Appreciative Living Book Review

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This week's book review is a critique of a personal power enhancement publication titled Appreciative Living© by Jacqueline Bascobert Kelm. The book's primary purpose is to take us beyond the necessity of gratitude in everyday life for what we have, into the still modestly explored realm, first studied at Case Western Reserve University in 1980, of Appreciative Inquiry. In the authors' words, "AI is about the co-evolutionary search for the best in people, their organizations, and the relevant world around them". In layman's terms, this means the envisioning of the best of what we want, steering clear of any thought or intimation for what we don't. In other words, think more about what we want than what we dread, empowering the positive in the process.

This has a direct application in caffected relationships. In psychology, the phrase 'unconditional positive regard' is used to denote a devotion one feels toward another, such as a mother for a child. Caffected couples have this as well, and AI allows further affirmation of that.

Road Trip

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Is the great American Road Trip dead?  Maybe.  And maybe that's not such a bad thing, especially if you're one of the elite caffected couples out there.  High gas prices may keep a lot of families home, or close to it this summer.  Couples who already know how to spend time together, and actually enjoy each others' company won't mind.  Let's face it, stalled with an overheated radiator in Tucumcari, at nine at night, with a car full of hungry, screaming kids, and a spouse mentioning the engine tune-up that didn't get done isn't exactly the vision of serenity.  There's a lot be said for a night at home for a Coen brothers festival, popcorn, a decent white zinfandel, and bed by midnight knowing you can sleep as late as you want.  Or a kitchen table round of Trivial Pursuit with Chex-Mix, Mike's Hard Lemonade, old 70's & 80's hits on the stereo, and who cares who wins?

Caffection has many advantages.  High gas prices may as well, if we're willing to look for them. 

Well Done Clance & Denise

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There are times in every relationship when you can't see the forest for the trees, but you press on, trusting that you'll make it through because you have your best friend by your side. Denise was by her best friend Clance's side when he was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer 15 months ago. A long, exhausting battle ensued. Yesterday the routine doctor's visit became anything but routine; the doctor declared Clance to have had a Complete Response to his treatment!

"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible." Arthur C Clarke

Congrats Clance and Denise the sky's the limit.

HRC 25 years

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The 25th annual HRC Gay Pride March is tomorrow.  This is reason to celebrate, rain or shine.  The Human Rights Campaign is working hard every day to affirm and establish basic human rights for all people, particularly our GLBT citizens.  HRC's goal is a nation in which all citizens enjoy basic human rights, with fair and equal representation from fair-minded elected officials.  HRC seeks to improve the lives of all GLBT, and all Americans by advocating for equal rights and benefits in the workplace, ensuring families are treated equally under the law, and increasing public support for education and outreach programs.  

So come join the 25th annual HRC Gay Pride March tomorrow, and show your true colors.  Oh, and bring your umbrella.     

Birthday flowers

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Here's a great way to tell whether or not you're caffected: your spouse anticipates your birthday, makes reservations at the most shee-shee restaurant in town, takes care of all the details, and in the car you go. When you stroll into the place, there on the table, waiting for the birthday person, is a beautiful arrangement of orchids--just like we used to have in the house all the time in Hawaii.

Thank you, dear one. Be mine forever. They're gorgeous--and so are you. I love you.