful Christmas, in fact. And just possibly my "touch" will lighten the holiday for some one else too, even some one who doesn't want to enjoy the holiday. It heightens my inner joy every time I offer the hand of kindness or make a joyful[...]
If you read my blogs consistently, you no doubt think this topic is often on my mind. And that would be true. I do blog about peace and its attainment on a regular basis. There's a very good reason for that. It's what eludes me often and I figure I am pretty much like many of you who have turned to this page. Letting some one else rob me of my peace of mind is all too common. It can become habitual in fact. The minister at my church, the Unity Church of Naples, talked about this topic today too. Peace and its importance to each one of us and the hum[...]
This topic has been the substance of much of my work over the past few years, both in the books I have written and in the workshops I have presented. (Please see my website:www.womens-spirituality.com or check out Amazon titles) I never get tired of it as a topic. Perhaps that's because talking about it strengthens my own commitment to living, or at least trying to live, the peaceful life every day. I know all too well how easily one can get derailed. It has happened to me far too many times, and during the holidays, it can happen even more easily to people[...]
No doubt we can all remember the song of that title: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. And it's likely we have all experienced the trauma of it happening to us. I am presently watching, with a supportive eye, open arms and a loving heart, a very dear friend pick her way carefully through the many brambles of a relationship gone bad. It's an ending that very much needed to happen but it's not easy to execute, regardless. Or experience. Breaking up is simply never easy. Yet it's often necessary, sometimes even life-preserving. In the work I have been doing for[...]