“I will be responsible and accountable for my feelings, thoughts, actions and attitudes.”

Accountability — Photo Credit: Fritz Reitz

When a friend showed me a picture of this rock, I thought of a one of the self care contracts* that I use in my personal life and with my psychotherapy clients. That contract is “I am responsible and accountable for my thoughts, feelings, actions and attitudes.”

It is not uncommon to hear people in our society make comments such as, “You hurt my feelings.” and “You made me do that.” You…..you….you….you. When we get into the “you’s” we are more than likely not being responsible and accountable for our own feelings, thoughts, actions and attitudes. Using that way of speaking increases the chances we will immerse ourselves in victim thinking and as a result experience a sense of powerlessness.

I’m not saying that people who are nasty and viscous in their words and actions should not be responsible for what they say and do. Continue reading ““I will be responsible and accountable for my feelings, thoughts, actions and attitudes.”” →

Wordless Wednesday

Weekly Photo Challenge: Change

About a month ago, I drove to my local Safeway only to discover that construction had begun behind a shut-down restaurant which is located west of the grocery store. I was also surprised to see that one of the two entrances that go from the side-street to the Safeway parking lot was fenced off. That seemed really strange. I thought Safeway must have charged a lot of money for that privilege.

Soon a big metal structure rose from the ground. I had never seen anything like it. Continue reading “Weekly Photo Challenge: Change” →

My Journey Towards Humility

“A true genius admits that he/she knows nothing.” Albert Einstein

“It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.” Mahatma Gandhi

“I will not ask thee for improved memory, only for a little more humility and less self-assurance when my own memory doesn’t agree with that of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong.” An Anonymous Abbess

“Acting with humility does not in any way deny our own self-worth. Rather it affirms the inherent worth of all persons. Some would consider humility to be a psychological malady that interferes with “success.” However, wealth, power or status gained at the expense of others brings only anxiety- never peace and love.” Commentary on Christian Bible Reference Site

Humility, among other things, is the absence of arrogance. One of the ways I am most likely to be arrogant is to hold on to a belief that I am right and others are wrong. I may verbalize my opinion and then stay silent, but internally I am very likely to be holding on to my rightness.

Two situations from the past come to mind when I think of ways I’ve worked on this issue: Continue reading “My Journey Towards Humility” →

Quote: Howard Thurman

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs;

ask yourself what makes you come alive.

And then go and do that. Because what the world

needs is people who have come alive.”

~ Howard Thurman

Howard Thurman (1899-1981) was raised in the segregated South by his grandmother, who had once been a slave. In 1925 he became an ordained Baptist minister, his first church assignment being Mt Zion Baptist Church in Oberlin, Ohio. After serving as a Professor of Religion at Morehouse and Spelman colleges, Thurman studied with Rufus Jones, head of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. In 1935-36 he took a group of African Americans to India to meet with Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi encouraged them to take the principle of non-violence to the world.

A PBS article on People of Faith stated “In 1944 Thurman left his position as dean at Howard University to co-found the first fully integrated, multi-cultural church in the U.S. in San Francisco, CA. The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples was a revolutionary idea. Founded on the ideal of diverse community with a focus on a common faith in God, Thurman brought people of every ethnic background together to worship and work for peace. ‘Do not be silent; there is no limit to the power that may be released through you.’ “

Howard Thurman was the author of 21 books.

My 70 Day Wellness Challenge

fresh fruits and vegetables isolated on white background — Picture Credit: Wikimedia

Yesterday, the first post I read was SeasonedSistah2’s My 70 Day Challenge to Wellness. Her post really grabbed my attention. I have been trying to change some health sabotaging behaviors for some time but making agreements with myself hasn’t worked. In particular, I continually give in to my desire for chocolate, donuts and cookies. I know from my own personal experience and in my experience as a psychotherapist that I will be more likely to succeed if I make a public commitment. Continue reading “My 70 Day Wellness Challenge” →

Weekly Photo Challenge: Grid

Seattle Light Rail, Mt. Baker Station

Written for Weekly Photo Challenge: Grid

Wordless Wednesday

The Bug Mother

Yesterday, I visited a friend who calls herself a Bug Mother. Her “children” are Giant Spiny Australian Leaf bugs (Extatosoma Tiaratum). Right now she has nine of them; three are babies, three are molting and three are young adolescents. I took a photo of her holding one of the adolescent bugs.The adults will be twice this size.

Below are links to two articles she wrote about her bugs last year. I find them fascinating.

Becoming a Bug Mother Apr-2014 Page 12-15
Follow-up to “Becoming a Bug Mother” Aug 2014 Page 10-12

266,000 and More to Come!

Last Saturday, twelve of our local members of the PNW GreenFriends Litter Project met at Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill in Seattle. Our goal, to pick up as many cigarette butts as we could in an hour and a half. The Litter Project was formed in 2011. Most of our members come from the Pacific Northwest part of the United States, but we also have members from other parts of the U.S. and around the world.

When I started picking up litter, I thought that cigarette filters were harmless cotton and often passed them by in favor of the bigger pieces of litter. Soon I learned they were anything but harmless. They are made from cellulose acetate tow and they can take decades to degrade. Investigators in a San Diego State University study once discovered that if you put fathead minnows and top smelt in a liter of water that also contains a single cigarette butt, half of the fish will die. Continue reading “266,000 and More to Come!” →