The bridges to where we are:

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

* the Bridge:     
All those who are around me
are the bridge to my success,
so they are all important.
--------------Manny Pacquiao , boxer

Writing Prompt:  Please reflect for a moment about who around you has a been
a bridge to your well being. List them. Honor them. Silently thank them.
Then, circle one person.
Write about that person: how did they bridge for you? What brought them to that point?
Who do you think has helped them? Are there any ways that you were able to help them?
Thank them, honor them, name them, and remember them.

Lunch with a Legend

" I highly recommend talking to yourself!" Carl Reiner said.
"If you are smart, and you ask yourself good questions,
you get good answers!" Today I had lunch with TV/Move Comedy Legend Carl Reiner, along with Film Critic Gred Moody, the Gov, and 200 other fans at the Starz Film Festival at the SIE Film Center on Colfax in Denver.  The 91 year old creator of the Dick Van Dyke Show, as well as writer of Steve Martin's first hit movie, The Jerk, as well as Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, The Man with Two Brains, and the Comic, gives credit for his first writing success to his late wife, Estelle. "I had been invited to a meeting with a book publisher, to write stories. I told her, 'I don't know about words! I don't have many words, I'm not well educated!' She said to me, 'You may not have words, but you have feelings. Write about what you feel."
If you hunger for more, check out his book, "I Remember Me."
Today's prompt: Today, at the end of the day, take a quick list inventory of the various feelings you traveled through during the day. Circle one. Please describe that feeling. What color is it?
Draw a picture of it. Ask yourself: what is this feeling telling me, and what do I do next?"
Please keep writing. All best, Jo'el



The Magic of Groups!

The healing power of groups can be magical. Having the opportunity to sit in a group and discuss one's life issues, can provide validation for emotions, support for needs, and even provide like minded "others" who can serve as role models for positive actions, thoughts and feelings.

We all belong to various groups, whether we are aware of them as such, or not! While we might belong to professional associations, or attend self help or support or 12-steps groups, we all, in some way, have various layers of groups that we are a part of. Our groups include members of our family, extended family, our friends, coworkers, those who work for the same company, those who work in the same industry, same job title, same profession, all the way to including those who live in our neighborhood, our city, our state, our region, our country, our political affiliation, religious      choice, or even sexual orientation! We have many groups in our lives, even if we don't mail in membership applications to belong.

Writing Prompt:   Please take a moment to reflect on the many groups that you are a part of.
List them. Circle them, and see if there are connections between the various groups. List as many as you can. Follow up: The next time you are feeling just a bit down, or alone or left out in the world, refer to your list, and know that you are actually not alone in the world. In fact, see if there are any ways that you can make the list longer, to imagine being the part of other groups, more connections. Are there ways that you can reach out to more groups, and make the list more inclusive? There is power in groups!