In recovery we recognize the shades of gray, the good and the bad.

Happy Father's Day This is my father.  He is one of the biggest reasons I can't give up the idea of reincarnation.  :)  Bet you didn't see that coming, not those of you who know me and have heard me talk about being a survivor of child abuse.  I can explain. The first time...

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Why I want your feedback!

I haven't written anything lately.  I don't feel the need to write since I don't know if anyone reads this or finds it useful.  I get numbers back on how many people opened the page this is on.  But for all I know, people look, decide it's not worth anything, and close it without reading it.   Sometimes I let myself get confident that I know more about the subject that my...

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Anxiety

There are two kinds of anxiety, one is a diagnosable mental condition that doesn’t go away, but is somewhat controllable with medication and therapy.  And there’s the other kind, the kind that happens to all of us. We’ve all experienced stress to one degree or another sometime in our life....

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NAMI as a resource

I don't use NAMI as a resource very often.  I think it's because in the old days they represented "brain diseases" to the exclusion of disorders of abuse & neglect.  They were founded by parents of schizophrenic and bipolar individuals who worked to improve the lives of their children.  Those of us with disorders of abuse & neglect really never had representation because our...

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Individualistic vs Collectivistic cultures

The United States is an individualistic culture, which is great if you love the freedom to do whatever you want- and you have the ability to do whatever you want and just don't care much what happens to everyone else.  Stop me if I'm wrong- but that's how it appears to me. But it is a...

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Keynote ACES to Assets 2019 – Dr. Gabor Maté – Trauma as disconnection f...

This is a very interesting video, that is best watched.  I really can't contribute anything to improve it.  Note, Trauma is a scar.  Note, the difference  between the questions "What is wrong with you?" and "What happened to you?"   In recovery, what is it you want to recov...

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And I did not have a clue!

I found out something today and it made me feel really horrible because it showed me how little I understood the very world that I live in.  It told me that I lacked empathy and understanding on an issue I really thought I knew about well.  You see, I found out that there are blacks in this state that just don't feel safe in Western North Carolina, these mountains, even to the point of...

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I am a failed hedgehog!

I love the Hidden Brain on NPR.  But this podcast really made me think.  I came to the conclusion I am a hedgehog.  Here's the link so you can listen, yourself. https://www.npr.org/2017/05/15/528041635/the-fox-and-the-hedgehog-the-triumphs-and-perils-of-going-big?utm_content=bufferffca2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fbclid=IwAR2FZ2UAGODcoVt3sLNgwK_4CoVnrOvL5F-548BhPY9Nm97fL0CotJOZzqY I...

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Lights of Liberty Vigil in Sylva, North Carolina

People all over the country are upset with the way our country is treating immigrant families.  Here are few comments from people in Sylva, NC. ...

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Unrealistic Expectations

More often we hear about parents limiting their child with negative words or put-downs. The child grows up feeling a failure and giving up. Depending on their age when the negative messages begin, they may believe every word sent their way and no amount of effort can change the message in their...

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