Recent posts

Most of the work I do teaching communication skills involves talking in person. However, these days people use email for many things and often run into trouble. It can be a mild misunderstanding or a huge disaster, causing such things as the end of a relationship, job loss, or legal trouble. Why? A number of reasons. Email can be easily misunderstood since there are no visual cues or voice tones to convey meaning.

July 10, 2011.  This online article for a college class  at William and Mary is an excellent description of evolutionary psychology, which helps tremendously when trying to understand ourselves and others.  Here's an excerpt - go to the link for the rest and enjoy.   MW

Evolutionary Psychology: A Primer   by Leda Cosmides & John Tooby

This is to let you know about a discussion I had about Religious Trauma Syndrome Thursday, March 3 on "God Discussion," which is a call-in radio show on line from 7-9 pm Pacific time.  It has been archived so you can still listen to it.

Ever want to get better acquainted with someone but wonder what to talk about? If you want to be emotionally closer, it helps to share thoughts and feelings that are deeper than the usual daily chitchat. Here's a game you can play: take turns picking questions off this list and answering them. Feel free to add questions of your own. Enjoy. (click on title to open whole list)

Getting to know you. . . .
• Tell me about an important friend that you no longer have contact with.
• Share an emotional childhood memory.

Important to every relationship is time together just relaxing and having fun.  Here are some ideas for things to do.  Feel free to come up with your own as well.

I’d like to think that the work I do has lasting effect, so I was thrilled to hear from a client after many years who told me she was still using life skills from a workshop I taught a long time ago.  It confirmed for me that crucial concepts and skills – the ones they never cover in school  – can indeed be learned with ease and efficiency. 

        If you come to San Francisco
        Be sure to wear flowers in your hair
        If you’re going to San Francisco
        You’re gonna meet some gentle people there

                                                                    Scott McKenzie

I met Jesus in Golden Gate Park many years ago and he helped change my life. He sent me in a new direction – away from Christianity.

I was reminded of it on Sunday, October 25, because it was the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, celebrated with enthusiasm at Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. I wandered through the crowd with my grown son, Ryan, as we pushed our bicycles, enjoying the sights and sounds – 60’s music coming from the bands,tie-dyed banners, the smell of incense and herb, and booths selling candles, New Age books and music, psychedelic art, and healthy food. The event was free, and so was the painting – on your face, cloth banners, or sheets of paper on the ground. Peace signs were all around. The folks with gray hair and fond memories were well represented, but so were young people who missed the Summer of Love. Young girls had long hair and headbands, flowers, and even wings.

This is an invitation for contributions. It seems that many people who have recovered from religious indoctrination and feel rather healed in their personal lives still have a great challenge when it comes to relating to family members who are still "in the fold." What have you found works for you? Please write and I will post your insights for the benefit of others, as well as share some thoughts of my own. marlene

by Valerie Tarico

I just love Christmas!" my friend Hannah confessed recently, "even though I'm appalled by Christianity." She sounded sheepish, as if loving Christmas somehow made her bad.

Poor Hannah. I understand her tone of apology. What Hannah is appalled by isn't the broad range of kind, thoughtful Christians in her community . . .   

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/valerie-tarico/is-it-ok-to-celebrate-chr_b...

By Marlene Winell

We can probably agree we don’t like the commercialism of Christmas, the stress, or the holiday angst.  Yet at the center of it all there is a powerful image that speaks to all of us – the Child.  It’s fascinating to me that once a year so many people stop everything, or at least pause, to acknowledge a Child.      

But who is this Child of Christmas and why does the image have such power?  We have religious and secular interpretations, and  I would like to suggest a third – a soulful interpretation.