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Writer's pictureCathie Rooyen

Origin and thought


Friday 24th March 2023


Sometimes you have to return to the point of origin to see how far you've come.


I spent a lot of time with two friends today. It's useful to hear yourself talk about yourself. It can be the physical act of speaking things out of your brain that helps you come up with solutions or ideas to your own problems.  Lots of therapy is like this,  - let the client speak without interruption.  When I work with a client, I interrupt to point out words used, or feelings that are being rushed over, which can be irritating but very effective)


Years ago, I was doing a Hospice Counselling course and one of the practical exercises was to talk about a really explosive topic and the listener wasn't allowed to nod heads, speak, nor gesture.  To sit and listen silently for five minutes was a tough ask for me at that time. But it was one of the most useful practical things to learn. To listen without judgment but to have acceptance was another challenging exercise.  Simple constructs in theory...


My internal dialogue was full of interruptions,  judgment and condemnation.  So hearing myself explain myself today was refreshing because I heard far less of the harsh stuff and a lot more acceptance.


I also had the friendlist shopping experiences today.  From being helped at an arms lengths distance and called 'my sweetheart to the patience and conversation when my card declined the tap, and I had to redo the transaction and inserting the pin, to being let through in the traffic.  I noticed the trees today too, the leaves are buffering, ready to step into their next chapter as lawn dressing. Cycles of life. 



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