Blog Posts from Karen Casey

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July 10, 2010

Marking the 75th Anniversary. . .

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[...]

Circle of Family and Friends - You and Your Personal Community

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June 29, 2010

Connecting with old friends. What a joy. . .

I just returned from a week end in Chicago with fourteen dear friends from high school. There are so many sweet memories running through my mind that I don't know which one to savor first and longest. Starting with my roommate is no doubt a good beginning. Ellen is her name and we hadn't been particularly close in high school but we were in the same group. We called ourselves "the Superlatives." We were certain then, that we were, and deserved to be, the envy of all the other girls in the school. Needless to say we made a few enemies along the way. B[...]

What I Believe - You and Your Higher Power

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June 27, 2010

We are where we're supposed to be. . .

I find great relief in this idea. I guess it's because I have had many experiences throughout my early life that made little sense at times. Simply putting my "unbelief" in the idea aside, as was suggested to me by a woman much wiser than myself a few years ago, opened the door to a whole new way to experience life. Now I feel great waves of peace just knowing that whom ever I need to meet, I will. What ever I need to learn will come my way. That the life tapestry I am weaving is divinely ordained. Does this seem farfetched to you when you look at your[...]

Karen's Musings

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June 23, 2010

Tension will mount if we let it. . .

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[...]

What I Believe - You and Your Higher Power

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June 20, 2010

The joy of unexpected outcomes. . .

My family has been here visiting all week. There was a time in my life that I'd have been overwhelmed by anxiety over what could go wrong; how discussions could go awry; how to control the always uncontrollable when it comes to other people, the weather, the news cycles that could lead to tension and on and on. When I face this honestly, in the far distant past (from childhood on) I was always on pins and needles trying to control what could never be controlled. I still want "to go there" some times, but I have learned that that door is closed! Tight. And I[...]

Circle of Family and Friends - You and Your Personal Community

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June 14, 2010

Availability to the needs of others blesses us too. . .

Some of my dearest friends are facing tough situations right now. Being present to listen, or to hold them in prayer, or simply to serve as a witness while they make the journey that is quite specifically theirs to make is why God has "arranged" our meeting in the first place. I can still recall how I used to think an idea such as this one was simply too far-fetched to even consider as a possibility. And now it guides my thinking every day. Being open and willing the allow new ideas to inform us is part of the necessary journey we are on, I think. Nearly[...]

What I Believe - You and Your Higher Power

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June 11, 2010

Rightmindedness is a decision. . .

Perhaps you are wondering what I mean by rightmindedness? I think of it as the alignment of our mind with the will of God. Something that I started doing some years ago was asking myself if what I was thinking was what God would want me to think and if it wasn't, seeking God's help in changing the thought. This simple exercise has been quite helpful and it has improved my relations with others. It really doesn't take more than a second or two to ask the question, and the answer comes ever so quietly but instantaneously. My job is to listen. Making the dec[...]

Karen's Musings

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June 8, 2010

Gratitude is a mind changer. . . Acceptance is the pathway.

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[...]

Karen's Musings

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June 5, 2010

The oil spill could be perceived as an opportunity. . . Couldn't it?

The blame game has taken over the news media again. Perhaps it's always been this way or maybe it's just because the media is every where now and we get instant 24/7 feedback. But to be an official in these times, from the president on down, means the opposition will choose to make you the sole person responsible for every disaster as well as the instant fix. Obviously Obama didn't cause this oil spill. His opposition knows this even though their rhetoric suggests otherwise. BP caused it. Some even suggest the real cause of the spill goes back a few ye[...]

Reflections in the Mirror - You and Yourself

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June 2, 2010

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. . .

The title of this blog is a quote by Aristotle, likely written about 350 BC. It's an amazingly meaningful quote, I think, and if lived by, would be world changing. I was on the phone this morning with a group of business folks discussing the application of this thought in our work lives and for certain, it could play a big role there. It would allow brain-storming to go to a whole new level. And conflict resolution would be greatly advanced too. But I think our personal lives would vastly improve also if we allowed for the differing opinions of others. �[...]