No matter our location, our age, our temperament, our prestige, or our personality, we will somewhere, sometime, encounter people who treat us as inferior. Often those people are strangers, sometimes colleagues, yet sometimes those people are friends, and sometimes, sadly, family… As I typed the word sadly I thought about what a therapist once said, “We don’t have to … Read More
Breaking Out of Our Comfort Zones
On a recent trip to Sam’s Club for a few groceries, Warren purchased a bouquet of flowers for me. Just to say I love you was the occasion. He’s done that periodically over the past six years, bring me small gifts for no apparent reason. As I stared at the turtle pin that headlined my recent Going for It post, … Read More
On Validation and the Value of Self Worth
As I sat in my therapist’s office last week, a small truth began to unfold before my eyes. “I guess I’ve just always been looking for validation,” I said. Learning. Growing. Understanding, Journeyers. That’s half the battle. As those words tumbled from my mouth, I remembered a conversation with my first successful therapist. I say “first successful” because my parents … Read More
On Sense and Sensitivity
“I have more awareness of other people and, I hope, more sensitivity to their needs. I also find that I’m more direct and outspoken.” ~Christopher Reeve One of my most beautiful, longstanding friendships has been disintegrating for years now. Several of them, actually, have experienced varying degrees of altered states. And I’ve recently come to realize that I‘ve been the … Read More
I Have a Confession, and a Secret Stash
Journeyers, I have a confession. After Warren’s last affair I began piling away a secret stash. Cold hard cash that no one knows about but me. No one. Well, I guess given that declaration, no one but all of you, my fellow Journeyers… I can thank my lucky stone that there aren’t too many of you, huh? I hid it … Read More
Addressing Attachment Injury
“I’ve been thinking about you two,” Trish said, “and about how I can best help.” The last time Warren and I were in this therapist’s office, we had some heated discussions about The Future—Ours, His, Mine—The House, Retirement, The Economy, The Funds (now and forthcoming). He, who has lived in the same community—within a ten-mile radius—his entire life, is not … Read More
Shoring Up Life’s Threads
“I’m glad to hear you are alright. Karen’s husband died last night so at least there is some good news. It’s been bad all morning.” That was the note returned to me after I texted a coworker to let her know how my surgery went last Friday. The message stayed with me, even through the grogginess of anesthesia … Read More
I Love My Bed
There are days and weeks when we feel as if every minute is a mountainous climb. Hours where we long for some reprieve from the (seemingly) endless distress. This past week has been one of those eternities for me. I took a new assignment at work and am dumbfounded by the lack of respect for adult authority. Whereas my previous … Read More
Can’t versus Don’t Want To
Last fall I discovered this amazing little app. C25K. Couch to a 5k. I started the program with great gusto. But this underlying attitude ensured a quick demise. “I’m not a runner.” Can’t Never Could And then a friend asked me if I wanted to try and lose weight with her. “You’re the only one I can do it with,” … Read More