Boundaries: Needed for Sanity, Ease and Serenity. Also, Where the Innkeeper Has Been .........11/29/12

Image: "Cumbria: Over Rydal Lake,"
by Tim Blessed.Copyrighted photograph.  

     Hello everyone,

Have you missed me?  The innkeeper has been away the past three days.  The dust bunnies behind the books in the inn's library have grown, the dishes in the kitchen have piled up.  The good news is that I'm back.

     Work has kept me busy.  Seeing eight additional clients this week (with three more next week), prepping for sessions and business calls has made my schedule

Character Metamorphosis: Squeezing Beyond My Comfort Level ........11/26/112

Image: "Bluebells" by Tim Blessed. Copyrighted
 photo, used by permission. All rights reserved. 

 "On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow." 

      Good Evening,

I'm checking in.  Today, I worked.  Normally, it's my day off. It's fascinating watching my personality contort as it's developing strengths in areas once vulnerable.

       The past few days I've been squeezing through the slit I've gnawed through my characterological cocoon.  Since this summer, it's been a season of metamorphosis

The Fruit of Character Growth: Greater Serenity and Emotional Safety

Thinking of you who live in colder climes

    Good evening everyone,

Mine was, so was my day.  I had an eventful Sunday. I visited a local church for the first time.  It was good experience.  I

Enjoying Support: Making a Happy Innkeeper ......11/23/12

Gratitudes for Friday:
1. I received tremendous support from
several advisers today regarding my work.  I am thankful for the encouragement, practical wisdom and concern they offered.
2.  I was happy being with my youngest son as he purchased a new bike, here in Alameda.  It came in this week.  The cycle shop, Alameda Bicycle, had it ready for him.  For those looking for a good deal, go there. If you buy a new bike, it comes with a lifetime guarantee, free tire repairs, fittings (adjustments), and wheel truings (if your wheel gets bent out of shape).   Wow!
3.   Two of my sons and I

Perspective On This Day of Thanks .........11/22/12

        Good morning everyone.

Many suffer from worry, depression, frustration, self-loathing.  An Attitude of Gratitude counteracts many of these ills

Perspective On The Most Special Day of This Inn ........................11/22/12

       Dear Guests to the Attitude of Gratitude Inn:

 I resonate with the message in today's illustration.  Nonetheless, I appreciate today's focus: gratitude and thanksgiving.  Each home in the United States becomes

The Biggest Day Arrives Tomorrow. Also, Emotional Vampires & The Healing Power of Forgiveness ...11/21/12

      Thank you for dropping by this inn of encouragement and praise.  What thanks have you?   Of all the days of the year, tomorrow will be

Equanimity While Dealing With An Angry Person 11/19/12

       How are you?

Today was different from most days.  This evening was a time when I enjoyed equanimity, even when an emotional storm raged while I was relating with another

The Innkeeper Was Surprised ........................11/18/12

I'll  have one of these moments.
See number 4 below.

      Good evening,

How was your Sunday?   I get the feeling that this day may become a red letter day for me, in the future. Time will tell.  I slept well last night, for

An Amazingly Good Day

         Overcoming depression, seeking help through counseling, overwhelming fear and anxiety are the experience of many. Learning how to enjoy the Great Big Life God wants us to have is the dream of many.

       This morning, I spoke to a large crowd on how we can have the healing and abundance we seek.

       I'm tired but thrilled will the beauty life offers.  I went to bed this morning at 3:00 a.m. and rose at 6:45 a.m.. I know, I was a bad kitty.

       Today's gratitudes are marked in purple.  Am I a blessed man.  I spent time with family and friends, met new ones today, where I spoke.  I used my gifts in service to others and was fortunate enough to make my life count.  Life doesn't get more fulfilling than that.

       All of today's gratitudes are listed in purple.  My prayer is that you will have a purple day, too, on Sunday.  As is my custom, I conclude this Saturday post with a request for all visitors to please share your low and high points for this week.

      The results of my talk today was

A Recipe for Relational Failure 11/15/12

     Good evening,

I'm squeezing this in (see how skinny it is right here?), making this post under the wire, before this day changes its name to Friday.  How are you?  I'm doing well, thank you very much. (That phrase always reminds me of Andy Kaufman.)

1.   I'm thankful for a new source for

Dealing With an Emotional Bully, Part V. Equanimity Through Expressing Boundaries & Accepting Characterological Warts ....................11/14/12

My Gratitudes:
1.  Today, I studied, wrote, prayed and meditated.  Ya ay!  Investing in

Hope for the Past: Restoring the Years the Locust Have Eaten, Part IV 11/14/12

Yes, our past can be restored

         Here's a change.....Good Morning!

Yesterday, I was petered out after rising at 4:00 a.m. and having a busy and hectic day at work.  One session was especially draining. Usually that's

Connecting With God: Discovering A Cache of Bread Available to All ...........................11/12/12

To live a spiritual life we must first find the courage to enter the desert of our loneliness and to change it by gentle and persistent efforts into a garden of solitude.  Henri Nouwen

     Good evening,

Today was terrific.  How did it go for you?  Do you get frustrated,

The Alternative to Surrendering Our Values: Emotional Aikido

    Good evening,

Did you enjoy your Sunday?  I did.  It's easy to let angry people intimidate us.

       Surrendering our values is easy to do during such moments. I appreciate having an opportunity to exercise Emotional and Verbal Aikido today. For more about that please read

The Innkeeper's Vision. Also the Supportive Power of Community

"Where there is no vision,
 the people perish."

   Good evening,

How was your day?  The weather is getting nippier.  I rested today, taking it slow.  Most of us like being encouraged, don't you agree? I find it's a better alternative to depression or being stressed out.  I find having a vision helps.  We'll get to that after I post the following list that makes my heart grateful.

My Gratitudes for Today:
1.  I thank God for His loving patience towards me.  As a result, I'm comfortable with the

A Thankful Perspective: The Antidote to Despair: We Become Better, Not Bitter .........11/9/12

Knowing joy during dark times is like the sun penetrating through a rainstorm

Image: "Revealed" by Tim Blessed. Copyrighted photo, all rights reserved. 

        It's been raining the past two days.  Stress sneaks up and grabs me, if I'm not careful.  The nature of my work will take an emotional and spiritual toll, if I don't

A Busy and Fulfilling Day: Coping With Stress: Freedom from the Tyranny of the Urgent 11/7/12

Image: "Cumbria: Windmere Dawn" by Tiim Blessed

My Gratitudes for Wednesday:
1. I had a great session with a new client.
     My fourth new client in

The Three P's, Progress, Not Perfection: Antidote for Stress 11/5/12

      Hi there,
I'm bumping this up.  Many suffer from depression and look for counseling. If they applied what's posted below, they'd find relief for much of their mental stress.  Please let me know your thoughts. I wrote this last year, in March.  Here it is:

      It's encouraging hearing from you. Thanks for dropping by, where we share our Attitude of Gratitude.  This is where we

Miracles Still Happen, Even in Alameda: Hope Gives Us Strength ......11/4/12

      Well, today was one of those days----they don't happen too often to me. It was a frightful day, several times! Golly.

I lost my wallet. Afterwards, for several hours I was stunned.  I'm feeling a bit better, now.  When it happened, emotionally it felt

A Father's Happy Heart .................................11/3/12

Because of recent rains, the hills nearby are looking like this. 

    Good evening,

How are you?  Did you have a good Saturday?  Mine was intense, fun, scenic and fulfilling. Can't beat that. More about my happy heart, after the gratitudes.
My Gratitudes for Today:
1. I had an intense time with someone I mentor.  Our conversation hit the ground, running.  I appreciate his

Celebrating Being Internally Referented: Freedom to Be Me

What the skies have looked like, lately. Not the best of weather for cycling. I will 

ride Saturday, regardless. I'm persistent. As long as there is no thunder, I don't want
circumstances to change my hair, and make me look like the Bride of Frankenstein. 

     Good evening,

I'm tired. After writing my gratitudes I'm heading for bed. I have a splitting headache, the result of not getting

Life Is Not a Correspondence Program, Revisited 11/1/12

         Good evening.  How are you?
Go ahead and stop the video. You'll find it down below.
         I'll wait.
        Sorry about that.
        I'm still new at using technology.  I actually used HTML to embed the video below.  I don't know how to do that with the video NOT starting up right away.