Hi 4C Women,
The past has come back to me this past week and it's been a struggle to work through it. As I reached out, I realized how blessed I am for Statement 9 and the support I received. I don't usually read my horoscope which is on the side bar of my home page but for some reason, I decided to and here is what it said on the very day I couldn't stop the tears and reached out. "You will likely receive the support you need if you seek out advice on a problem today. But where you find counsel isn't as important as the information you are given. The key message is that you needn't go through life's rough patches or face its array of baffling questions alone. You also don't have to feel like you're the only person who must come up with all the answers now. Thankfully, it warms your heart to know that others have your back when you need them."
As I started my Christmas decorating, I decided to open each wrapped ornament, ceramic item, holiday photos and snowmen (I am a collector) with great care and reflection. I was overwhelmed with gratefulness for the love I have experienced in my life even while feeling sad about the losses. I cannot change the past and while there are times I am conflicted with regrets, Statement 9 brings me back to the realization that it is futile to be stuck with what cannot be changed. So I keep on learning, trying to understand my strong reactions and seek peace and healing. I hope that each of you will reach out when you need to share unsettling feelings, gain insight from others and know you are doing the best you can. You are enough and most importantly, you are not alone. Part of no longer victimizing ourselves begins with forgiving ourselves for our mistakes and unhealthy choices. No longer will we be the provider of punishment and continued suffering. We can go to that auto correct button and press "forgive, heal and learn from the past.
Bonded in forgiveness, healing and learning as the past is gone forever!!
4C WFS Member
Andrew D. Kessler, JD, is founder and principal of Slingshot Solutions LLC, a consulting firm that specializes in behavioral health policy. With 15 years of policy experience- and over a decade in behavioral health- Kessler is a fixture in circles that advocate for substance abuse treatment, prevention, and research. He collaborates frequently with congressional offices, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and other federal actors.
Donna White, RN, PhD, CS, CADAC is a consultant Addiction Specialist for the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, a Public Health Hospital for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Past positions were the former Chief Operating Officer and Nurse Executive at Worcester State Hospital, and the Director of Nurses and the Director of Chemical Dependency Services as well as the Dual Diagnosis Program at Pembroke Psychiatric Hospital. She is now a Master Trainer for the Department of Mental Health.
