Blog Posts from Karen Casey

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

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July 17, 2011

Detachment is one pathway to peace of mind. . .

I have written often about detachment. In books, articles and throughout this blog. It's of major importance to my life because it's the key to my own peaceful state of mind. I want to stress that detachment doesn't mean not caring about others. In fact, it means to care enough about others to let them make their own decisions, to live their own lives, even make their own mistakes. This isn't easy to do when we first try it. When I first heard the word, I couldn't even fathom its ever-so-subtle meaning. Eventually I gleaned from listening to others[...]

Karen's Musings

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July 13, 2011

Civility is at an all-time low. . .

I have written about this topic before. And I will likely write about it again. It's really shameful and even embarrassing to read on line and in the news magazines, what the various political figures say about each other on a daily basis. Whether it's on the cable channels or the networks, the "news" is filled with the most recent venom that one party or one person has slung at another. In some cases the so-called reporters are slinging the venom themselves. And the American people, the men and women like you and I, are left in the lurch, wondering when[...]

Your Experience, Strength and Hope

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July 9, 2011

Sponsorship is a key avenue to acquiring gratitude.

I have a new sponsee. She is a lovely young Native American woman who at the age of 30, is the mother of five. Her husband gently asked if I'd be her temporary sponsor at a meeting we both attended and I happily called her that day. Since then I have been picking her up weekly and taking her to meetings. Life isn't all that easy for her and her husband. They are both recovering from heroin addiction and are on a methadone program. The requirements are stringent but they are meeting them. Getting their children back is one of the driving forces. Being[...]

What I Believe - You and Your Higher Power

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July 4, 2011

Life can change in the blink of an eye . . .

A good friend of mine had a stroke last Sunday. One minute he was out for breakfast with some friends and the next minute, when he was saying his farewells, his speech became garbled. Fortunately for him one friend had lingered and noticing the changed speech, took him to the nearest hospital immediately and doctors were able to prevent permanent damage. However, for three days he was unable to communicate. For those three days friends sat by his bed to console him and those who weren't there, were praying from afar. For three days neither my friend nor an[...]

Reflections in the Mirror - You and Yourself

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June 28, 2011

Acceptance is the way to peace of mind. . .

Those of us in Alcoholics Anonymous know, "acceptance is the answer to all our problems." Many of us would agree that it's easier said than done, but I am living proof that it can be done if you are willing, persistent, and make a habit of practicing acceptance. Quite likely we have hundreds of opportunities every day where the practice of acceptance comes in handy. Our experiences steer us, quite intentionally I think, into situations of potential conflict, but we never, ever have to engage in a conflict. We can step away. We can allow the other person to have[...]

Your Experience, Strength and Hope

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June 21, 2011

Listening is a tool that can help someone heal. . .

Listening is a gift of nearly immeasurable proportion that we can give to others. There are really no words that can adequately describe the importance of "tuning in to" the words of a friend, or on occasion, a stranger who is hurting. We have often heard it said that pain is lessened when it is shared. And it allows the listener to feel a sense of worthiness too. She or he knows they are helping some one heal when they turn their attention fully on the one who needs to talk. Having some one witness who we are in the moment, whether we are scared or in[...]

What I Believe - You and Your Higher Power, Your Experience, Strength and Hope

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June 15, 2011

Every thing is subject to change, except for the presence of God. . .

One of my best friends was just diagnosed with breast cancer in both breasts. I met her yesterday for lunch and we hugged each other really tight. I am sad. I am scared for her. But I am sure that her Higher Power is holding her hand at this very moment. And I am holding her in my heart. I ask that all of you do the same please. Her name is Kaye. She has been one of my companions on this road of recovery for 35 years. We are aging, you and I. And with the advancing years, health challenges occur. I understand this but when it hits close to home, I reb[...]

What I Believe - You and Your Higher Power

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June 10, 2011

Your Higher Power is your constant companion. . .

Having a Higher Power as one's companion makes every circumstance in our lives manageable and tolerable if we utilize the help that is available to us. It also means we are never experiencing any thing alone. Those instances when we feel forgotten or scared or even threatened, we can, if we choose to, take a deep breath and let "our very willing companion" guide us, speak through us, and comfort us. I had no idea of "His" availability when I came into the recovery rooms. I had been assuming, for decades, that I was acting alone. That I was solely in cha[...]

Karen's Musings, Reflections in the Mirror - You and Yourself

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June 6, 2011

Perseverance and finding a balance pays off. . .

Sticking to a project of any kind provides its own reward. I learned this well while in graduate school. I was an enigma to my friends because I loved writing the multitude of papers that were assigned. And unlike most of them, I didn't put them off until the last minute. I quite intentionally worked on the assigned paper every day, some times only a couple of hours in a day, but I didn't let a day go by without making some progress. It gave me the structure I needed. It felt almost like a sacred undertaking when approached in this way. I don't reme[...]

Karen's Musings

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May 31, 2011

Memorial Day is for honoring those who have given their lives. . .

I was thinking about the reason for our celebration of Memorial day over this past week end. And I think it's good and right that we honor those men and women who have given their lives in the service of our country, but I wonder if we spend enough time honoring those who served, were maimed in some way, physically or emotionally, and who still have to live to the best of their ability with little help from the rest of us. Those men and women are too often forgotten, I fear. Many of them live very anonymous lives, in fact. The streets and alley ways of many[...]