Don’t Be an Observer, Be a Participant
Many good things can come from quiet observation: we can learn by watching, we can get a feel for things that are unfamiliar to us, and we can increase the depth of our understanding of a person, place, thing, or phenomenon. However, being a total “wallflower” is no way to live your life if you […]
How to Be Present As We All Exchange Our Presents
The holidays can be a time of great joy. For some, it means spending time with beloved friends and family and cherishing our memories together even as we move toward a new year with new memories to be formed. But—let’s be honest: the holidays aren’t always a free-for-all of fun and togetherness. In fact, some […]
How to Stay Present-Focused During the Holidays
As the new year approaches and people get ready to make vows dedicated to what they will attempt to achieve in the new year, it can be easy to get swept up in the tumult of future-focused idealism. Although planning goals and setting out to achieve them is a noble endeavor, it’s important to remember […]
Codependency during the Holidays
December! Winter weather is here, falling snow, decorated trees and carols filling the air. I grew up in a time when I couldn’t wait to make a snow man in the front yard before coming inside to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa while we watched Frosty on prime time TV. It was a care […]
There is help, there are options….
The closer we get to the holidays the more I think about how we look forward to spending time with our friends and family. Christmas lights on the tree, festive decorations, and joyful music in every home. The truth is this cookie cutter Christmas isn’t the norm for many families. Children of co-dependent parents suffer […]
First Things First
When we are first born, we come into this world helpless, needy, and unsure of the world around us. Our parents are there to care for us, making sure that all of our basic needs are met. In a perfect world. Yes, in a perfect world, Mom is there to hold us close and feed […]
How did I get here?
If you were to ask a codependent how they got where they are, they probably couldn’t tell you. Sure, you can look at their past and see a cause and effect relationship between their childhood rearing and where they are today. It is very uncommon for a codependent personality to become aware of their disorder […]
When Parenting Goes Too Far
When you become a parent you commit your life to the care and upbringing of your child. Making sure that you do everything possible to ensure that they grow up to be happy healthy adults, protecting them from what may harm them, and teaching them what it means to be a good member of society. […]