Seeing Dead People

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scared at moviesWhen it comes to movies, nothing’s a bigger pet-peeve than a guessable plot. An obvious outcome.

If the plot is apparent within the first 30 minutes, I lose interest. In fact I have zero reason to stay fascinated with the storyline, unless it’s being done by a favorite actor (who might also do impeccable impression of a swaggery pirate that rarely does a blasé movie).

Rather, I like the unexpected twist.
The thing no one saw coming.
Like…, “I see dead people.”

Yeah, that blew me away.
Along with the rest of the movie watchers.
We.Had.NOOOO.Idea. Continue reading »

Bits of Truth

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Hello Healing Soul.

You did all the hard work.
Gave grace.
To them.
To you.
And you were on the road to better.

Then suddenly…
without warning,
you slide right back into the place you left
(2, 5, 8, 10, or 12 steps ago).

The place where you were spiraling down, and now you’re entering that dark abyss…again. Continue reading »

I’ve Been Meaning To Tell You

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IMG_0196cropSo hey. I’ve been wanting to tell you…

I push buttons.

(with love, and care, and because you deserve to feel something)

I ask questions that result with a, “Wait! What?”

(because that question jolted your noodle-bowl to have deeper understanding of yourself)

I say uncomfortable stuff.

(because you deserve nothing more than the truth, the loving honest, in-your-gut truth) Continue reading »

Bits of Truth

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Oh Broken Bits of a Soul.

I know this is rough.
I know this feels impossible.
I know that sometimes it seems like it won’t let up.
And I know that finding mortar to put back together the broken bits is beyond your strength.

I know because I’ve been there.

Sometimes the answers don’t come easy.
Just hold on.
There is light coming.
No matter how distant you think.
There is light coming.

So while you wait…find a person, a healthy self-care something,
a faith to rest into until the light arrives.
Until the Masoner with mortar for your soul, the Healer of broken bits, helps put it back together.

Bit
by
bit.
Morning
by
morning, new mercies you’ll see.

It is of your Maker’s mercies that you are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness… (lam 3:22-23) Continue reading »

Despite the Ease. We Made It.

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beautyI will love myself despite the ease with which I lean toward the opposite.

I heard this line and stopped.
Stopped breathing.
Just for a moment.
Because… well…
isn’t this true for all of us?

See, I talk with clients about their thoughts, the ones that bring pain, all the time. Even clients who don’t think this is an issue–discover it is. Over and over our reoccurring painful thoughts tell us we are wrong, unloveable, outcast, misfits, unworthy. And I don’t judge a single soul for thinking this way…because we’re all the same. Somehow hard-wired–on some level–to consider we deserve less love. Less grace.
From others.
From ourself.
From God.

So yes, the moment I heard that line: I will love myself despite the ease with which I lean toward the opposite — I knew it was worth committing to memory. Continue reading »

Bits of Truth

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Hello Falling Soul.

I remember running freely.
Laughing, hands skimming the tall grasses.

I remember my toe catching a rock.
Flying, forward, falling, right onto my face.
Enveloped into the dirt of the field.
Yet the grasses still continued on, dancing in the breeze.
No one but me knew I’d fallen so hard. Continue reading »

That Last Thread

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The truth is, stress will always be a faithful companion.
Regardless of circumstances, wealth, or intelligence – we will feel stress.

FRENCH FRY GUY
Take the french-fry guy’s job. His job is very stressful. The demand is constant. The never-ending need for fresh fries never lets up. From start to end of shift. Fry. Fry! FRY! Of course this only intensifies when oil pops, spurts, and scalds the fryer’s skin. But guess what? Those customers still demand fresh, warm, salty fries. Never a moment of peace to stop, breath, or even tend to the skin that found that hot oil. He hates his job, “If only I worked in an office. THEN I wouldn’t have this nightmare”. Continue reading »

Bits of Truth

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Hello Deep Soul.

Having a soul that feels deeply is wonderful. Right?

I mean we sense so many things. Even something as simple as dripping ice-cream or passing clouds puts us into deep and contemplative thought. (especially when we are slowed down and can be fully present)

But having a deep feeling soul goes both ways.
See, while we can be wrapped up in a blissful contentment of the breeze over waving grass, melodic morning birds, and cool rippling water with smooth pebbles under our feet…we can also go deep down. Continue reading »

How We See You

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Self Portrait

Self Portrait by S.Meneley

We see you. I see you.

I mean I really. do. see. you.
It includes the good, the bad, the ugly.
This is what I do for a living. Seeing the truth.

TRUTH.

I also know that you see yourself.
The ugly, the bad, the good.

The difference between what I see, and what you see, is the order in which we perceive each other. Right? Continue reading »

Bits of Truth

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Hello Unique Bugger Soul.

Today’s card came because of an accident.
An irritation.

See, I was getting ready to send a card to a cherished someone. Typically my cards include glitter. confetti. unexpected cheer.

I was going with red hearts, and in the midst of the red hearts was one single pink one. It didn’t belong. It was different shaped. It was smudgy with something. Clearly imperfect and it needed to be removed. But try as I might…that little bugger of a heart, that little different bit of confetti persisted. I could not wrangle this little metal scrap out of the lot.

DING! Continue reading »

Your Piano

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pianoLife goes by fast.

Very fast.

It does not stop for you.
It does not slow down.
It goes. Fast.

And…life is not an obligation.
You don’t have to do anything.

Life will go on with or without you. And in the process of this fast unobligated life, you are faced with many strings of choices. Much like the strings inside a piano that the player chooses to orchestrate.

Your strings of choices along the way produce things. Consequences. Continue reading »

Bits of Truth

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Hello Wobbly Soul.

We all are.
Wobbly.
Every new thing starts with wobbles.

Remember learning to walk?  Okay you don’t remember, but you can be assured that you were pretty wobbly when you first started. In fact you had several FAILED attempts. And that’s okay, because you walk pretty awesomely now. In fact I bet you’ve taken walking to a whole new level!

Skipping
Jumping
Running
..and more.

And yet, I also bet you still get tripped up. Actually fall, or get shaky in the knees.
Ugh the wobbles. They happen.
They happen to me too.

So flying… why would it be any different?

Keep going wobbly soul. Keep going.
It’s hard at first. And even after years of success, you might still trip up now and again.
So just keep on keepin’ on.
You got this.

Continue reading »

Relational Apathy

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apathy_angel“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”  ~  Alexander Pope

I’m sorry Alexander, but that is a load of…crap. I mean it’s true. But it’s horrible. It’s no way to do life and thrive and feel alive. And since I know that Alexander Pope was one of the best satirical poets of the eighteenth century, I’ve got to surmise that this is more satire.

Seriously. No one should live with zero expectation.

And yet I did.

In fact the modern-day twist would look something like this:   “Just say ‘fine’ or ‘whatever’ – pretend it doesn’t matter and before long it won’t.” Continue reading »

Bits of Truth

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Hello Melodic Soul.

Some days it’s easy to be cheery.
You’re a song in a major chord.

Other days it’s a struggle to breath. Let alone smile. These are the sad songs, the minor melody days.

I know both of those days, well and intimately. Because I’m a human. I’m a head-case shell covering a good soul. I am every song and chord.

You are too.

Whether your day is a “major” or “minor” or a “diminished seventh” chord (that is complex, disturbing, rich, and absolutely beautiful) there is noise in your heart that needs to be heard.

Sometimes it really is a song. Praise.
Sometimes it’s a cry. Lament.
And other times you just hum along without thought.
Whatever your sound, always chime.
Make noise.
Never stuff it away or pretend it doesn’t matter.

You matter. Your song matters. Your noise needs to come out. No matter what key it’s in.

Continue reading »

Real True and Scary

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Can I pre-emptively apologize?

I’m from Fresno.
That’s why I like her…

Okay, sorry Fresno-ites… Would it be better if I said I lived in Clovis…and that is the reason?

I don’t know why, but I love Dolly Parton. I don’t own any of her CDs. I don’t like beaded gowns or ginormous…”girls”. But I love Dolly.

I loved Dolly when I watched 9-to-5 over and over again with my childhood girlfriend. I liked her on Hee-Haw, and whatever other entertainment shows she’d appear. I loved loved loved her in Trio singing the song Wildflowers – it still makes me cry. Because I am THAT wildflower, and I will always be THAT flower. Oh and when it comes to gettin’ teary, her song Hard Candy Christmas squeezes my heart hard. Continue reading »