Question Your Garden

A synopsis - many of us are in abusive relationships with ourselves. Negative self-talk is one of the worst things we can do to ourselves, but - we keep doing it! It's time to start asking ourselves some hard questions and to poke holes in the things we habitually tell ourselves. Transcript from the show: _____________________ So many times, while working on the drafts for this show or just thinking about publishing episodes, in general, I've told myself "It's not worth it." "It" being the show and my words. My thoughts. My efforts. Maybe even me, as a person. The thing is, it's done what I needed it to do, I think. It's allowed me to speak my words. Now, it's debatable on whether or not others have found value in what I've had to say, but again, this show was ultimately for ME. I'm OVER THE MOON at the idea that anyone actually LISTENS to the crap I talk about, don't get me wrong, but in the end, it was for ME. ...

Growing up in the house of hoarders made making friends and maintaining relationships tough. Shame also took root and grew happily there. From clutter, to trash, to roaches, to other health hazards, and unfair expectations – it wasn't fun.    There's only so much I can say on the subject, so here's some additional reading when you're done having a listen.    https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/hoarding-basics   http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/hidden-lives-children-hoarders   Transcript from the show:  _____________________ My grandmother was a spiteful, brash woman and in being so, she makes a great character to sort of set the stage for this next episode. We didn't have visitors to our house a lot, especially by the time I was nearing my teens. My grandmother had visited once for dinner early on in 1995 or 1996, I think, around the time w...

You guys know who you are...You don't ask for help. You don't see a reason to ask for help. You may have even asked for help in the past and were left empty-handed. I hear you. I see you.  And while I don't have all the answers for you, with a little hive mind inquiry I think a likely culprit was discovered – obligation.    Have a listen and please be sure to drop me a note and tell me what you think. Anything else to add?    Transcript from the show: _____________________ Storytime!  My therapist asked me, "So when you were a kid, what happened when you asked for help from your parents?" Chuckling at the thought, I said, "I never asked." See - my past has curated self-sufficiency so strongly for me that even as a kid, I resisted asking for help. I didn't anticipate actually getting help, so I never asked. I just did what I could on my own or I didn't do it at all. Here, let me share a few examples of th...

Feeling some stress about attending some upcoming family functions? You don't have to attend, just in case you needed to hear it from someone else. It's okay to take care of YOU above others, especially during the holidays and especially if your sanity depends on it. Transcript from the show: _____________________ Oh is it NOT the most wonderful time of the year, or what?? What with Thanksgiving and Christmas and all the other winter holidays in between? For some, it's actually not. There's this constant noise being thrown at all of us about making connections and spending time with family and friends and loved ones and spreading joy and and and. This is the time of year where it's strongly encouraged and heavily expected that you'll be traveling to some family members' home to meet up with other family members. The "American Dream" version of this idyllic scenario is one where everyone is laughing and hugging and enjoying the time...