Jeff and Nancy are dear friends of mine. We’ve been friends for nearly a decade. We met as co-workers and have become closer in the years after my leaving our mutual employer. But, friendship isn’t easy. I’m not easy. A while back, I invited Jeff and Nancy over for dinner. They decided they’d bring Chinese takeout and meet me at my place the next night around 6:00. The next day, I’m between clients and I get a text from Jeff. He and Nancy are at my house, and wondering how far away I ...read more
Meal Train for the Brokenhearted
From time to time I receive invites for Meal Train. If you aren’t familiar with it, it is an online service that provides the opportunity to take meals to someone in need. A friend or family member will create a Meal Train for someone recovering from a recent hospital stay, an injury, or has a new baby. It's an excellent service and keeps the well-wishers on a schedule, and keeps the new mom from receiving five lasagnas on Tuesday. It's an efficient way to organize care and be of service. ...read more
Suffering and Acceptance
I work with beautiful souls that are suffering for many different reasons. I choose to walk alongside others to assist with the relief of pain and suffering because I believe in healing. Sometimes, I witness those I care about get stuck in pain, fall back into old patterns, freeze, run, or give up. I fall victim to my own unproductive cycles at times when suffering is great. It’s part of being human. I had a friend years ago that I was lucky to cross paths with and he taught me an invaluable ...read more
Victimization and Finding True North
Many years ago, I was struggling to set my world upright after a devastating emotional earthquake and the relational aftershocks. As the flashbacks of abuse came like a foreign invader into my world, I didn’t know who to trust. Or, how to trust. As I worked with a counselor to steady myself, I found my capacity to perceive my experiences were not 20/20. My counselor was kind, patient, and skilled at knowing how to reset my equilibrium. She once gave me this homework: Whatever you would ...read more
Chocolate, Cheez-Its, and a Yarn Snob
After an hour of the usual routine to get back to sleep, I'm still awake at 2 a.m. Resigned that I'm up for a while, there are some things I’d like to get done. I grab my computer (yes, counselors make bad life choices) and I poke around on my To Do list. While researching some info, an advertisement pops up for yarn. Such an innocent little ad. No big deal. Just some hand-spun, white angora heavenliness. The part of me that lives solely to stash copious amount of yarn clicks on the ...read more
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