Its been a while now since my last blog entry. I hope that this post finds you all very well.
I wish to thank you all again for your support in bringing me to New Frontiers two weeks ago. Your wishes, your financial contributions all helped support this learning experience. The parents and volunteers I met at the November 2011 New Frontiers Program are now extended family... they are awesome loving, inspiring individuals who live spread out around the globe. Now thanks to Facebook and the Internet, we are all still connected easily comfortably, supporting one another in our daily journeys.
There is much that I learned during my trip to, at and from the Option Institute this Fall, but I just want to highlight the 10 most significant to share with you. I hope that you will also find these summarised points help to you in your life.
Top Ten Things I Learned during 2011 New Frontiers Program at Autism Treatment Center of America:
1. Your world is the extension of your child's Play Room. So, the more love you practice outside of the Play room, the more love you give in the Play Room. How you love others (for example, the cashier or waitress) is a reflection of how you love your child. Give love everywhere... and for certain, love is in the Play Room.
2. You must face your discomforts straight on. It is in dealing with your discomforts that you are able to grow. Notice what your discomforts are and face them.
3. How others judge me does not bother me unless somewhere within myself I also hold some of the same judgment.
4. I am not in control of what happens to me or what others do - I am in control of how I respond. It is my choice to be happy or unhappy - both are okay.
5. Loving someone is allowing that person to deal with their own discomfort. For example, not hugging someone could be more loving than hugging him/her.
6. This relates to the above teaching. My happiness and comfort is not dependent upon outside forces (like receiving hugs back). I create my own happiness. It's a choice.
7. This teaching was learned in the car on my way to Option Institute listening to Rhonda Byrn's The Power. Give love and gratitude to the things you want, and turn away from things you don't want.
8. Be specific with what you want. For example, instead of "more eye contact", you could want "30 looks per minute."
9. Nothing is taboo in the Play Room... and the world is an extension of the Play Room... discuss and accept everything!
10. Be radically authentic and fearless!
I am grateful for this opportunity to share some of the things I learned, and I am grateful that I am able to do this while a volunteer is happily ripping in the Play Room with Remy.
Make yourself an awesome day!
