Here's another book I'm reccomending for parents of teens:
"The Five Love Languages of Teenagers" by Gary Chapman. It contains practical guidance on how to discover and express the teen's primary love language -- the way that he or she will best receive love. If you've got a teen who's misbehaving, uncommunicative, angry or otherwise having difficulty, it will open your eyes about communicating with your teen in life-changing ways.
Jul 27, 2006
Directions for the occasionally confused!
Here's a treat. It's a new CD release from working psychotherapist John F. Elliott and a mix of songs and commentary about love, relationships and stuff like that.
It's called "Directions in Life for the Occasionally Confused" -- and let's face it -- who isn't?
You can listen for free! Find it at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/johnfosterelliott
It's called "Directions in Life for the Occasionally Confused" -- and let's face it -- who isn't?
You can listen for free! Find it at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/johnfosterelliott
Jul 8, 2006
Reflections on relationships
Last night we attended a lovely event, the wedding "reception" of two members in the Racine healing community.
This middle-aged couple had actually gotten married more than a year ago in a very private and quiet ceremony -- and were looking for the right time to their their commitment with their circle of friends.
This was no ordinary reception. Both were were dressed in full Renaissance regalia, all skillfully and amazingly sewn by the bride. He in elegant gold and black pantaloons, vest and shirt with a sword by his side, looking remarkably like Henry VIII. (Where's the turkey leg?) She in a frothy lemon yellow gown trimmed with pearly beads over the traditional corset, her hair in braids wound around her head and a big smile on her face.
There was bagpipe music, sweet cakes, simple snacks and wine and spring water. In the deep of the evening, they renewed their vows publicly while a boom box played the appropriate music.
Simple, fun, playful, relaxed and serious. Which brings me to Clarissa Pinkola Estes, the wonderful storyteller and psychoanalyst who holds a lot of wisdom about all kinds of things, including relationships. In this season of weddings -- and anniversaries! – now is a good time to review what makes a good relationships. Here is her take:
This middle-aged couple had actually gotten married more than a year ago in a very private and quiet ceremony -- and were looking for the right time to their their commitment with their circle of friends.
This was no ordinary reception. Both were were dressed in full Renaissance regalia, all skillfully and amazingly sewn by the bride. He in elegant gold and black pantaloons, vest and shirt with a sword by his side, looking remarkably like Henry VIII. (Where's the turkey leg?) She in a frothy lemon yellow gown trimmed with pearly beads over the traditional corset, her hair in braids wound around her head and a big smile on her face.
There was bagpipe music, sweet cakes, simple snacks and wine and spring water. In the deep of the evening, they renewed their vows publicly while a boom box played the appropriate music.
Simple, fun, playful, relaxed and serious. Which brings me to Clarissa Pinkola Estes, the wonderful storyteller and psychoanalyst who holds a lot of wisdom about all kinds of things, including relationships. In this season of weddings -- and anniversaries! – now is a good time to review what makes a good relationships. Here is her take:
- How well does this person relate to friends and family?
- What value does this person place on money, material possessions, caring for a home?
- Is this person generous in spirit and with resources?
- Does this person have a desire to learn and grow?
- Does this person enhance your life and make it "bigger"?
- Is this person strong, practical, grounded and sensitive, like a rooted tree that is also flexible?
- Can this person feel pain and have compassion for others in pain?
- What inspires and motivates this person?
- Can this person laugh easily at himself or herself?
- Can this person stop a brewing argument quickly and easily?
- Is this person able to be a good friend, willing to listen and to share?
- Does this person carry grudges or is this person able to forgive and move on?
Although none of us is perfect, this list of questions is a good starting point for self-examination and discussion.
P.S. If you haven’t already, be sure to read Clarissa’s "Women Who Run with the Wolves." It’s a classic.
Jul 7, 2006
Who has made a difference in your life?
This just in:
Lake House Health & Learning Center is now hosting a community notebook from The Journal Times, the daily newspaper in Racine. The notebook is just that -- a spiral-bound and lined notebook in which visitors are asked to thoughtfully answer a question about the connections in their lives.
Our question is, "Who has made a difference in your life?"
This is a great question. It's exactly the kind of question that I like to ask the people I work with who may come to me for counseling or coaching so they can reflect on the people who have influenced their lives and how they are changed through their relationship with another person.
With so much of the content in our news media focusing on what we consider traditional news and what I call trauma -- war, vehicle accidents, crime, disease and pain -- it is good to have intelligent articles that encourage us to reflect on what relationships makes a person and what makes a life.
Stop by Lake House at 932 Lake Ave., Racine, Wis., to write in our notebook (only first name and place of residence required). Or just take a moment to ponder the question and answer for yourself.
Lake House Health & Learning Center is now hosting a community notebook from The Journal Times, the daily newspaper in Racine. The notebook is just that -- a spiral-bound and lined notebook in which visitors are asked to thoughtfully answer a question about the connections in their lives.
Our question is, "Who has made a difference in your life?"
This is a great question. It's exactly the kind of question that I like to ask the people I work with who may come to me for counseling or coaching so they can reflect on the people who have influenced their lives and how they are changed through their relationship with another person.
With so much of the content in our news media focusing on what we consider traditional news and what I call trauma -- war, vehicle accidents, crime, disease and pain -- it is good to have intelligent articles that encourage us to reflect on what relationships makes a person and what makes a life.
Stop by Lake House at 932 Lake Ave., Racine, Wis., to write in our notebook (only first name and place of residence required). Or just take a moment to ponder the question and answer for yourself.
Organic produce and a recipe to try
Onions, green peas, sweet strawberries! The fresh produce, delivered here to Lake House from Full Harvest Farm, is just delicious. Every week a box arrives, and our subsribers in this community-supported agriculture farm look with delight to see what's inside. I am one of those who waits with eagerness and delight. In this week's box was a variety of red potato that is called Red Norland. The texture of these potatoes is smooth as silk. Here's a recipe to enjoy:
Potatoes with Fennel
Wash and slice one pound of potatoes into ¼-inch circles or half-moons.
In a 10-inch skillet over medium heat, melt:
2 tablespoons butter
Add:
1 medium onion, cut in half and thinly sliced
2 large cloves garlic, chopped
1 small fennel bulb, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced
Sauté the onion, garlic and fennel until the onion is transparent, 2-3 minutes. Add sliced potatoes and freshly-ground pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, about 2 minutes. Add:
½ cup water or chicken stock
Cover and cook until potatoes are tender, approximately 10 minutes. Now add:
1 tablespoon chopped fennel leaves
Salt to taste
Serve immediately.
Potatoes with Fennel
Wash and slice one pound of potatoes into ¼-inch circles or half-moons.
In a 10-inch skillet over medium heat, melt:
2 tablespoons butter
Add:
1 medium onion, cut in half and thinly sliced
2 large cloves garlic, chopped
1 small fennel bulb, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced
Sauté the onion, garlic and fennel until the onion is transparent, 2-3 minutes. Add sliced potatoes and freshly-ground pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, about 2 minutes. Add:
½ cup water or chicken stock
Cover and cook until potatoes are tender, approximately 10 minutes. Now add:
1 tablespoon chopped fennel leaves
Salt to taste
Serve immediately.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)