Suppose, in taking a break from my whirling thoughts, I settle down quietly to think about the word “courtesy.” It means far more than mere politeness; you can be polite without an iota of personal love, warm concern for the other person’s comfort, peace of mind, and well-being. Even giving directions to a confused strangerContinue reading “ONE DAY AT A TIME IN AL-ANON JUNE 7TH”
Author Archives: JOSHUA BRIDGES
Grief Lasts Longer Than Expected
Grief’s unexpected turns will throw you again and again. You may feel that for every step forward, you take at least one step back. The grieving process generally takes longer than you ever imagined. Please don’t rush this process. Remember, what you are feeling is not only normal; it is necessary. “It’s been seven years,Continue reading ” Grief Lasts Longer Than Expected”
I GOT YOU!!!
I got into it with a rehab facility lady from a different city. I’m not going to mention the facility name, but if you don’t like your job and have no compassion for people, you should find a different job. Telling me that the person I’m trying to help is probably too far gone forContinue reading “I GOT YOU!!!”
Pain and Progress
“Years ago I used to commiserate with all people who suffered. Now I commiserate only with those who suffer in ignorance, who do not understand the purpose and ultimate utility of pain.”<< << << >> >> >>Someone once remarked that pain is the touchstone of spiritual progress. How heartily we A.A.’s can agree with him,Continue reading “Pain and Progress”
12 STEPS
At Ann’s insistence, the nagging wife, Dr. Bob, agreed to go to the Seiberling Estate that Mother’s Day afternoon to meet this character from New York, but she had to promise that they would stay no longer than fifteen minutes. When they met at the Gatehouse, Bill looked at Dr. Bob, who was perspiring, shakingContinue reading “12 STEPS”
JUNE 5TH – FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Peace comes with forgiveness of self, your worth forgiveness, and self-love.-Joshua Bridges To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you.-Lewis B Smedes What we do on some great occasion will probably depend on what we already are, and what we are will be the result of previous years ofContinue reading “JUNE 5TH – FOOD FOR THOUGHT”
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO MR. ROGERS
Forgiveness is a strange thing. It can sometimes be easier to forgive our enemies than our friends. It can be hardest of all to forgive people we love. Like all of life’s important coping skills, the ability to forgive and the capacity to let go of resentments most likely take root very early in ourContinue reading “THE WORLD ACCORDING TO MR. ROGERS”
Grief Runs Deep: Where Is the Hope?
Dr. Joseph Stowell says, “Even though your heart is breaking and tears are clouding your eyes and staining your cheeks, God does give us something worth trusting in tough times. And that’s Him, and Him alone.” When your heart is breaking, you can place your hope and trust in the Lord. “Be strong and takeContinue reading “Grief Runs Deep: Where Is the Hope?”
SPREAD LOVE AND NOT HATE
I envy the fact that others have good night kisses and talk about their day with their children. I got sick, and someone decided I wasn’t good enough for my children. Maybe I wasn’t at that moment in time, but I got better, and I am good enough. I was always good enough; I justContinue reading “SPREAD LOVE AND NOT HATE”
Grief Is a Unique Experience
You may feel it is useless to talk about your grief because no one truly understands what you are going through. “You sometimes feel after an experience like this that you’re talking a foreign language,” says Dora, whose daughter died. “You feel like there’s no way anybody can know what you’re feeling. There is absolutelyContinue reading “Grief Is a Unique Experience”
JUNE 3RD- FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“Good intentions are only good if doing good was the intention. To many times do people say they did something out of good intentions, but in reality it was to benefit themselves”-Joshua Bridges The purpose of life is not to win. The purpose of life is to grow and to share. When you come toContinue reading “JUNE 3RD- FOOD FOR THOUGHT”
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO MR. ROGERS
As parents, we need to try to find the security within ourselves to accept the fact that children and parents won’t always like each other’s actions, that there will be times when parents and children won’t be able to be friends, and that there will be times of real anger in families. But we needContinue reading “THE WORLD ACCORDING TO MR. ROGERS”
A WARPED MIND
The empty loneliness and confusion of a warped mind. That was damaged by years of self-destructing chaos, flooded with memories of a childhood not lived. Every day is a struggle. My mind fights the new way of life. It doesn’t understand why I don’t use the medication it’s so used to having. It helped numbContinue reading “A WARPED MIND”
PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
Has grief impacted your body as well as your mind?“Physical problems can run the gamut,” says Dr. H. Norman Wright. “There can be stomachaches, headaches, anxiety, rapid pules, heaviness of the heart. It can affect your blood pressure. Sleep disturbances come as insomnia or sleeping ten, twelve, or fourteen hours a day. You lack energy,Continue reading “PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS”
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO MR. ROGERS
How great it is when we come to know that times of disappointment can be followed by times of fulfillment; that sorrow can be followed by joy; that guilt over falling short of our ideals can be replaced by pride in doing all that we can; and that anger can be channeled into creative achievementsContinue reading “THE WORLD ACCORDING TO MR. ROGERS”
BREAKING THE SILENCE
“I am breaking the silence, finding my voice fighting for freedom, my only choice.” Addiction isn’t something easy to explain to someone. How can something so complex as this be put into simple explanations? It’s not simple because addiction is anything but “simple.” Something simple doesn’t consume an entire life in such a quick breath.Continue reading “BREAKING THE SILENCE”
SELF-CARE
Exercise, of course, is pretty great, but self-care is more than just treating yourself. Self-care is not a reward, though sometimes, that could be part of it. It’s a vital piece of the ongoing process of being a human. Self-care is an attitude that says; I am responsible for myself. In other words, I amContinue reading “SELF-CARE”
Address Unresolved Issues
Having unresolved issues with the person who died will cause you to be stuck in grief. These issues may be petty disagreements over work or family life, or they could be deep-rooted conflicts that were never settled. You can still settle those issues in your own heart. “You can’t get unstuck from grief until youContinue reading “Address Unresolved Issues”
A nightmare
I woke up with a puddle of sweat on my bedMy fears are so strong that they creep inside my unconscious headJust six hours of my day I get to … A nightmare
YOU CANNOT GO BACK
Remember the good times; cherish the memories, but live each day moving forward. Focus your thoughts on what is before you and how you are going to get there. “I often tell people that there are three stages you need to think about: You can’t go back. You can’t stay here. You must move forward,”Continue reading “YOU CANNOT GO BACK”
YOU {R} NOT ALONE YOU HAVE A VOICE! 