I'm not really sure where I am at with that. I have done what I had read to do, made a list of people that I wanted to forgive. Wrote down all of the things, like a personal letter, that I wanted to say to each person and then I burnt them. The whole ritual part felt pretty good and freeing, even though my house was full of smoke. Note to self, do not do this in the house again or at least do it when all the windows can be open. December in Wisconsin is probably not the best month for that. Anyway, two of the people on my A-list managed to shake me up a bit on Christmas Day. Forgiveness is about the past, it makes it difficult when people keep doing things to you in the now, guess I might be on a continual forgiveness path with these two.
On the positive side, I was able to witness first hand how people can literally affect your health. Among the one house guest and the surprise phone call on Christmas Day, my stomach was beyond sick. Simple indigestion and knots don't even begin to describe it. Within an hour of the guest leaving and my decision to
"not respond" to the phone call, I was fine. I had drank a Canada Dry at that time, but had not taken any medicine or anything. I could feel the anxiety leaving my stomach area and peace coming over my entire body. I can no longer allow people to affect me that way. I have spent a lifetime living in this sea of sickness and anxiety, allowing the emotions and negativity of other people affect me. I am trying to learn ways to protect myself.
The book Angel Therapy was recommended to me as a useful tool. Had a girls day with my best girl friend yesterday and low and behold, I ended up at Barnes and Noble. First of all, it was never my intention to go to the book store, but I ended up there, none the less. Anyway, I saw an older gentleman standing in the aisle by the Spirituality section and I started to make conversation. It turns out that he lost his young daughter in a car accident and since that had happened, he has started to question his Catholic and Methodist beliefs and religion in general. He informed me that he really just wanted to make contact with his daughter if that was possible and that he has even considered joining her, but realized that is not really an option since visiting does not involve coming back. (At this time anyway). We talked for awhile and when it was all said and done, he left with a hardcover book by Teresa Caputo, Long Island Medium. As we walked to the front of the store to purchase our books, he shook my hand, thanked me and informed me that there must have been a reason that we met at Barnes and Noble that day. I assured him that I don't have a doubt that our meeting was divine intervention. I wished him luck in his quest and I said a prayer for him that God would give him the answers that he was seeking. A perfect stranger in the book store and yet, it was as if we were
"old friends." What an awesome experience!!
On the positive side, I was able to witness first hand how people can literally affect your health. Among the one house guest and the surprise phone call on Christmas Day, my stomach was beyond sick. Simple indigestion and knots don't even begin to describe it. Within an hour of the guest leaving and my decision to
"not respond" to the phone call, I was fine. I had drank a Canada Dry at that time, but had not taken any medicine or anything. I could feel the anxiety leaving my stomach area and peace coming over my entire body. I can no longer allow people to affect me that way. I have spent a lifetime living in this sea of sickness and anxiety, allowing the emotions and negativity of other people affect me. I am trying to learn ways to protect myself.
The book Angel Therapy was recommended to me as a useful tool. Had a girls day with my best girl friend yesterday and low and behold, I ended up at Barnes and Noble. First of all, it was never my intention to go to the book store, but I ended up there, none the less. Anyway, I saw an older gentleman standing in the aisle by the Spirituality section and I started to make conversation. It turns out that he lost his young daughter in a car accident and since that had happened, he has started to question his Catholic and Methodist beliefs and religion in general. He informed me that he really just wanted to make contact with his daughter if that was possible and that he has even considered joining her, but realized that is not really an option since visiting does not involve coming back. (At this time anyway). We talked for awhile and when it was all said and done, he left with a hardcover book by Teresa Caputo, Long Island Medium. As we walked to the front of the store to purchase our books, he shook my hand, thanked me and informed me that there must have been a reason that we met at Barnes and Noble that day. I assured him that I don't have a doubt that our meeting was divine intervention. I wished him luck in his quest and I said a prayer for him that God would give him the answers that he was seeking. A perfect stranger in the book store and yet, it was as if we were
"old friends." What an awesome experience!!