A Holiday Message from Authentic Connections
To be honest, 2019 has been a challenging year. Three dear relatives died and I had surgery for endometrial cancer. The year has been full of doctors and funerals. To top it off, my husband and I are preparing for an empty nest as our son approaches his high school graduation. As much as that will be a happy occasion, it is also sad for us to see him moving out into the world without much need of mom and dad.
Despite these personal challenges, some cool stuff has happened with Authentic Connections during 2019. We were able to provide three Lesbian Speed Dating events in January and February, Senior Speed Dating in April and three Speed Dating for Gay Men events in October. We developed and implemented a “package” of services for clients who want a more intensive matchmaking/coaching experience and we’ve continued to match within our own database and to work with matchmakers from across the country to find great matches for our clients. Finally, Authentic Connections was approached by a Canadian company to co-host Virtual Speed Dating for straight and LGBTQ singles in the triangle. We’ve already done some beta testing with them and we are hoping to bring this to our area in 2020. It is very exciting.
So at this hectic, but contemplative, time of year, I’m reminded of the well-worn story of the two fighting wolves..
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life:
“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.
“It is a terrible fight between two wolves. One is evil. He is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”
The grandfather continued, “The other is good. He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
The same fight is going on inside you–and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf will win?”
The grandfather replied, “THE ONE YOU FEED.”
I ask myself and I ask my gentle readers, while we are busy feeding our faces this holiday season, which wolf will we be feeding - the wolf of GRATITUDE or the wolf of GRIPING? I am working on gratitude, thankful for the many wonderful people in my life, thankful for the time and relationships I had with those who have died, thankful for an early diagnosis and treatment, thankful for my wonderful clients, friends and family whose triumphs I can celebrate and whose trials I can help ease. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Kate Freiman-Fox, Ph.D.