I love this time of year. The cottonwoods are now brilliant yellow against blue sky. In the evening, the sun gets low and everything lights up. It is as if the alfalfa fields are shimmering. Then the mountain turns violet for a few minutes. I wait for this time every night. I have three rescue dogs today. Two old ones, Emily and Louie, they are 11 and 13. Not many people want old dogs. *They will get sick, they will die,* they tell me. And I just think, um they are such wonderful dogs...we will simply find someone to love them and cherish them just as they are. How we think of old dogs is how we will be treated I think. And then there is Huck. We got a call from the expensive vet in town. They have a 2 year old with a broken leg. His owner couldn't afford to pay the bill. They would be euthanizing them. Did we want him. My colleague in rescue says, *Kathleen, we only have $2,000 in the bank.* I say, *We will find the money, this is what we do.* We agree to go for him and bring him down to our rescue doc. His back leg was shattered. Twenty five hundred dollars later, he has a pin in his leg and comes home to my loving care. My dogs want to know why this dog has a lampshade on his head and has to stay in the crate. It's one copper golden, one dog not dead. I have asked Allison (of the forum, she lives in Albuquerque) to come and help me send out a letter. How do we explain that we just don't kill dogs because there was no money. I will design that letter after I finish the newsletter. I used to get in trouble with my Mother for collecting wounded strays when I was very little too. I think how we are at age 7 persists. I will put Huck's picture up on the rescue website. You can go look at Emily and Louie at www.grrnm.com. And, LOL, thank you for your patience with my little blogging for the day. Also, the sign up page for the New York Seminars at the end of January is up now. Click here to see the details. Space is limited for Saturday's seminar, so please sign up early. These classes will begin the week of November 7, 2007. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page: Brain Chemistry: Dopamine is the newest addition to the brain chemistry series. Learn about the mighty cousin to serotonin and beta endorphin. Learn how he sparkles and seduces and what to do to have him as an ally rather than a dragon Step 1: The Art of Breakfast is our foundation class to get you started. Learn all four parts of step 1 in a structured way. Learn how to progress through them with enjoyment. Let us support getting your program off to a fabulous start. Using the Resources of the Community is for those of you who are brand new and would like to find your way around town. Come sit on the top of our double decker bus for a guided tour. And even if you are not brand new, this is a really fun class to reconnect with all the treats of the community. These classes will begin the week of November 14, 2007. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page: Step 2 Journal: An Introduction will teach you the basics of journaling. The class will give you step by step instructions in how to record your food and feelings in a way that gets you excited. The class schedule is on line. Click here to see what is planned. Please do not sign up for classes that are not yet scheduled. A number of you have asked me how the classes work. Check the class list page for more information on this. The classes are done online and you do not have to be at your computer at any set time. It does not matter whether you are in the US, Europe, the Far East or Australia, you simply respond on your own time. And although I advertise that the classes are one or two weeks, sometimes we are a little flexible and they may run longer. And please go read the questions and answers before you write to me. If you have trouble getting through the process, write the tech forum. Please feel free to pass this week's newsletter on to your friends and family. Don't forget to let me know what you like and would like to see me cover. Be sure to visit our Radiant Recovery® website and Community Forum regularly. Warmly, Kathleen **********************************************************************
November 5, 2007 ** Quote From Kathleen **
One of the markers for your own progress is the respect you command from those around you about your food habits. *********************************************************************
** Testimonial for the Week**
Jeannie, Step 7 Kath, I really like what you came up with--it suits you :) Halloween has never been my favorite holiday. It's the one I could cheerfully skip. I don't like the gory, ghoulish aspect, nor have I ever wanted to be a witch or anything like that. I haven't dressed up in years and years, and I always chose to be a waitress or a cat or something bland. And then I'd feel very uncomfortable about how I looked in my costume. I didn't want to spend any effort on the holiday. Of course, I used to feel sick about all that C-A-N-D-Y. However (grin). I signed up to help with a Halloween party for the women at church, thinking, huh--they never had that when I was here before. But there's a new neighbor who loves Halloween, whose house is decorated for Halloween every day of the year. She painted a mural in one big room downstairs, all over the four walls--flying witches on broomsticks, bats, a mausoleum, the whole bit. Last year apparently the women had a very well-attended party there, with a witch-hat-decorating contest, and we were to have another party there this year. I signed up to help with food, of course--I brought a brown rice pasta version of their casserole, with ground beef, tomatoes, and cheese, plus some soda and juice and dry ice and a plastic cauldron. I've never been the type to have a party with a punchbowl and dry ice--it just didn't occur to me. I'd have worried about the gasses or this or that. But I was assigned, and I did it, and it was fine. There was also water. And I helped with the program. The theme was from the musical, Wicked, on not judging based on outside appearances. Always a good theme for a church group. I volunteered to be the storyteller, and we had some women singing one of the songs from the play, one dressed as Glinda the Good in a blue evening dress and a blonde wig, and one in green makeup and full witch regalia as Elphaba, the supposed wicked witch. So I had to dress up, too, oh, bother. My husband saw a coupon in the paper for half price costumes at a local drugstore. I went some other places, too, but ended up at the drugstore buying a dark purple satiny witch hat with big black feathers and flowers. It cost three dollars (grin). I also found a sparkly purple cape with spiders on it. Seven dollars. That's about what I was willing to invest. I wore them with a black dress. I have to say, it was a kick looking out at 40 churchwomen in witch hats :) I will just never forget that sight. (Okay, Glinda stood out. She is expecting, too, which was all kinds of sweet.) The rest wore witch hats that were decorated every which way (vbg). Big fluffy feathers, flowers, colorful swaths of fabric. Polka dots. Apparently last year's party was a big hit. For about half of us there, it was a chance to loosen up, for once, and have some fun with Halloween. The other half were already quite skilled at fun (grin). Peals of laughter from all tables. The president did a nice loud cackle to call us to attention. We had a mixer with silly Halloween jokes or punchlines pinned on our backs. (What does a bird give out for Halloween? Tweets!) And a couple of other gentle games. I have to admit it was pretty fun. What I think I'd like to do next year is find or make a costume that actually expresses my personality. Oooh, a butterfly, wouldn't that be fun? But I wouldn't have missed this for the world. ********************************************************************
A number of people have been asking about seitan, so we thought this would be a fun thing for you to try. It is a great vegetarian alternative. It is from our recipes. Seitan Loaf, "Turkey Style"Ingredients:
Combine wheat gluten, granulated garlic and onion granules in large bowl. Add tomato juice. Mix well until you have a large, firm, spongy mass. Knead for 2 minutes just to blend. Form dough into a loaf. Place olive oil in a Dutch oven and heat until nearly smoking. Add gluten loaf and brown evenly on all sides, taking care that it does not stick to the sides of the Dutch oven. When all sides are browned, remove from pan and set aside. Add onion, garlic, celery and carrots to oven. Sauté until vegetables take on a golden color and are fragrant, 5-10 minutes. Add bay leaf, poultry seasoning, salt, pepper and stir to coat vegetables. Add vegetable stock. Bring stock and vegetable to boil. When mixture boils, add Seitan loaf. Reduce heat to low. Cover the Dutch oven partially and simmer the roast for 1 1/2 hours. Maintain the heat so the liquid barely simmers and turn the roast over every 30 minutes. When roast is firm, remove form oven and place on cutting board. Cover loosely with foil and let it rest for at least 15 minutes. Thicken gravy with a cornstarch mix or by puréeing the liquid and roasting vegetables in a blender. Slice roast thinly on the diagonal and serve with sauce. ********************************************************************
**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**
YLDonline is a membership program run directly by Kathleen DesMaisons herself. I have been writing a little ebook for YLD - putting all the great tips we have learned in one place. It should be ready soon. As I have been working with the material, I am reminded how much I love this program. I apologize for not making it to last week's chat. My online service dropped and I started into the nightmare of tech centers. I was passed from India back to Arizona and back again without anyone having a clue. I finally called my own tech guy and he fixed the problem in about 4 minutes. I missed talking with you all. If you are not a YLD member, come and join us. Click here if you are ready to change your life or just plain ole have fun. ********************************************************* ***********
**Radiant Recovery Store **
David manages the Radiant Recovery Store. He is also Kathleen’s oldest son. I thought it would be fun to include a kudo about customer service this week. Here is an except from a note I got about David: Also, I placed an order and was so excited to get it in the mail, that I put in for over night delivery. An hour after placing the order, I got a call from David, letting me know that with regular shipping and due to the fact that y'all are only 1 state over from me, I'd probably get my order in about 3 days (ish). He said he was just calling to let me know this b/c I could save about $14.00 if I went with the regular shipping. He said that he was just passing along the info. Well, sure enough he was right. I saved about $14.00 and my package arrived today. I can't wait to open it up and dive into my new goodies. I can't remember the last time I ordered something and a company tried to save me money. Anyway, I mention this b/c I was so impressed with him, and that tells me tons about your company and how you all operate. Very impressive!!!I think those of you who use the store know that David takes great pride in our customer service.
Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better. ********************************************************* ***********
**Our Online Groups**
A lot of new people have come over to radiantparents and are talking about how to do new behaviors with their kids. We are talking not just about food, but about new patterns of recovery in your family. If you are looking for great support for toddlers to teens, come join us. The problem solving is such a comfort and I love seeing the more experienced parents give so much help to new people. ********************************************************************
Feature Article**
What Makes a Difference Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. I have been doing a lot of reflection this week. Why is it that some folks come to the program, do the food and find their lives changed? And others play with it, poke around, do a little here and there, and then go away and say it doesn't work? Or do step one for two years and wonder why life is not better? Why do some decide to rewrite it, adapt it, take only what they like and throw the rest away? What makes the difference? I am thinking that there are three key things:
When you find it takes time, you get bored, frustrated, angry, inattentive or sloppy. You blame the program for not meeting your needs. Or it is too confusing so you stop and say that didn't work. And you go do a real diet. But there are others who say, 'Yes, this is for me' and they believe it, they do it and it works. What is that about? What happens? Where does that first trust and commitment come from? It is funny to think this, but I think ultimately, it is an act of faith. With a regular diet, you can pick or choose. There are thousands of them. If one doesn't work, you just try another. This silly program is different. It's so simple, it is so deceptive. It asks you to put aside what you have been taught. It asks you to do maintenance first. No glamour, no quick results, no hype. It says what you need to heal is here. If you want to use it, you can. Doesn't have to cost anything. You don't need a doc or to pay thousands of dollars. Doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, or smart or not, or living in a family. If you do it, your life will change. As I wrote this in the early morning, I started to laugh because the simplicity of this message goes way beyond the food. I have a spiritual teacher. Every morning I meditate and read from her work. This was yesterday's reading: If however, instead of being desires, they are aspirations for spiritual things, and one continues her life with regular progress, then one is absolutely sure to one day obtain what she has imagined.I think that the struggle with 'doing the food' mirrors the struggle for a spiritual life. Trusting, committing, doing. Somehow this makes me laugh. I work so hard to complicate things. I thrash around, question, argue, insist that I know better and then I say the 'program' doesn't work. This time is about quieting, living into the stillness, letting simplicity help me trust, help me recommit. ©Kathleen DesMaisons 2007. Here are the folks who are helping put the newsletter together: Gretel, the liaison for the recovery list and the webmaster, puts it all together Naomi gathers the recipes. David, who runs the Radiant Recovery® Store talks about what new products we have. You are getting the weekly newsletter from Radiant Recovery® in response to your signup. A copy of this newsletter may also be found posted on the web at http://www. radiantrecovery.com/weeklynewsletter.htm. ©2007 by Kathleen DesMaisons . All rights reserved. You are free to use or transmit this article to your ezine or website as long as you leave the content unaltered and use this attribution: "By Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. of Radiant Recovery®. Please visit Kathleen's website at http://www.radiantrecovery.com for additional resources on sugar sensitivity and healing addiction." Please notify me at kathleen@radiantrecovery.com to let me know where the material will appear. Banner Photograph by Patti Holden, Step 7 |
