DO YOU GET IT?

Remember that old saying: 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree'?

You know what it means, right?

Check out this story:  The guy was really smart, but… He just didn't get it!

His girlfriend was very difficult.  No need to give you the sorry details…

D-I-F-F-I-C-U-L-T!

"Why should I break up?" he asked.  "All relationships suck!  Just look at my parents!"

What do ya say?

He really doesn't get it, does he?

You do, right?

SERIOUSLY SPEAKING - SEPARATION

It is truly a challenge to let go of what we want and need and recognize the limitations of others - even others as significant to us as our parents and siblings.

But…

If you can accept that simple refrain: 

"You are you, and I am I…" more  your ability to recover from those perceived 'wounds' is amazing!

DANCE WITH IT!   EXPERIENTIAL APPS                           

An opportunity to experiment with some fun ideas…

TRY REMINDING YOURSELF:

They are not doing it to you!

They are doing their own dance…and you happen to be there!

Their dance was created long before they met you!

You have the option to walk away.

If you stay it is your choice…deal with it!

WORDS OF COMFORT

Didn't get what you wanted or needed this past holiday?

How do we forgive our friends and family for not being perfect?

TRY THIS MANTRA:  THEY DID THE BEST THEY COULD!

Maybe not the best you wanted …

What do ya say?

Do you get this?  

You know its probably true, right?

SERIOUSLY SPEAKING - TAKE COVER!

Forgive me for being blunt but… ranting is like taking a dump!  You might feel better afterwards, but you leave behind a stink!

We seem to learn this dumping strategy at an early age.

It appears to have several functions:

* It can make the 'dumper' feel better just like the other kind of dump.

* It can create a distraction - with enough loud yelling and ranting, maybe the other person won't call me out about whatever I did wrong.

* Finally, it can be part of our unfinished business from those terrible two's when we counted on someone else to make our anger go away.

DANCE WITH IT!   EXPERIENTIAL APPS                           

An opportunity to experiment with some fun ideas…

CREATING NOISE

How many times have you thrown a fit instead of acknowledging your 'bad'?

Think about this:  Ranting is fast, it's easy, and it creates pain for the other person.

Ask yourself if you really want to do this to someone else… and if you do … do it consciously!

SCREECH! SCREECH! SCREECH!

He came into the room ranting - the trains were late, he hated winter, everyone was nasty…

His eyes were flashing red and rolling in their sockets (well almost, you get the idea.)

Hmmm…

Couldn't he just say, 'sorry I'm so late?"

What do ya say?

Ever notice this one?  Ever do it?

SERIOUSLY SPEAKING - APPRECIATE MUCH?

Did your family Thanksgiving dinners include going around the table and saying what you were grateful for?

Remember this - being thankful - and mindful - of what you have does not take away your right to:

        

        Want more…

        Be envious…

        Be angry…

Appreciation for what we have does not mean we stop being human!

DANCE WITH IT!   EXPERIENTIAL APPS                           

An opportunity to experiment with some fun ideas…

TRY THIS:

Make a list of things that you appreciate…

Now, the fun part… For each of those appreciations, list a resentment!

The formula is:  I appreciate/ I resent

Continue until you run out!

What happens as you do this?

MEMORIES…

Here's a pretty amazing and uplifting statement from an elderly lady we know dealing with her memory loss:

to the tune of...

"Well," she told us with a big smile, "there are people who remember less then I do…"

What do ya say?

Unreal or just choosing to be thankful for what she has?