By Ginger M. Sullivan, MA, LPC, CGP, FAGPA Individual and Group Psychotherapy www.gingersullivan.org
It’s been a hard week in America. I wish I could say surreal, but sadly, we are adapting to a new normal. Threats, bombs, killings, hate. And, there is no sign that it will stop anytime soon.
We gasp. We send our thoughts and prayers – whatever that means. Yet, we are buried under a perpetual tsunami of animus. Powerless to make a difference in the current tide of our culture. Thoughts and prayers seem to be the limit of imaginable effective change.
But, it’s not working, folks. It is not enough.
“Gun control!” scream the Blues.
“Mental health!” yell the Reds in retort.
“Violence to end violence!” says our current President.
Love in the form of permission, say I.
Because, isn’t our country immense enough to hold all forms of humanity? Wasn’t our country founded on freedom of expression and desire for independence? Are our hearts so small and restricted that we can love only certain colors, sexualities, genders and religions? Can’t our emotional worlds go beyond fear to curiosity, understanding, tolerance and dare I say, celebration?
This is my world. On Friday, in rainy DC traffic, I drove to one airport to pick-up my daughter’s best friend from camp (who happens to be French) so that the girls can have a weekend of teenage delight. I dropped them home to giggles and hot pizza. I then headed north, still in the deluge, to Washington’s other airport to pick-up my African family who are residing in our home for a month. My other “adopted” daughter, with her elderly mother and baby daughter in tow, had been to Disneyland for the week. They hugged me bigly as I welcomed them back home. A full house. The United Nations. All sleeping under my roof. Eight diverse humans, two dogs and one snake. It is my normal.
Big Enough
As a group psychotherapist, I offer patients a second-chance family. Ones that give the message of “come as you are.” There is no wrong way to be. You bring what you got, because you got it for a reason. It may not be working for you anymore, but we start where we are. Because, the group – our family – is big enough. Our hearts are open enough. There is room for all. With permission and openness, expansion is now possible. Because, tolerance and compassion provide the calm necessary for growth.
What does it cost you to love more?
Last I checked, love is not a limited resource. I don’t have to agree with you. I can even disagree with you. But, I can make room for allowance and maybe on a good day, for understanding. Because, our country is big enough. The heart can stretch wide enough. Sharing with you does not take away from me because I have more than I need. And love is our super power.
We stop hate when we stop blaming others and take a harsh look at ourselves.
If you enjoyed reading this article, please download the VoxPopApp and select Health & Wellness or Society or Social Media or any other topic you care about. On occasion, please respond to a quick 10 second anonymous survey, and make it count. We really want to hear your voice. Thank you!
This website definitely has all of the information and facts I needed about this subject and didn’t
know who to ask.
Glad you enjoyed, please share.
For most up-to-date news you have to go to see internet and
on internet I found this web page as a finest site for most
up-to-date updates.
This is my first time pay a visit at here and i am in fact pleassant
to read all at alone place.
This is because they bring in more referral traffic as well as
profit the search engines to rank you higher. Affiliate marketing
doesn’t be worth it quickly. For this to work, ‘word’ your links exactly. https://www.ongbaby.com/blog/categories/joker123
This is because they bring in more referral traffic as well as profit the search engines to rank you higher.
Affiliate marketing doesn’t be worth it quickly.
For this to work, ‘word’ your links exactly. https://www.ongbaby.com/blog/categories/joker123
Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely think this site needs much more attention. I’ll probably be
back again to read more, thanks for the information!
constantly i used to read smaller posts which also clear their motive, and that is also happening with this post which I am reading here.
Aw, this was an exceptionally good post. Taking the time and actual effort to make a great article… but
what can I say… I hesitate a lot and don’t manage to get nearly anything done.
This is my first time pay a quick visit at here and i am in fact pleassant to read all at one place.
It’s really a cool and helpful piece of info. I am satisfied that you just shared this useful info with us.
Please keep us up to date like this. Thank
you for sharing.