• Make contact with your estranged sister, brother, in-law, former friend, whomever, and check out if there is an opportunity for reconciliation. Reconciliation is good for the soul, all souls. 
• Do some writing about your life: take a simple memorable moment (good or not so good) and put it on paper using a pencil and paper. Edit and enlarge and you will see it grow into further recollections. Getting these on paper will do its part in restoring your soul and you may discover you’re an excellent writer.  
• Take at 24 hours of a break from your several electronic leashes, then see if you can do it for a whole weekend. I predict, once conquer the withdrawal symptoms, you’ll discover connection and beauty with the immediate people and things in your life.
• Leave your phone at home or in your car when you meet with friends. It may result in your being able to give them your full and undivided attention.
• Next time you meet with a group of friends see if it’s possible to NOT talk about your children, spouses, people who are absent. You may discover you have nothing to talk about – which is exactly my point.   

Early morning outside my Dream Center window…..

Some things are always a choice. The choice may be loaded (difficult to make). The choice may be obscure. The choice may seem unreasonable and/or counter-intuitive. But, some things remains a choice: 

To choose to be decent (kind, well-meaning) to people, difficult people, people who seem hurt and hard to please, people who are rough and tough as a result of things that have nothing whatsoever to do with you and perhaps even nothing to do with them. This choice, to be decent under all circumstances, is a choice that must be made long in advance so that when encountering such people you’re already in the captain’s seat of your own life, your emotions, and your responses.

To choose to be non-reactive, to be a non-anxious presence, when a context or conflict or foes anticipate a reaction from you. There is no inner-switch you can turn on or off in an instant and be this way. Non-anxious behavior, being a non-anxious presence takes years of practice in smaller matters so that when larger matters come along your responses are natural, an expression of who and what you are.

To choose to listen and to wait before you speak and to weigh your words before they leave you is again, a choice, a habit worth forming.

Let it be, all three, for you and for me.  

An original card, received from a friend

• Empower children to be adventurous without suggesting danger exists at every turn. Over-hearing some parents you’d think calamity is possible at every moment.

• Empower children to settle sibling differences. Adult intervention is sometimes necessary but negotiation skills are worthy of development.

• Empower their children to speak up for themselves. You may have heard parents “shush” their children and create “no-go” topics.   

• Empower children to speak about what is important to the children. They avoid “tell Aunty about your……..” and encourage “tell Aunty whatever you want (or not).” 

• Empower children to wait when adults are talking and to be respectful of adults engaged in conversations. Constantly demanding and getting center-stage is hardly helpful to the other adults or to children. 

• Empower children by speaking in your normal voice and by using your normal language. While it is tempting to “ooh” and “coo” with a baby he or she will respond to your regular voice, too, and learn the language you want him or her to speak.

• Empower children by promoting the idea of private space among siblings and conversations that do not include the parents. The hope is your children will have each other longer than they will have you.

No-strings-attached Superpowers 

All humans have Superpowers. When acknowledged and deployed, we have the capacity to radically positively transform our immediate circle of influence.

Hospitality is a superpower. As powerful as opening our home to guests and strangers is, it goes beyond that. It’s opening our hearts to all whom we encounter. It’s simple friendliness, a no-strings-attached welcome to all. 

Generosity is a superpower. It’s instinctive to share, to give, to alleviate burdens for others. When we extend this natural gift to those who least expect it from us, it elevates natural generosity into a superpower. It’s planned, no-strings-attached sharing of time and resources. 

Listening is a superpower. When we offer people undistracted, no-phone-glancing attention or one-eye-scrolling distraction and hang onto every word someone says, we validate his or her story, his or her existence, and our own. It’s a no-strings-attached gift proclaiming “I see, hear, value you” in an often indifferent world. 

Equality is a superpower. The capacity to treat all other people as equals (which we are) and with respect (which all deserve) is a superpower. We can learn powerful lessons from anyone and everyone. This no-strings-attached acknowledgment of the treasures within all people, respects and elevates and empowers all.

Combine and live The Four, and you may well unearth beauty and power you’ve intuitively always known are within you.

“My daughter-in-law is known to be a difficult person. She wants her own way in  all things. Even her mother says this. I am fine with this except when it comes to their children who are 3 and 5 years old boys. When I get to baby-sit the children I get a list of rules and times and even some of the things I am not allowed to say. I feel as if I have never raised children and I did. I have 5 sons and daughters who are all now successful and loving adults and who love me and show it. What should I do?”

I’d suggest you do not resist her wishes when caring for your grandchildren. As a new and comparatively inexperienced mom she is adjusting to what it means to love her children and she wants to do a better job than all the mothers who have preceded her. I’m suggesting that the mother (and your son) will start to see how resilient and willful children can be and will in time let up on their rigidity. Your on-going relationship with your adult children and their spouses and with your grandchildren is far more important than you getting your way, much like your daughter-in-law wants hers. Ma’m, you have parented 5 successful adults! You can do anything.

It’s not a widely known but I drive Uber some days. 

And, just short of 1500 trips over 2.5 years, I love it.

I love it because driving for Uber allows me to meet people I would otherwise hardly have the opportunity to meet.

In the process I’ve become thoroughly aware that it is often the so-called rich who are truly poor, and the poor, who are often really rich.

Uber rides are often reserved by providers of specialized services. These organizations (like adult day-care centers, hospitals, rehab facilities) reserve the rides for the clients.

We either bring the passenger to  such services or take the passenger home after the services have been rendered.

Last night I picked up a man (J) and his support dog (D) who were headed for a rehabilitation facility.

J and D entered my vehicle in quiet humility. We chatted about many things in our hour-long drive. We talked about cars and healthy living. We talked about our sons and daughters. J offered brief and poignant insights into some of the pain he has endured.

J revealed the hope he was experiencing as we drove to what would be his home for at least a number of weeks. 

He gave me hope for my future as he revealed his hope in his own.

No person can both love and control the same person (for an enduring length of time). This is true for all relationships, from the most casual and platonic, to professional, to the most intimate. It is also so for all family relationships. The one who is being controlled (manipulated, coerced, check-mated) will ultimately resist. He or she will find his or her way out, no matter how pleasing or attractive the so-called rewards or harsh the punishments. He or she who seeks to love will seek no power or control over anyone, most especially the object of his or her love.

The power to offer grace and forgiveness is first and foremost for your own well-being, your freedom, your dignity, your spiritual growth. It has nothing to do with licence or lack of accountability or “cheap grace” offered to whomever has hurt or offended you. Your dignity, your well-being, your generosity and spirituality is your business. Mind it. It’s worth it.

The power to be generous of spirit (and of wallet) lives within you, comes with the human package. Unlock it, free it, and you unlock and free your own spirit and ready it to soar. Your wealth is reflected in what you give, not what you store. Your wealth lies in whom you empower, not the power you may feel when glancing your bottom line. 

Ragesdale Art

To birth-moms* and birth-dads* at Christmas

DEFINITION*

Women and men who chose, (or opted, or had no option), who loved so much, were so amazingly overwhelmed, desperate, whatever your circumstances, who, out of love or desperation made a way. You made a way for your infant son or daughter, or older child to be adopted by people or a person about whom you knew very little or nothing at all. . 

MY MESSAGE

I see you, women and men, you must find yourselves thinking about the babies. The toddlers. The boys or girls (whatever age they are now – from a few days old to men or women of advanced age. I know you are thinking about that child. Thinking about his or her well-being. And whereabouts. You probably find yourself asking yourself questions that are coming at you from many directions, all at once.

I see you today, these days around Christmas, these “special” days. 

Did I do the right thing? Does she resent me now? What does he know? What do they tell her? Do I even cross her mind at Christmas? Does he long to know what I am like? Does he even know I exist? 

I can’t speak for anyone but for myself and about my observations regarding my sons: 

You are seldom far from my thoughts and our thoughts. We’ve talked about this a lot and we are filled with deep gratitude. We do not take what we have lightly: we have each other, we have time, we have laughter, freedom, fun. And we have tears and struggles and wounds and scars and stories of successes and failures.

But, none of it would be ours were it not for you.

Thank you, especially at this time of the year. Thank you. 

An Adoptive Dad    

Anger, like happiness, joy, and fulfillment, is an “individual pursuit.”

Its hurtful expression ought not be laid at the door of the victim.

People are angry – alone.

The “you-make-me-so-angry” line is a cop-out, a fallacy, and ought to be challenged and resisted.

“Buying it” helps the angry man or woman remain immature and maintain unhelpful control.

Certainly, my behavior could trigger your anger, but to do so, the anger has to be already resident, lurking, within you. I may be sufficiently powerful to light your fuse but it remains your fuse.

Many people “get” angry in traffic – but it is not the traffic that makes people angry – the traffic is the catalyst for the anger already resident in people.

I know men and women who can sit for hours in horrendous traffic and enjoy books on tape or soothing music! Despite their demanding careers (interrupted by heavy traffic) these men and women have correctly recognized that ranting and raving over things over which they have no control is rather pointless and foolish.

The first step dealing with anger is the recognition that it is not someone else’s fault – but is indeed something that needs to be addressed by the person within whom the anger has found a home.

Angry people abound.

Some cover it effectively, making careers of it (watch some sports stars!). Others appear to turn it into something productive like very hard work or passionate involvement in causes (watch some politicians).

Some, who have failed to deploy it down more helpful avenues, fight with everyone sooner or later.

Anger (in you or others) is beyond reasoning. “Reasoning” with anger or with an angry person, while he or she is feeling the anger, is pointless.

Get out of the way. This is the only helpful thing to do. Refuse to be the victim. If you are the one feeling and expressing the anger, remove yourself from possible victims – have your episode alone!

Anger cannot be “dealt with” academically, through willfulness, or resolutions. Ironically, it can only be dealt with when felt. Stopping, answering the question, “What is really going on here?” will help you find a solution. The ability to see what’s going on trumps the importance of its origin. “I am feeling out of control,” or “This situation appears to want to rob me of something,” or “I am not being recognized for my true importance,” will help you to give your feelings a greater context – and possibly defuse the moment into something more productive.

Five goals…..

Become the most generous person you know. This is not a challenge to give away all your money or possessions, rather it is a challenge to appreciate that you are probably in a position where you are able to empower others and reduce some anxiety for others were you to open your hand and wallet more often.

Become the most hospitable person you know. This is not a challenge to unwisely open your home to strangers (but keep in mind a stranger is most often a friend you do not yet know) or place yourself in danger. It is an invitation to identify the lonely people whom you already know and to be a source of welcome and comfort to them. 

Become self-aware. This is a challenge to embrace the opposite of selfishness. A self-aware person takes into account the impact he or she has on others and seeks always to do his or her part to initiate friendship, to participate in community, and to do no harm.  

Become a focussed listener when it is time to listen (it’s not always time to listen) to another. This is a challenge to resist finishing thoughts and sentences for others and deciding you already know what they are going to say. When it is time to listen, drop everything and do so. 

Become aware of what is necessary to share with others and what is not. This is a challenge to self-edit. Not all you think and feel needs to be expressed. Learn the power and value of holding onto yourself both for your own integrity and to respect and honor the privacy of others.