Category: Uncategorized
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Enemies, Foreign…and Domestic
I took a solemn oath when I enlisted in the Army that I would defend the United States Constitution against enemies both foreign and domestic. During training, I was taught how to fight the enemy. Sadly, nobody took the time back then to prepare me for the battle brought into my life near the end…
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The Power of Connection
There is a story that is circulating around the Internet that goes something like this: A soldier finds himself caught in a deep hole. Try as he might, he cannot climb out. He scrambles and frantically grabs at everything around him, to no avail. “HELP!” he cries. Along comes his sergeant. The sergeant asks what…
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Healing is Like an Onion
At the beginning of the animated movie Shrek, Shrek (an ogre) sets out to save a princess so Shrek can gain back the peace and quiet of his usually isolated swamp that recently became overrun with banished fairytale creatures. Shrek wants his solitude. But a chatterbox character named Donkey follows him on his journey, and…
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Walking in Gratitude
At the beginning of November, I begin to see thankful posts. I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade because I actually think this is a lovely tradition but it saddens me when it’s merely seasonal. This is the season where it is trendy to elevate what we are grateful for by putting words and…
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Codependency Says…
As a child, I played a game called “Simon Says”. The leader calls the shots, but you only do the action if the command is preceded by the words “Simon says…”. If the leader called out a command without these words attached to it and you did the subsequent command, you were out of the…
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Emotions are Not a Threat
Throughout the years, I have encountered a few folks who seem to think my joy or enthusiasm is fake because I have a big personality. When discussing celebrations, happy events, or good news, raised with a theatrical background and as an extrovert, it is physically impossible for me to remain monotone and feed others emotionally-modulated,…
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What’s This…?
In the “Nightmare Before Christmas”, the main character from Halloween Town, Jack Skellington, accidentally happens upon Christmas Town and is enamored by this very different world. Vibrant colors, tiny lights, and joyful singing stand in stark contrast to his world, where inky colors, unlit night, and terrorized screams reign supreme. He sings a song titled,…
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Silence is Golden…Except When It Isn’t
As the old saying goes, “silence is golden”, meaning that silence is highly valued, even preferable to speaking. The underlying belief is that speaking creates noise and noise is often obnoxious, rattling, jarring, and agitating. Alternately, silence brings relaxation and space for introspective thoughts. Except for when it doesn’t. While silence when sitting in nature…
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Anatomy of a Panic Attack
Let’s get something out of the way right up front: panic isn’t the same as fear. I have been afraid. I live with anxiety. People who equate the two usually draw the comparison because they do not actually understand what a panic attack is. Their ignorance attempts to make panic attacks more palatable, to make…
Wisdom from the Trenches 