Inspiring Stories » I've Truly Changed My Life
Learning to Love, Finding Happiness
Dear Teachers of Radical Authenticity 2006,
As I watched how you approached my 21 year old daughter Hilary throughout the week, it was artistry in motion. You were loving, allowing, gentle, not pushy, open and still incredibly encouraging. Wow. You are role models for me. You are role models for the human being I want to become and for the parent I want to become.
I have overwhelming trust in your love and in the process of
learning, growing and changing in the safest, most secure, loving
environment on the planet.
During the program, Hilary would say how she had to get out of
there, how she would take the next flight out if she had money, that
she hated how she was feeling, the program wasn't for her. She blamed
me for suggesting that she come.
The Saturday after the program, you would not have believed it. She
said she hadn't felt that peaceful and calm in a very, very long time.
She said that she wanted to go to another Option program. (I couldn't
believe it!!!!) She said that she felt she would be forever changed in
a positive way because she had attended Radical Authenticity.
It's only been 4 days since the program ended, and I could write you
a book about the new and wonderful things that have changed inside of
me.
Here's one of the coolest things. I know I have
Care-Taking-Issues-Supreme. Yesterday at work, (I have worked as an RN
for 10 years and a naturopathic physician for the past 14 years) -
yesterday was the first day I actually felt like I was in heaven while
working. It was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yesterday, I did not have one
care-taking bone in my body. I asked questions (that I would not have
normally asked) and watched patients come up with their own answers. I
had no agenda that they had to resolve anything, and just a few minutes
of questioning was such an awesome way to love them. I have always
thought giving them prescriptions, answers, suggestions, treatments,
advice, being present, was what I had to do in order to be helpful. I
know different. I can love them in thousands of ways. I can love them
by inviting them to accept or refute my advice. I can love them by
asking questions without restraint on my part. I also for the first
time, started to believe - I mean really believe - that my patients are
doing the best they can and that they can take care of themselves.
I had a 50 some year old woman yesterday in my office that I was
administering massive IV doses of vitamin C and other IV anti-cancer
herbs to. She has breast cancer with extensive bone mets and severe
anemia. I can't even explain how it was different yesterday. It was
like it was OK that she had the disease. I didn't have to facilitate a
cure for her. Loving her, helping her immune system to be strong for
whatever time she has left, was enough. Not only was it enough, it was
sheer grace to be there doing what I was doing. Wow. Thank you.
And best of all, Hilary and I talk differently to each other. Before
Radical Authenticity, I tried dialoguing and being a mentor to her, but
I was consistently met with: "stop asking me those stupid questions".
Now, when she is upset and I start asking questions and dialoguing with
her, I am met with an open demeanour and a lack of resistance to my
questioning.
I will be taking the parenting course with my husband in October 2007.
This course was specially designed for me. I know it. Before you
teachers even conceived of it, the universe had me in mind and said, "I
am designing this course for Kathy Graham. By the time she takes it, it
will be perfect for her".
I want to share this wonderful course with the most glorious, wonderful
man who ever walked the planet. We are partners in parenting and we
will learn wonderful things together. I can't imagine a sweeter
experience to share with him.
When Bears says about Samahria, about looking at her and seeing that he
is waking up next to an angel every morning, I imagine that that is
similar to what I feel about Bill. He is a prince, and an angel, and a
heavenly being that I can't believe how blessed I am to wake up beside
every morning. I love the Option process. I love him. Taking the
Parenting Class would not only be the best gift I could ever give
myself, it would also be a gift to my children, and a gift to him.
Anyway, you are all angels. I am truly, truly blessed. Thank you again
and again.
Love,
Kathy
