t- (therapy) groups, meetups, encounter groups

Now that we've raised our children and we're back to giving ourselves time, all the little groups from the sixties are back. They're older, matured, wiser and more spiritual, yet are still small, intimate groups where we share what is deep in us and experience change and awe. I'm in three of them and I'm reading at least two books related to human potential. I've become adept at sharing a two minute summary of me. I come home with folded papers in my purse. I promise myself I'll look things up on the internet. I add yet another author or book to my ever-increasing list of good things to read that are good for me.

What I discovered tonight is that first and foremost I need to attend to me. One person shared that her joy comes from helping others. My joy comes from healing and shedding pain. Why there should be so much pain and where it comes from, I don't always know. I am learning two paths now. Maybe three. The buddhist way of releasing everything and accepting what is and learning to let feelings and thoughts pass through me. Desires bring suffering. The spiritism way of feeling deeply the emotions that connect me to the universe and cause it to expand. Desires are good and plentiful and should increase. Then, I suppose, the third path is doing good and/or helping others. Tricky that. How does one help? It's not as easy as you might think. Right now I'm content to help privately in little ways. To learn not to be overbearing yet to be assertive when necessary. I'm sticking to my little plot of ground where I can try things out.


Current Fads
Listening. iTunes Party Shuffle of my entire digital music library; others
Watching. Hair (1979)
Activity. breathing
Gadget. Samsung cell phone
News Source. the news feeds in Safari
Reading. Spirit Guides and Angel Guardians - Richard Webster; Ask and It is Given - Esther and Jerry Hicks; Self-Editing for Fiction Writers - Renni Browne & Dave King; Midnight Dreary: The Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe - John Evangelist Walsh; Das Wilde Land - Heinz Konsalik u. Susanne Scheibler; Mensa Bulletin (Yes, I really am reading them all right now—I'm a reading addict. What can I say?)