A Ritual to Read to Each Other

If you don't know the kind of person I am

and I don't know the kind of person you are

a pattern that others made may prevail in the world

and following the wrong god home we may miss our star.

For there is many a small betrayal in the mind,

a shrug that lets the fragile sequence break

sending with shouts the horrible errors of childhood

storming out to play through the broken dyke.

And as elephants parade holding each elephant's tail,

but if one wanders the circus won't find the park,

I call it cruel and maybe the root of all cruelty

to know what occurs but not recognize the fact.

And so I appeal to a voice, to something shadowy,

a remote important region in all who talk:

Though we could fool each other, we should consider-

lest the parade of our mutual life get lost in the dark.

For it is important that awake people be awake

or a breaking line may discourage them back to sleep,

the signals we give - yes or no, or maybe -

Should be clear; the darkness around us is deep.

~ William Stafford, American Poet

The New Secret to Being Emotionally Healthy, Fit, and Happy for Life

Most of us have times when we catch ourselves in very critical self talk. If we fail to go to the gym, eat a sugary treat, have too much to drink, miss a deadline at work, for some of us, it's very easy to start in on ourselves. But health experts say negative self talk is counter productive and ruins our motivation to stay fit, make healthy choices, and be more responsible. Here is a brief article with some excellent thoughts on how to give ourselves some slack even when we mess up. See it here: Self-Compassion