Weird Days

How's this for a weird day:
I wake up to a spider lazily crawling across my hand. Go downstairs to find Mackey, my cat, has vomited into his food bowl. He's looking very bored as he sits illegally atop our only precious Italian leather chair.
I go onto my computer to check my email, only to find that all the information in the footer area of my website has mysteriously disappeared. My webmaster has also mysteriously disappeared, and no longer works for the hosting company.The weird day is now into full swing.....
I'm enroute to an orthopedic appointment when a Sirius XM radio show about affairs comes on, and before I know it, I'm on the air, excitedly chatting with the host, even though I'm in heavy traffic and now late for the doc. I meet with the doc who seems like he's stoned, show him the mysterious bump on my foot, and he tells me, no, contrary to public opinion, I won't need a major, bone-shaving operation, I just walk an awful lot, here's two cheap insoles, walk less. I get a parking spot directly in front of my building, so no need to walk. I see several clients, and they're all very appreciative and complimentary. I find as yet unidentified green things in my salad, but hungrily eat it anyway. I spend the next hour waiting to die. Nothing remarkable happens, except my fax machine won't work. I go to my mailbox, and there's nothing there, not even a coupon. I see some big strange thing swimming in the pond outside my window. Thom and I watch the early primary results, and Rick Santorum is neck and neck with Romney - in Michigan. I'm in bed, writing this at 10:30!
Some days are just weird.

I'm outta here,
Susan Lager
PS.  For more precious insights, go to my website, www.SusanLager.com
PSS.  You can now buy articles about all kinds of relationship dilemmas,
          each with helpful tools, through the "Products" page of the site!

Growing Through Grief Blogtalk Radio Show

For anyone who missed my 2/22/12  BlogTalk Radio show, "Growing Through Grief" with Ashley Davis Bush, psychotherapist, grief expert, and author of "Transcending Loss" and "Shortcuts to Inner Peace,"I would STRONGLY recommend that you tune into the recorded show by going to the site:
www.BlogTalkRadio.com/SusanLager. We had a record number of live listeners and callers because the subject was so compelling! We talked about how grievers can transcend loss, what the challenges are, and journey generally looks like. Callers shared their stories of loss and struggle, and Ashley helped them look at realistic expectations for the process, as well as some tools for dealing with significant losses, and getting to some meaning-making through it.
There are times when I wonder why I go to the trouble of dealing with such a time-consuming, challenging endeavor outside my day job, but not this time. I think anyone who has wrestled with grief and loss, (even if it's been about a deceased pet), will benefit from this episode. Trust me on this one.

Cheers,
Susan Lager
PS.  EXCITING NEWS! You can finally purchase original articles about various relationship issues on my  website! The store is open for business at long last! Go to: www.SusanLager.com and click on the
"Products" page. You'll find useful tools for all kinds of relationship situations and dilemmas.

Managing Loss

Here's some exciting news!

On Wednesday, February 22nd at 8:30 PM EST, my next BlogTalk Radio show will feature Ashley Davis Bush LCSW, psychotherapist and author of the best-selling books, "Transcending Loss", and "Shortcuts To Inner Peace."
We'll be dealing with the issue of grief, and how it can be a springboard for healthy growth. This show is a must for anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one, even the loss of a beloved pet. Bush, an expert in this arena, will shed light on the issue of healthy vs. unhealthy grieving, tools for meaning-making, and the appropriate role for partners around the loss.
Call in toll-free at 877-497-9046 to listen in, or to join us live on the air with questions or comments.
If you can't make it then, listen to the recorded show at your convenience by going to:
www.BlogTalkRadio.com/SusanLager
I'm sure it will be an enlightening episode.

Cheers,
Susan Lager

Guilty Pleasure

I have a confession to make. I've just finished the final episode of season four of "Breaking Bad,"and I'm beside myself. What will evenings be like without the punctuation of bloody drug cartel wars, Walter's chronic, obsessive lies covering all his destructive choices, Jesse's hopeless incompetence, Skyler's opportunistic manipulations, Hank's shrewd determination, and oh, most of all, the murderous kingpin Gus, we all hate to love? The sheer thrill of watching these characters play out their bizarre agendas has been akin to the fascination of witnessing a train wreck in slow motion, or stopping to steal a peek at the blood in a gory highway accident. Horrible things happening to other people. Revenge brutally extracted by other people. But the very worst consequences miraculously avoided, time and again. Ah, TV......
By day, my therapist world is governed by the ethics of sound judgement, compassion, mindfulness,
delayed gratification, consequences for all actions, law abiding work, cooperation, mutual benefit.
No place for this dog eat dog, kill or be killed, survival of the fittest stuff.
What a guilty pleasure, however,  to spend 48 minutes several times a week dancing with total destruction! (I'm sure they'll find some link to lowered cortisol levels resulting in a healthier, longer life, don't you think?)
I better find another "train wreck" show, got any suggestions?

Cheers,
Susan Lager
PS.  When you're up for something productive, (outside your own guilty pleasure), tune in to my next BlogTalk Radio episode, "Effective Trauma Treatment and its Impact on Relationships", featuring Phil Harford, an expert in this field. It's on Wednesday, Feb. 8th at 8:30 PM. Call in toll-free at:
877-497-9046 to listen, and if you want, to join us live on the air. It should be a very interesting and informative show! (Walter, Jesse, and Gus sure could have used the knowledge).