Beyond Blue: March 2008 Archives

Since today is the Feast of the Annunciation, when Mary said "yes," I thought I'd reprint my "yes" moment, my "Saving Grace" moment.

I'm directionally impaired. Always have been.

When I was four, I got lost in the hallways of the production studio where "The Uncle Al Show" was taped. As all the other kids (including my three sisters) ate ice-cream cones made of marshmallows (like peeps) and did the elbow dance in front of cameras, I was crying my eyes out off the set, looking for my mom.

I still can't read a map, and I manage to get lost in my own town. I need direction. Big time.

So I call on archangel Gabriel.

He's the 411 guy, the dude with all the skinny on God's plans. With his access to heaven, this feathered fellow can decode practically any divine agenda. Best known as the Angel of the Annunciation, it was he who appeared to Mary to reveal what became the greatest miracle of the Christian faith.

After Gabriel said hello, told Mary whom he represented, and freaked her out a bit ("But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be" Luke 1:29), the heavenly messenger did what angels do best: consoled her, quieted her fears, and let her in on the game plan.

God, I offer myself to Thee-- to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!

Twelve years ago I sat next to an Indian man at the wedding reception of Eric's best friend. He claimed that he was trained in the art of palm reading and asked if he could read my palm.

"Ahh. Very interesting," he said. He furrowed his brows as he read my life line (the wide line encircling your thumb), grimaced even more when he got to my heart line (just above the life line, crossing horizontally to your index finger), and then sighed with a deep breath at my marriage line (just below your pinky).

"You will have many lovers, but be alone all of your short life," he said (I kid you not) with a straight face.

"Thanks. Very comforting," I said, and began a conversation with the woman to my right, a cousin of the groom, who confirmed that the Indian guy was an idiot.

Palm readers (even the really bad ones) allege to see the big picture of a person's life by reading the major lines (life, head, heart, health, fate, fame, marriage, money, sex, spirit, travel, and luck) and how they intersect. All of the information is there, coded into patterns that takes up only a few inches of your hand.

Wishing you all a lucky day. Given that today is my sobriety anniversary, I've always liked this prayer by St. Patrick:

I bind to myself God's power to guide me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to teach me,
God's eye to watch over me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to give me speech,
God's hand to guide me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to shelter me,
God's host to secure me . . .
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near, few or many.

Since we crossed a big milestone this week, I thought it would be appropriate to republish my very first interview--with Talia Mana who directs the Centre for Emotional Well-Being. She wasn't part of the "How Do You Move Beyond Blue?" series, because that wasn't in place yet. But I thought it important to introduce you to her since she was my first blogging buddy. When I sent out like three dozen e-mails to other bloggers, asking them for some swapping of resources, sharing links, etc., Talia was the only one who wrote back. Now that Beyond Blue won a Psych Central Top 10 Award, I get some responses. But I'm indebted to Talia for teaching me so much about blogging, especially in those months I was just starting out. And she has some fabulous advice on staying sane, too. Even though she lives across the globe, in New Zealand, I knew after three seconds on her website that Talia was my kind of lady, because the first thing you read on her site is a beautiful Japanese proverb: "Fall down seven times, get up eight."

Talia is the type of attractive overachiever I despise on my insecure days. At the age of 25, she was a senior executive in Fletcher Challenge, a Fortune 500 company, and the first woman to venture into management in the male-dominated world of concrete in New Zealand. Two years later she joined the Board of the Cement and Concrete Association and as Chief Executive spearheaded change in the industry.

From her background in marketing, finance, and management, Talia began her own consulting business as well as writing books ("The Art of Calm" and "Romancing the Frogs") and inspiring people through her training and motivational talks.

Here she is!


Why did you choose that Japanese proverb—"Fall down seven times, get up eight"--for your website?

As soon as I saw that proverb it felt right. It symbolized how I feel about recovery because it's such a difficult process. The proverb also symbolizes hope--no matter how many times I hit an obstacle I have to find a way around it and return myself not just to my starting position, but to an improved position.

I can't count on my hand the number of times I've sobbed in front of a complete stranger because it's happened more than a hundred times. But I can count the number of times I've been on the receiving end...

"The Way I See It #199," on my Starbucks coffee cup Saturday morning (a quote by Berkeley Breathed, the cartoonist and creator of "Opus"): "I'm not sure about people anymore. They're responsible for some pretty nutty stuff. Individuals I'm crazy...