Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

Jan 25, 2007

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Today’s Stories

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In Touch With True Emotions

Gut Response

Robin Lee

So often, emotions that we long to express get stored in our bodies instead. The space where this most often happens is in our bellies. Rather than telling people, our even ourselves, the way we truly feel, we may stuff our true feelings deep inside of us, where they take up space until we are ready to let them go. Stuffing our feelings in our bellies may feel like the "safe" response, since we then don't really have to deal with our emotions. Yet, doing so can actually be detrimental to our emotional well-being and physical health.

One way to connect with and release your emotions is to do a focused exercise with your stomach area. Take a moment to center yourself with some deep breathing and quiet meditation, relaxing your body fully and turning off the chatter in your brain. With your right hand on your stomach, tell yourself three times: "Please reveal to me my true emotions." Listen for the answers. Repeat the exercise as many times as you would like, allowing yourself to drop deeper into your body each time. Notice any physical response in the stomach area, whether you have a warm, relaxed feeling in the middle of your body or if you feel tight knots in response to any emotions that do come up. You may even want to write down any answers that come to you. Remember that the body doesn't lie.

Releasing our pent up feelings from our bellies can prevent disease and allow us to live more authentic and expressive lives. Sometimes, if too much emotional energy builds up inside of us, a blowout can result that can cause discomfort. You can help to alleviate this compression by doing the same exercise and adding sound to your emotional release. The more guttural the sounds released through your mouth, the more emotions you are likely letting go. Releasing your emotions from your belly doesn't have to be painful and hard; rather, it can be organic and effortless. It's important not to judge whatever comes up for you. We tend to stuff our feelings in our bellies when we are ashamed of them or not ready to express them. There is nothing wrong with having feelings, whatever they may be. You can't help your feelings; if anything, you can help yourself by acknowledging the truth of your emotions so you can set yourself free.

Robin Lee

onespiritx3@yahoo.com

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 TROY

Sharon Bryant

Troy came into our family many years ago.  Weighing exactly five pounds, he was the cutest thing.  My sister used to say, "He looks just like what we always wanted a baby brother to look like."

Dad was the one who Troy followed as he grew.  If you saw Troy, you knew you'd only have to turn your head and dad would be nearby.

The years passed.  Troy celebrated his 12th birthday with a T-Bone steak.  He had accumulated many toys in his youthful years, but he was very good about taking care of all of them.  I used to laugh when I'd go visit dad and Troy would run to the bedroom and bring me out a new teddy bear or a ball or some new beanie baby.  He had over 100 toys piled up in a corner of the large bedroom where he slept at night.

Dad called me a little over a year ago and told me he was afraid Troy might be dying.  He said his appetite had slowed down, he'd lost most of his teeth, he wasn't playing with his toys like he always used to do..........

I told dad Troy was just fine, that age was slowing him down, but he wasn't dying.

It was a cold snowy day last January when the neighbor entered dad's house when they noticed no tracks in the fresh snow that had fallen all night.  He told me he'll never forget that site, little Troy sitting in the living room, head pointed towards dad's bedroom, and heart wrenching howls coming from Troy's little mouth.  His master had went on before him.

My sister, brother and I knew that Troy had to stay in the family after dad died.  We couldn't bear to have anyone else watch him for we knew Troy would not make it without someone who would care for him the way dad did.

My brother had one dog at the time, my sis and I had two so my brother said he'd take Troy.

Two weeks ago I got a phone call that Troy was in critical condition at the vets.  He had stopped eating and didn't even want to go outside like he always did to do his job.  My brother was so upset, he got me upset just hearing the fear in his voice.  My sister called me and said, "I think Troy might be dying......we've got to save him somehow.  He's part of dad."

I called a friend who works at a vets office and asked her if she'd call the vet 900 miles away and get all the information on what was wrong with Troy, what could we do, etc.  She made the call.  Comparing notes, they decided he'd have to have IV's for two days.   His kidneys were shutting down, and if it levels did not come down, there was no hope.

My brother sat at the vets with Troy, talking to him, begging him to get better.  "Dad wants him, but I want him too," he said.  Both my sister and I were very upset, knowing how much Troy loved dad.  We knew dad would have done anything to help Troy if he became sick.

For two nights Troy stayed at the vets.  His signs were improving and he was sent home the next day.  My brother had to give him IV's at home, but he was willing to do anything to save the little precious Yorkie.

I'm happy to say Troy is bouncing around the house just like he always did.  He's on a very strict diet because we found out it was the food he was eating that was causing the kidney failure.  We were afraid after all the years of having steaks and hamburgers and all the goodies dad fed him, that he would refuse to eat dog food.

He's doing fine today.  He's adjusted to his new meals, and to look at him you'd never believe he was 13 years old.

We know dad is looking down smiling at all the efforts that were taken to save his little dog.  And yet we know that one day, Troy will cross that rainbow bridge, and there is no doubt he will jump into the arms of the man who raised him all those years.

Sharon Bryant

1946@bellsouth.net

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Helping Over Weight Children Lose Weight

Cheryl Williams

Tonight while eating out, I got a little perturbed at a couple of parents sitting in the booth next to us.  The father was obviously into fitness and working out.  The mother was very slim.  There was a baby, and then they had a little boy around eight years old.  The boy was slightly chubby.  Not a lot, but enough to notice.

The restaurant was a buffet type restaurant with a salad bar, hot vegetables, bread, chicken, and meatloaf.  I heard the father tell the boy he had to eat a salad before he ate anything else.  The boy wasn't happy about it, but knew it was pointless to argue.  So the father went with him, and I saw the father heap this huge salad onto this boy's plate.  He then told him when he ate all of it, he could have something he wanted from the hot bar.  The boy started eating his salad, but halfway through he didn't want anymore.  His father had ladled several vegetables on the plate the boy just didn't like.  But the father told him he must eat it all if he wanted anything else.  The boy managed to choke it down through tears.  Then he said , "Can I have something I want now?"  The father looked at him with mild disgust and said, "Yes...but only a couple of things."  The father appeared to almost be ashamed of his son.  This made me so sad.

I sat there, just shaking my head.  As someone who has battled weight issues all of my life, I wanted to walk up to the father and tell him that he was only adding to his son's weight problem...not helping him.  I wanted to tell him that:

1)  Shaming a child into eating a certain way will only cause him to eat in secret and binge.

2)  Forcing a child to eat what he DOESN'T like in order to have what he DOES like only doubles the appeal of the very food you are trying to get him away from, and makes the "good" food seem that much more repulsive.

3) Loving and accepting a child just as he is will do more to help him than anything you can do, because it will build his self-esteem.  And a person who grows up loving himself is less likely to do self-harm by things such as compulsively overeating.

4) The best way to help a child begin eating healthier is by setting an example in your home.  Keep junk food to a minimum for everyone.  Just don't have it around. If you decide to have ice cream, just go out for it.  Its more fun anyway, and you won't overindulge.  Prepare healthy tasty meals.  Don't make it seem like deprivation and don't make it seem like you are on a "diet".  Make it a lifestyle choice for everyone and NEVER make the child feel as if he is being singled out in any way.

5) Play with your child.  Go to the park.  Play ball.  Run, jump.  Make exercise fun and do it with him.  Not because you are trying to get him to lose weight...but because you enjoy spending time with him.

6) Never reward your child with food.  Reward your child in any other way, preferably by doing something special with him.

If parents will do this, their child will lose weight without even trying.  He will be on the way to living a healthy lifestyle because that is all he has known.  Shame has no place in raising a child and teaching healthy habits.  The harm done far outweighs any good that might come from it, because the child will likely grow up to be a compulsive overeater.  He will stuff down his feelings of shame and self-loathing...which will only make him hate himself more.

No child deserves this fate.

Cheryl Williams

Politicalgirl04@aol.com

Poetry Corner

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Sources Of Inspiration
Cynthia Groopman


In life, many sources of inspiration are found,
Conveying a message thoughtful, deep and profound.
A verse in the Bible inspires us to think,
From the spout of inspirational waters, we begin to drink.
A meaningful sermon given by the clergy on the lord's Day,
Inspires us in an optimistically positive way.
When we see others perform tasks of love,
Inspiring angels are they from God high above.
Heroes with their courage, faith and deeds so brave and strong,
Sing inspiration's powerfully glowing song.
A person with a disability
Overcoming great adversity,
Offers inspiration that is so full of rainbow's gold,
 Relating triumph's story so inspiringly told.


Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2006 Cynthia Groopman

~**~**~

My Life you do Touch

Cynthia Groopman

With glowing sunshine smiles, my life you do tenderly touch,
 Truly, that means so very much.
Words so warm and kind,
 From you, in my e-mails, I do joyfully find.
 Joyous events you describe and cheerfully relate,
 Of course, my heart is dancing as I celebrate.
 Sorrows to you, I can pour out,
When triumphs bell merrily rings, I gleefully shout.
My tears you do dry,
 And soothe me when I am down and cry.
 For my life, you do lovingly touch with a helping hand,
Radiating my life's land.


Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2006 Cynthia Groopman

~**~**~

Expressions Of Gratitude

Cynthia Groopman

Expressions of gratitude are given in a variety of different ways,
With sunshine smiles and prayers that will brighten days.
With warm soft embraces,
As sweet caresses are planted on loving faces.
With touches so gentle and kind,
With positive thoughts pouring into a sad confused mind.
Expressions of gratitude are a gift so precious and dear,
Resembling a vase of beautiful flowers full of mirth and cheer.


Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

Copyright ©2006 Cynthia Groopman

Readers Feedback

Thank you so much for printing my story, Carol!  What a lovely way to start off a Monday morning. . . I appreciate Louise's comment.

Sincerely,

Barbra

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Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank those of you who chose to be a silent angel and gave an anonymous donation to keep Storytime Tapestry up and running.

Clara Westerfer, Mark Crider, Rosanne Catalano, Paula Booher, Kay Seefeldt

Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker

Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley

Surinder Jandu

Senior Writers

Chief writer: Sharon Bryant

Chief researcher/historian: Hartson Dowd

Agee, Vance; Apted, Violet; Baker, Kathy; Batt, Al; Berry, Nell; Blaine, Pamela; Boda, Ginger; Booher, Paula; Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.; Costner, Joan Clifton; Cavalera, Robyn; Crider, Mark; Dees, Mary; Deming, Barb; Doherty, Maria;  Dowd, Hartson; Dowd, Helen; Gilbert, Robert, Jr.; Gold, Ron; Goodier, Steve; Grisham, Mary-Ellen; Groopman, Cynthia; Braun-Haley, Ellie; Harris, Kathy Anne; Henry, Linda Ann; Hunt, Sharlett; Hymes, Christina; Jacobson, Gary; Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Kevin, Tim; Jenkins, Pamela; Liles, Norma; Lily Jodi Flesberg; Lock, Joyce; Marlor, Janice Bumbalough; Mazzella, Joe; Meeks, Carol; Mizrany, Mary Carter; Morris, Deepak; Ojeibge, Georgewaters; Petry, Dianna Doles; Pringle, Sandra Lewis; Roberts, Susan; Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Smith; Michael; Streidel, Saskia; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan; Walker, Bill; Walker, Joe; Warner, Gordon, K; Walsh, Sue; Weymouth, Barbara J.; Whirity, Kathy;

Wainland, David; Westerfer, Clara; White Robert;

Storytime Tapestry Staff

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Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer – moderator