Blog entry for:

without conditions??!!!??? yes when i read the headline of my source material, i was more than a little confused about i was going to be pondering on, as i sat. when i distilled it down to what it said to me, it was unconditional empathy, as for me at least, understanding what someone is going through is more than an intellectual exercise, it requires opening my heart as well. i have been in need of empathy and understanding more than once since i got clean and probably long before that event took place. these days i have more than one opportunity to pay it back by listening to my peers, ,even those who are less than honest, seem to lack integrity and are infatuated with being a victim. when i have to put all of that aside to understand someone, i am practicing empathy and when i listen to what they are trying to tell me, after putting all their garbage aside, i am healing myself as well.
today, i am all atwitter with anxiety over my first hike in eight weeks and wondering if i will be able to keep up with the group and not exacerbate my injury. remembering what my therapist told me on Monday, to hike mindfully and to allow myself the freedom to walk softly, instead of pounding the pavement, may be just the advice i need to enjoy the hike, get the training benefit and feel okay afterwards. with that in mind, it is time to walk the dawg and get moving into my work day. yes, i can remember that i need to be understanding of even myself, especially knowing that i am getting a bit better, day by day.

∞ DT ∞