This is a blog about my life lessons learned through a devastating turn of events that happened in my life. There are several things you need to know while reading this blog.
I will, as best I can, make it clear that these are my life experiences, and although I'm very good at being creative about problem solving, I am not a therapist, social worker, nor do I have any degrees in those fields, however I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night - OK - that's a joke!!! But the fact is that if you are having serious depression or other issues, it is well worth your time to see a therapist, counselor, priest, minister or social worker. These people are highly trained to help you work through your problems. Do not be afraid, embarrassed or ashamed that you need help. We as humans all need help, and it is the person who reaches out for help that is truly the strongest among us.
Resources
First,
there are many resources available to you. If you do not want to see a
therapist or social worker, please consider contacting your local
church and usually there are many counselors, priests, rabbis or imams
who can guide you through with suggestions and resources. There are
also many self-help groups - contact local hospitals and clinics. Most
of the groups are free or very minimal in costs.
Neither I nor this blog are meant to be a replacement for therapy or assistance - but then you already knew that!!!
Where I'm coming from
It's
important to me when I read a philosopher, writer, author or even
resource material, to know where the author is coming from. There's so
much spinning these days, that I want you to know what I believe and
what I have learned. This is NOT the end all or only solution by any
means, it is my experience and so it is where I am coming from because
it has worked for me.
What my main purpose is in writing this blog, is to make some suggestions, but more than anything get your imagination and creativity going to work out what works for you. I've read many articles and some worked and some didn't and tried a lot of ideas before I found the ones that worked for me. More than anything - that's what you should search for - what works for you.
So here's a brief on me:
- I believe in the Holy Trinity: God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
- I believe in psycho-therapy. I believe that God created our hearts and brains and that He didn't mean for us to use part of it or shut our eyes to the works of science, exploration and discovery simply because we don't know where it will lead. IOW, I believe that God created this universe, but I also believe that the Big Bang Theory is probably a pretty good theory of how this universe began (we can't prove it yet, but give us time!!!! We will!).
- I believe that God did not set us on this Earth to suffer.
- I also believe that no mater how much we learn in science there will always be another question - there will always be another search and to know the complete story will only happen when we are in the presence of God and look into His eyes.
- I believe that God does test us to make us strong and bring us closer to him. You can not read the words of Exodus and the setting up of the mobile desert temple after the exodus from Egypt, and Moses's meetings with God and not come away from this without a true awe of God and His deep desire to connect with us.
- I believe that many stories in the Bible were set forth to explain difficult transitions in growth of the nature of us humans.
- I believe that much of the Bible can not be taken literally, unless you want to translate it correctly and put in proper context (IOW - translate is from as it was written to what it means today).
- I believe that much of the religion is misused, misunderstood and abused.
- I believe in the Oedipus Rex/Regina complexes,
- I believe that when pressed, we can all do terrible harm yet we are all capable of boundless, abundant love.
- I believe there is Evil and there is Good.
- I believe that we were not set on this world to judge others, it is my job to take care of my own business and keep my own life in order and live in an exemplary manner which hopefully will inspire, kindle and jump-start others - not in pursuing "my dream" but in pursuing their own dreams.
- I believe that although people may have issues, and this can explain or reason through a lot of evil, there is Evil in this world and that the only way to fight it is with your faith.
- I believe the physiology and psychology of mankind (body & spirit or physical & metaphysical) are inextricably intertwined and can not be separated.
- I believe that God gives us a chance to learn life lessons and that if we don't learn them the first time, He will repeat them over and over and over till we get them.
- I believe in Joseph Campbell's Hero Myths.
- I believe in the laws of physics and nature. OK so we can't quite justify the Laws of Quantum Physics with the Theory of Relativity - don't get me started on this. I love this subject!!! But we are moving toward this reconciliation we will grow even closer to God as we grow in more understanding of our world around us. But I also believe that these laws act and react with us everyday. I believe in science.
- I believe that faith offers the only vehicle by which I could have ever dug myself out of my seemingly hopeless situation - hope!
- I believe that challenging, kindling, rekindling and pursuing these endeavors is the greatest act that we can all accomplish in our lives. For these actions allow us to inspire and model paths that others may follow. Sometimes that means raising your family in the best way you know how; sometimes that means searching through thick and think for the meaning of life; sometimes that means just doing your day to day job. Sometimes that thrusts you into greatest, and sometimes it is a quiet life to pass on that greatness to the next generation.
Whew!!! Now having said all this, I also know that there are others ways to accomplish what I have accomplished. Mine is not the only way. Other ways may have their problems and then still others may accomplish even more and in an easier better way. This is the way I found that worked for me. This is what I discovered that really worked for me.
I wanted to come out of this whole trial process as whole and complete a person. I didn't want to end up with a lot of baggage - anger, bitterness, sorrow, regret, depression, addictions or worse. I wanted to be approachable, caring, giving, independent, strong, admirable to my piers, exemplary. I don't want too much huh? Well, it was what I wanted. And I have attained that goal.
This is what I would like to pass on to you and more than anything that it is not only possible but very probable. But there are some rules to follow, but they are fairly easy. You don't have to be an Einstein or a book worm to get this, but your have to first start out with the knowledge that you can not only survive, but also you can blossom!
What?
Blossom?
Are you nuts!
Nope - join me on a fantastic path.
