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| What a lot we lost when we stopped writing letters. You can't reread a phone call. ~Liz Carpenter |
We Don't Need to Stay Stuck
A letter to a friend, I wrote at five in the morning. It was intense, but necessary. I'm less emotionally constipated when I
express my sentiments. This is especially true if I'm troubled about something, and I was.
When I write sharing what bothers me, I try to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of the person who receives my mail. I was. It also provides me an opportunity for resolution with this person. If I don't express my concerns, there is no such chance.
The person receiving my letter is stuck. She's remaining in the victim mode. Not a good place to be, mentally, emotionally or spiritually.
We are not helpless hopeless victims. There are choices we can make to move beyond our plight. Staying stuck with our problems often happens because we aren't in community with healthy others.
Insights from my community of emotionally mature and psychologically healthy people allows me to see beyond the prism of my limited perspective. They provide detachment from my circumstances and the love needed to obtain boldness. This quality is required, when I try moving beyond the problems I face.
A power greater than myself I find, when I immerse myself with the support of my Balcony People. They embolden me as I exercise alternatives that allow me to overcome discouragement or inertia, (Or self-pity or self-loathing, two habits I don't have.)
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| No this is not a picture of me, silly. You can see how I look on the right sidebar of this blog. |
I met with a friend. We had time limitations because I was meeting with two people at 1:00 p.m. Undaunted, we went for it. Our time was a blast. For forty-five minutes, we traveled 9 miles on our bikes, racing around the lovely Island City of Alameda. The weather was beyond fabulous, in the mid seventies, with a light breeze and NO humidity. How can you beat that type of weather?
Fortunate, we were. Not the case for the rest of the Bay Area. It was ringed with clouds. In other parts of this region there was rain. Not so, for this lovely burg. The clouds parted above my hometown and glorious sunshine was had for this quaint, sea-shore ringed city. It lifted my spirits when I realized I was going to enjoy my health and fitness today.
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| A home in the Alameda neighborhood |
Afterwards, I met with two people I sponsor. It was a grand time, too. Life can't be beat when you have great friends, wonderful conversations and love binding the time shared with them. Celebrating fantastic weather together, while sitting along the coast of this island made our visit even better.
Do I need to enumerate my gratitudes? I sure you can hear them as I voice my joys for this day. Life doesn't get better.
Riding my bike is definitely adding zip to my energy and mood. And I usually have a happy, joyful mood to begin with. Wow, again.
In my next post I'll write about a talk I gave this evening about "Staying in the Solution," and afterwards spending time with six friends until 11:30 p.m. What a terrific day it was.
My need for celebration, joy, happiness, physical exertion, community and effectiveness were more than met today. It was an overall excellent day that I'll treasure. I'm a lucky man; then again, I believe we make our own luck.
I do. Good fortune doesn't just happen.
How About You?
1. What helps you go beyond staying stuck in a funk?
2. Who do you look for, to be your Balcony People, those who cheer you on, as you run the marathon of life?
3. What is your opinion about luck? I feel the more we work at something, the greater "luck" we have.
4. What gratitudes do you have? I love hearing your expressions of thanksgiving.
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3 comments:
It looks like a nice place to ride. California must be bike friendly because in SC, it is taking your life in your hands to do long distance riding.
Syd,
California is very cyclist friendly. It also provides many scenic areas that delight the eyes.
There's no such problem regarding risking your life here, if you ride around on your bike. One more reason why I have an attitude of gratitude.
If you ever come out this way, I'd be happy to show you around. There are plenty of areas to sail, too.
Hi, Pablo!
This is follow-up to the vmail I left as I realize that it is still Thursday technically speaking. My 3 gratitudes:
1. That I was of support to my Godson who lives in Germany and is going thru a bad divorce including being denied visitation w/his children as outlined by the court equivalent there. Grateful that I am viewed as a valuable resource in the storm.
2. That I was present twice in a day to give support to a dear Al Anon friend who has recently lost a person who comprised a large and formative part of her life and as well as who may loose one of her adult children due to poor health.
3. That my Higer Power had my dear and special cousin who lives in Virginia give me a call which helped me to process what for me was a very intense lecture that I attended tonight.
I'll see you at the library tomorrow afternoon unless I hear differently from you.
Now, to bed and rest.
Aileen
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