*December 7th* (with video)

Watch video, then read writing.
(The writing is a second way to read this interesting poem.)



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Blind Men and the Elephant (a.k.a., "Blindmen")
(by John Godfrey Saxe)

(American poet John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887) based this poem, "The Blind Men and the Elephant", on a fable that was told in India many years ago. It is a good warning about how our sensory perceptions can lead to misinterpretations.)

It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind


The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
“God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!”



The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, “Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me ’tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!”



The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a snake!”



The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
“What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain,” quoth he;
“ ‘Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!”



The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: “E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!”



The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a rope!”



And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!


Moral:

So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!

*December 6th* (with video)

Watch the video, then read the short writing.



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It has become something of a cliche' to observe that if we do not love ourselves, we cannot love anyone else. This is true enough, but it is only part of the picture. If we do not love ourselves, it is almost impossible to believe fully that we "are loved by someone else." It is almost impossible to "accept love". It is almost impossible to "receive love". No matter what our parents and the rest of our family do to show that they care, "we do not experience the devotion as convincing because we do not feel loveable to ourselves".

[Jim Hogue, MA, MFT ]

*December 4th* (with video)

Watch video, then read the short writing.



*****

To begin with, let's admit to a dirty little secret, "Everybody" has an anger problem under various, specific and particular circumstances. Only with some people, anger in their lives is obvious, while with others, anger is contained, controlled and masked, often through power or position, in thier jobs, family and ongoing relationships. ... Passive anger versus aggressive anger.

Anger is not emotion, it is instead a "combination of emotion plus logic" that too often results in "illogic" and illogical reactions.

Yet, as our video shows us today, in its corrupting forms of harming ourselves and others, anger is instinctively used by we people to avoid awareness of emotion, weakness, pain and loneliness inside us.

Let us not ignore what is inside us. Instead we can listen very closely, then know what is behind our sometimes harsh responses.

[Jim Hogue, MA, MFT ]

*December 3rd* (with video)

Do you ever stop to remember the people who have loved you in your life? People who have appreciated you and valued you. Don't kid yourself, there "have been"and "are" those times and those people. Only we who are human tend not to take time to remember, we so often remember only what is negative, all the while we thirst for the memories, the words, that were good. Why do we too often batter ourselves with guilt, and measure ourselves in expectations beyond our limits?

Remember every moment of your life when someone said something of you that was good and true. They are moments you need to think of sometimes, because as you know, the world can be cold, cruel, confusing, and often, very, very negative.

Let the memories, the good ones, melt into your heart. Plant them, let them seed. grow and flourish, ... to give you strength. When you do this, and never stop, you will feel strength, a good strength inside you.

After this, again and again, look to see who around you needs something good and true said about them. When you tell that woman, that man, that boy or girl those true things that are good about them, tell them also to not forget the moment.

[Jim Hogue, MA, MFT ]

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*December 2nd* (with video)

Watch the video, then read the short writing.



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"Each day as you wake up, make the decision to strive to do what's right.

Approach your life as you would your game....

...when you make a mistake, learn from it, correct it, and get ready for the next point. Life moves too fast to sulk and dwell on the past.

...when you're down, fight harder to get back on top. Life is full of hardships. Fight hard against those feelings of despair.

...when you're doing everything right and still can't win, be patient. No matter how good we are or how hard we struggle to make the right decisions, life often makes us wait.

...when you are on top of your game, relax and enjoy it. Life is fully appreciated when we survive adversity and can relax in the sunlight of success.

Each sunrise brings a new opportunity. No matter how bad the day before was, today is brand new. When you wake up, seek the strength and courage to do the right thing."

(Aaron Billinger)

*December 1st* (with video)

Watch the video, then, read today's writing.



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I shared this video with you because I thought it was funny. (My 3 year old son especially likes it!!!)

Just for a moment of reading, consider this. ... The way you respond to your parents and the adults around you, is the way you will be handling life as it is coming to you as you grow older. We are expecting and looking forward to you making positive changes.

Concerning the kind of world you are growing up in, and the kind of kids that you see in your life each day, here is an interesting quote:

Alan Lang, in his "Substance Abuse and Habitual Behavior" report to the National Academy of Science, identifies nine characteristics related to marijuana, alcohol and other drug use: Impulsive behavior, Difficulty in delaying gratification, Sensation seeking, Antisocial personality, Nonconformist values, Sense of alienation, Deviant behavior, Heightened feelings of stress, Little regard for goals generally valued by society.

[Jim Hogue, MA, MFT ]

*November 30th* (with video)

"Watch today's video, then read the writing."


*****

Mrs. Podesta here has a point. "Difficult people are great actors." ... "Difficult people have an act."

Young child or teen, are you "difficult" sometimes when things don't go your way in your home? Do you argue, fight and otherwise act rudely against your parents or other family members when things don't go your way?

Perhaps you can say to yourself, "Well, other kids do it, so why can't I??!!!"

No, not really. Your parents are worth basic respect for the people they are in your life, and honor for what they do for you. Do you see this, or is it on some level a choice you have to be blind to it?

Well, the team of parents are learning to see your behavior for what it is. There is less and less pay-off for you when you act this way. When you are angry, you give your strength to others, nothing is gained by it.

Oh, and for the kids in the program who have turned things around in their lives and homes. Wow, you deserve so much the credit for the good work you are doing. It is "we" who are honored in working with you!!!

That's all for today. Thanks for listening...

(Jim Hogue, MA, MFT)