Another View...How Jayme Deals With Mental Breakdowns

One woman's story of how she learned to embrace rather than avoid her emotional pain...

"So, what really happens when I embrace all these symptoms rather than fix (mask) them through psychiatric “treatments”? Hmmmm…. well, I very rarely have any of these symptoms anymore, and when I do, they don’t last nearly as long." Read the full article here.

Visit Jayme's blog here.

Pssst...Run With The Wind

May I tell you something? Will you allow me whisper something to you...I just wanted to tell you what a wonderful being you are...simply because you exist.

Now go...and run with the wind.

Facing The Mountain

It's in the climb that we learn where our strength comes from as we push ourselves, never giving up, always moving forward. Sometimes we stumble back a step or two; but in that climb, in every step, every stumble we learn to see what worked to move us forward and what got in the way that caused us to slip or step backward as we regained our balance to once again continue that climb. And once we reach the summit of each mountain that we face in life, we may feel dirty, dusty, exhausted, famished, thirsty and...as we step to the edge to view the beauty and wonder that lies before us....we suddenly realize that we are poised and in the perfect position - to begin to soar. ~Susan

A Walk In Compassion

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I will live in compassion

I will walk a path of peace

no longer judging

I’m living free

I will live in compassion

I will be free

can you walk in compassion

can you let your soul free

can you reach out your hand

and say “follow me”

you’ll find your way

your truth and your light

when you’re able to lay down

when you give up that fight

then I'll walk in compassion

my soul will be free

torment no more

in my eyes they will see

the human condition 

such as it is

a walk in compassion

my heart open and free

loving the others

in spite of what they did to me

letting it go

won’t make them free

but it takes me

closer to peace

~Susan March 2010

Thought for today...fear only to stand still

Each day I receive quotes like this from this website Life Abundance. And it's not that getting inspirational quotes each day is going to change my life suddenly, but every once in awhile I find a nugget that gives me something to think about like this one...

"Do not fear going forward slowly; fear only to stand still." - Chinese Proverb

At different times in this journey I have thought I wasn't "getting it" fast enough. I wanted to be "better" and I wanted to be better now. On days like this I found myself feeling "stuck", unable to move forward. I was "standing still".

I would find myself thinking about and dwelling on the things I had not yet accomplished in my life, the past and past hurts and resentments, the list of "to do's" that seemed to get longer day by day with my inaction.

If someone offered me a suggestion or possible solution to whatever it was that I was focussed on I was full of "yeah, BUTs" (yeabut is a language of its own :) )....It was just easier to focus on situations, circumstances and people than it was to face my own fears, feelings and anxieties in order to take control of my life.

Sometimes I would get lost in wanting a "quick fix" or for someone to "tell me what to do" or to "take care of me" instead of pulling on my own internal strength and resources and acknowledge that I could, that I do - have the power to change my circumstances.

So today I am going continue to celebrate that I am moving forward and am at the right place at the right time - for me. Today I will not fear moving forward however slowly and I will celebrate that I am simply moving forward.

Do you sometimes focus more on what you don't have or have not yet accomplished (standing still) vs. trusting that you are where you are supposed to be today and where you are going? (moving forward slowly)

Today - what can you celebrate about where you are right now?

Free Fallin' John Mayer

So yes; this song is about something other than where I'm coming from today...but the chorus...free fallin'...is what I'm hearing today...

How do I?...I will.

how do I do this

how do I see

that I am not limited

in what I can be?

how do I go forward

leave the past behind

how do I get there

what will I find?

Somehow I have to

reach for that ring

Some way I'll get there

I'll be free and I'll sing

Standing at the top of that mountain

ready to reach for the stars

no longer fearful

no longer scared

I know that I will go far

this day I will get there

You know that I will

No longer a victim

I stand free and until

I let go of the memories

I grieve the past

No longer helpless

I am free at last

by Susan December 2, 2009