Yesterday I was with the support group at the VA again. Bob had invited me on Monday. I was not sure what to discuss and decided to use a handout that I had created this summer. On side one, I asked them to think about one personal strength. Period.
We went around in the circle and everyone stated one personal strength. Julie, Gloria, Maury, Joe, Bill, Don, Norm, LLew, Bob, Bob, Clarence, and Denise. Somehow, the conversation did turn to anger and I was able to use my other handout where I asked them to list ways to take the "grrr" out of their anger.
I then shared an excerpt from "The Lively Mind" by Jules Willing. I shared that Jules Willing wrote this book when he knew that he had a terminal illness and that he wrote it because he did not want his ideas to get lost with him.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Monday, September 04, 2006
Release the Unease
To focus on something new for 20 seconds, is that realistic? For example, the lyrics of a song. The new words come at you much faster than that. How do some people have the ability to remember lyrics while others don't? Talent? Unconscious competence?
Or do they have the ability to focus so hard on the lyrics that they do not need 20 seconds? Do they remove all other distractions and bring themselves completely into the present? What's their secret? Do they have the ability to release the unease so much that they can fully absorb new information?
Or do they have the ability to focus so hard on the lyrics that they do not need 20 seconds? Do they remove all other distractions and bring themselves completely into the present? What's their secret? Do they have the ability to release the unease so much that they can fully absorb new information?
Get rid of the hidden unease
Without realizing it, we tend to be in a state of unease. The unease pervades our lives......
On Saturday, I got a professional massage for the first time in my life. As Catz massaged me, I discovered that there were many regions of tightness in my body. She had to work on so many knots of tension. I was amazed at the difference it made to me. She was deliberate and methodical and discovered all the tension spots in my body.
This got me to thinking about how the unconsciousness of unease that is in the body is also in the mind. Hidden unease in the mind prevents us from focus on the present. In my presentations, I talk about the importance of concentration for creating strong memories. I talk about distractions. Perhaps, I should start emphasizing the important of getting rid of the hidden unease. Hidden unease could happen due to grief or anger and I have alluded to these as sources of distraction. But like during a massage, maybe I need to find a way to release the tension in the mind due to the hidden unease. I think that I am successful at doing this already but not in a conscious kind of way.
On Saturday, I got a professional massage for the first time in my life. As Catz massaged me, I discovered that there were many regions of tightness in my body. She had to work on so many knots of tension. I was amazed at the difference it made to me. She was deliberate and methodical and discovered all the tension spots in my body.
This got me to thinking about how the unconsciousness of unease that is in the body is also in the mind. Hidden unease in the mind prevents us from focus on the present. In my presentations, I talk about the importance of concentration for creating strong memories. I talk about distractions. Perhaps, I should start emphasizing the important of getting rid of the hidden unease. Hidden unease could happen due to grief or anger and I have alluded to these as sources of distraction. But like during a massage, maybe I need to find a way to release the tension in the mind due to the hidden unease. I think that I am successful at doing this already but not in a conscious kind of way.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
"There's Hope!"
Pat is in her sixties and today is her birthday. I gave her a copy of this article from Time Magazine, January 2006. See link for .pdf file.
http://cabezalab.org/pdf/Kluger06_Aging_TimeMagazine.pdf
After she read it, her reaction was "There's Hope!" and this from a lady who told me about "Stop the World I Want to Get Off!"
Many, many happy returns of the day, Pat!
http://cabezalab.org/pdf/Kluger06_Aging_TimeMagazine.pdf
After she read it, her reaction was "There's Hope!" and this from a lady who told me about "Stop the World I Want to Get Off!"
Many, many happy returns of the day, Pat!
Monday, July 24, 2006
Inspiration to be yourself
Two of Anna Quindlen's books inspire me - "A Short Guide to a Happy Life" and "How Reading Changed my Life".
The link that this post takes you to is a commencement speech by her. It relates to my quest for authenticity.
The link that this post takes you to is a commencement speech by her. It relates to my quest for authenticity.
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