Hi all,

As has been noticed, this space has become a dump for spam. So I thought I'd
come here and say hello to everyone and see how you're all doing.

My name is Gary and I've been coming here since 2006. Lately, I've been quiet
due to a lot of time-consuming committments in my life. I have been offering
prayers up as I read your posts. I know, not the most helpful.

Perhaps if people have found ways to cope, they'd be intereasted in sharing them
in hopes of helping others. There is no better way to help others than to share
your own strengths, hopes, and experiences.

What has been helping me lately is reading. A few books that helped me
immensely are:

There's Nothing Wrong With You by Sheri Huber
Why Good People Do Bad Things by Debbie Ford
Radical Self-Acceptance by Tara Brach

What these books all have in common is the idea that we have a false self that
has taken over our lives and convinced us that we're deficient in some way or
Not Enough, as I called it. Once we have that belief system, we surround
ourselves with people that help reinforce that belief, whether by expectation or
advice they offer (as if it's their mission to "fix" us). We live from that
place, never seeing that we are enough as we are no matter what anyone else
says.

It's very hard to practice lovingkindness toward ourselves while we're living in
a world that fosters competition, hate, images of success we're supposed to live
up, and generally puts us down if we're not like Them.

These books (and many others) helped me to realize I'm whole and that I can heal
the fractured parts of me and get on with designing a life.

That's me.


Peace,
Gary . . .