Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Mud Bowl



Why is it that everytime the Steelers meet with the Dolphins it rains. Big Ben’s first game in 2004 came in place of the injured Tommy Maddox against the Dolphins. Remember there was a hurricane. 2005 preseason game at Heinz Field, there was torrential rains. Regardless of the rains, this was one mess of a game to win 3-0.

Oh I know many will say to me, “you try playing a game in the rain and mud and see if you can do better.” These are professional football players who looked at the beginning of the season as a playoff contender. The last three weeks it seems the “playoff contender” looks not better than the bottom feeders of the NFL. Miami became another tough opponent for the Steelers who should have made mincemeat out of them. Certainly the weather was a factor and only a factor.

What is going on with Ben Roethlisberger? He is suppose to be in the best shape of his football career. He is healthy considering all he went through last year. He has been given more responsibilities and yet he performs as a rookie. In fact the rookies look better and perform better than Ben has since the first game of the season against Cleveland. Multiple sacks per game, many hurried situations are not just the doings of an inconsistent offensive line. Ben is holding onto the ball too long. Receivers are not getting open. It can’t be that losing teams have such great defenses. Come on, Joey Porter had his best game as a Miami Dolphin against his old team.

The defense did everything they could to keep the offense in games and thank God for that, because it took to the fourth quarter to finally get something going. (sigh)

The Steelers next opponent is a second go-round with division rival, the Cincinnati Bengals and they will be looking for revenge. Cincinnati is coming off a big win against the Titans. Without DT Albert Haynesworth, the Titans were pummeled by the Bengals running game. RB Rudy Johnson, returning from injury had his best day this season. Hopefully, the D line will not allow another 100 yard rusher (as they did against Thomas Jones and the Jets). In the last meeting, the Steelers defeated the Bengals 24-13 without Chris Henry. Henry is back after an 8 game suspension and will change the complexion of the game. With Henry in the line up-Palmer will be able to spread the field more-opening opportunities for CJ and TJ. It is Henry who is the danger. He has beaten the Steelers before.

Sept, 2006, the Bengals defeated the Steelers 28-20 with Henry’s 5 receptions for 69 yards and 2 TDs and Houshmandzedah with 94 yards receiving and 2 TDs. Dec 31, the Steelers won 23-17 with Henry receiving 124 yards and 1 TD.

This game is a must-win to keep ahead of the division. The Bengals who like nothing more than to unseat the Steelers and play the spoiler. There is no love-lost between these two teams and the Steelers must go into crisis mode. The Steelers must pound the rock with Willie and Najeh. The running game has been subpar (Willie cranked out 81 yards against the Dolphins) at best. The o-line has to do a better job at protecting the pass and establishing the run. Ben has to get rid of the ball quicker to his receivers and the receivers to catch them. Special teams’ has to be special and the defense to defend.

Weather is expected to be about the same as Monday-rain. Hopefully, we will not find ourselves sitting on the edge of our seats through the 4th quarter hoping for a win.

Come On Steelers-Lets get it Done.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Will the Real Pittsburgh Steelers, please show Up!

First it was Arizona, then Denver, now the Jets. These are three sub-par teams who beat the Steelers. Sunday’s game was a fiasco. Jets QB Clemens looked more like a veteran than Big Ben. The offensive line is horrendous allowing 6 sacks and I lost count on how many hurries. The defense faired no better allowing a 100 yard rusher to a running back who up to Sunday’s game rushed a total of 100 yards all season and no touchdowns.

It seems this team is falling apart in the worse way. What makes it so bad is its November and traditionally the Steelers are stronger in the second half. What is going on?

The Steelers have been so bad I can’t seem to compose myself to break down the break downs. The only thing good about Sunday’s lose-The Steelers are still AFC North leaders.

Next stop the 0-10 Miami Dolphins. At this point the Dolphins must be licking their chops. This could be a chance to break their losing streak. The Steelers will be with out “Troy Boy” Polamalu due to a knee injury. Troy didn’t play against the Seahawks and the Steelers shut them out. So there should be no excuses for another lose, especially against the Miami Dolphins. As did the Jets, the Dolphins will be starting a rookie QB John Beck and RB Ricky Williams is back on the roster slated to play. Since RB Ronnie Brown has been injured, the trench duties have been turned over by Jesse Chatman. However Ricky Williams may contribute in his first game in what 2 years-3 years. Now will the Steeler D allow another 100 rusher in Chatman or Williams?

Do ya think Joey Porter will be talking stuff to his old teammates? I am quite sure he too is looking for that illusive win and seeing how the Steelers respond to sub-par teams…he could see it.

Yes my view point is grim. The first two losses were bad enough, but to the Jets…the situation seems deplorable. Hopefully, Steelers fans will have a happy ending to their Thanksgiving…..With a win. New England is next.

Lets Go Steelers.


A Cross Burning in Carrick on Thanksgiving

Soul Pitt really appreciates Paradise Gray sending us emails to keep us abreast on the racial incidents and crime that happens around Pittsburgh. Paradise makes it a point to be up on this info and shares it with the community and media. With all the Thanksgiving celebrations and partying, you may have missed this incident in the news that Paradise shared with us about a cross burning in Carrick on Thanksgiving.

After you check out Paradise's comments and the WPXI article and video, come back here to post your comments below about the racial incidents and crime going on in Pittsburgh...


Pittsburgh Police were trying to figure out who burned a cross in a Carrick yard early Thursday morning.Anna Young told Channel 11 News that she was cooking her Thanksgiving meal when she heard a commotion outside.She looked outside and said she saw a cross burning in her yard.She also saw some teenagers running away from the scene.Fire investigators said someone did use an accelerant to start the fire.Nobody was injured.Click on the video link to watch the raw interview with the victim.

--
Paradise Gray
One Hood
Http://www.myspace.com/onehoodorg
Http://www.myspace.com/paradisegray

Monday, November 19, 2007

The Glass Ceiling of Revolution

by bonita lee penn, The Soul Pitt
November 2007


Tuesday, November 13, 2007, the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh's Office of Racial Diversity and Inclusion offered to the public the first in a series of panel discussions on the topic of racial discrimination. Tuesday's topics of discussion were the issues surrounding the Jena 6 incident and the question, 'Could it happen in Pittsburgh?'

By now the public has been made well aware of the incident that took place in the small southern Louisiana town of Jena, including the injustice handed down to the six black teenage students compared to the slap on the back given to the white students. They are well aware that the enforcement of civil rights for blacks are not on the judicial system's priority list. They are well aware that the accomplishments made through the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 60's are but a puff of smoke in today's world. As we have come full circle and those issues our ancestors fought and marched for, have not yet been met.

To answer panel's questions, "Yes, it could and it has happened in Pittsburgh and in the majority of cities large and small, urban and rural within the borders of the United States of America on a regular basis."

The Jena 6 Panel was a ground breaking step on the part of the YWCA in an effort to focus on their mission statement of eliminating racism and empowering women. The panelist for this session was Esther L. Bush, President and CEO of the Urban League of Pittsburgh; M. Gayle Moss, President of the Pittsburgh branch of the NAACP; and Mike Healy, Attorney for Pittsburgh's ACLU. The common consensus of the panel was that the incident in Jena came as no surprise; these types of incidents are happening everyday all around the country; and the rise in hate crimes fires have been feed by the current political climate with roots in the White House throughout the Supreme Court.

The panelist took turns in voicing several common opinions such as the need to revamp the hate crime laws to include the hanging of a noose, based on its place in American history and the need to educate youths of all ethnic backgrounds. They felt the inclusion of a higher level of diversity training on all businesses levels would be an asset in halting the cycle of hate crimes and a way to bring forth cultural awareness to those in need.

As all discussions of this nature that could explode out of control was restricted to the confinements of political correctness, meaning nothing was said by the panel to raise the eyebrows of big brother, no one shouted "Black Power!" Sure discrimination, hate crimes, the Jena 6 are terrible, hurtful things that happened to be directed towards Blacks and minorities and all that we are offered, is more diversity training and further panel discussions.

This writer and others would like to know exactly when are we going to make demands and when will it be OK, not to be politically correct when demanding rights as a human being? When will our children be able to attend school and not have to worry about a noose hanging, where they don't have to be the butt of racial jokes, or hurtful words? Who will stand up for our children and demand fair treatment? When will a group of new leaders rise from the younger generation and lead?

The panel discussion offered to the audience a warm over of previously heard statements. As the hate crimes rise, as the discrimination continues, as the violence covers our neighborhoods all we can do is sit and discuss. How can a discussion about the judicial system be held without representation from that sector? How can we speak of violence and crimes against the black man and the audience and panel is 90% female?

The panel addressed each issue as politely and pleasing as possible, an issue so horrendous as racial discrimination, as ugly as violence against another human being, as ignorant as the disregard for others civil rights, sooner or later you going to have to get down and ugly too.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

LET’S COMMIT TO GET FIT TOGETHER


By Edwina L. Kaikai

The week before Thanksgiving is a crazy time to commit to a diet overhaul.

Not that diet overhauls are ever easy. They aren’t, even for those of us who have lost weight and kept it off for more than a year. Even five years.

That’s how long my stomach had stayed out of my lap with relative ease. Seasons had changed but my wardrobe didn’t have to unless I wanted something new, not something bigger.

Then came the change; not menopause but the change in my work life.

What a difference an hour and a half can make. When the work day starts at 8 a.m. instead of 9:30, that morning exercise session needs to begin at 5 a.m. instead of 6, requiring a 4:30 wake up. Replace a one-mile walk from the car to the office with an on-site parking lot and that daily goal of 10,000 steps gets more challenging to achieve. Add the fact that eating places are now a short drive away, instead of a short walk down the street and creeping weight gain should not have been a surprise.

But it was. For four months. By blaming the dryer for the suddenly snug fit of skirts and jackets, I was being a bit loose with the truth. The return of the wiggle dance to button a favorite pair of jeans snapped me back to reality.

It forced me to recognize that the lifestyle adjustments, coupled with the expected new job jitters were causing me to abandon the once successful coping methods for stress that had kept my lap empty for so long. Instead, I had been reaching back for my trusty, decades-old calming tool – food.

Portion control became a concept instead of a way of life. Meal planning gave way to catch-as-catch can mindless eating. And a light beer was a poor substitute for kahlua and cream at the end of the day.

By Halloween, I knew I had to change. It couldn’t wait until January. I don’t want to buy bigger clothes for the holiday season; I’d given away those larger sizes long ago.

That’s why my diet’s being overhauled right before Thanksgiving.

How? By going back to the basics and reconnecting with the lessons learned while getting my stomach out of my lap the first time. Starting with a return to these three lessons:

  1. Putting myself and my good health needs first by no longer inhaling a breakfast sandwich while driving to work. I must make time to sit down and eat at the kitchen table.
  2. Fighting the snack attack by always keeping fruit and/or veggies handy for morning and afternoon snacks. They’ll be eaten in lieu of Peppermint Patties or handfuls of soft mints.
  3. Creating satisfaction guarantees by preparing a real meal for dinner. The only acceptable liquid substitute will be a Weight Watchers smoothie. Not beer (not even a light one), or a Kahlua and cream.

Those are my back-to-basics “lessons” for the everyday. Holiday party invitations have already begun rolling in making a return to these additional “lessons” necessary to keep the good times from overwhelming the overhaul:

  1. Enjoy those special occasion foods rather than menu staples when there is a choice.
  2. Leave space between the foods on my plate like my kids used to do to keep portion sizes under control.
  3. Savor the flavor of a single-serving dish. Think of second helpings as a second meal.

Yes, it’s the week before Thanksgiving, but I’m committed to beginning my diet overhaul with these steps now. Though I don’t expect to be perfect, I do expect to see progress. It’ll be gradual; getting – and staying -- fit is a journey. It’s a lifelong journey with peaks, valleys and plateaus.

If you’re in a valley, won’t you climb out of it with me? I’ll be sharing my trials and triumphs, tips and slips monthly in this space, and it sure would be nice to know I’m not on this road alone. Write me about yours at http://www.blogger.com/emptylap450@msn.com. Together we can make it through the holidays and into the New Year feeling more fit and looking more fabulous than we do today.

A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association should have made me and legions of overweight folks feel better about creeping weight gain. According to some television and newspaper reports, http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07311/831671-114.stm, the study basically said that being 25 pounds overweight wasn’t as big a deal as a lot of people were making it out to be. An analysis of federal research findings over the years didn’t show being slighting overweight, not obese, as increasing a person’s chances of dying from certain cancers or heart disease.

Good news for those of us in the weight war trenches, right?

Wrong. Losing weight isn’t just about preventing an early death. It’s about enjoying a better quality of life while living, too. No matter what that report says, I know shedding 25 pounds made a world of difference in how I felt, reducing my joint pain and blood pressure while increasing my ability to exercise and move through the day without being winded and gasping for breath.

Those changes alone were worth every pound I lost. They motivated me to keep losing more. And it’s why I’m determined not to reach that 25-pound weight gain mark.

MOTIVATING MORSEL

"Your body is the baggage you must carry through life. The more excess baggage, the shorter the trip," Arnold H. Glasow, from Reader' Digest's "Pocket Treasury of Great Quotations."

Edwina L. Kaikai is author of “Stomach In My Lap: 25 Lesson Learned Confronting the Doubts, Fears and Excuses That Piled On The Pounds” and a contributor to “Chicken Soup for the Dieter’s Soul.” She strives to live a life of good health as an example to others. Contact her about the books or to share your tips, slips and triumphs at emptylap450@msn.com.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Monday Night Football Cleveland at Pittsburgh




Two words about Sunday’s game against Cleveland-Special Teams (sigh)

All the work put into special teams during mini camps this spring and training camp this summer and we still have a problem with special teams. It doesn’t matter that former special teams’ players, Chidi Iwouma, Sean Morey, Verron Haynes are gone. There are young players who are suppose to make an impression as to whether they can cut the mustard in the NFL.

If you can’t make it on special teams, you can’t make it in the NFL. Cleveland Browns WR Josh Cribbs’ had four kickoff returns and a 51-yard average, including a 100-yard return for a touchdown. In addition he had four punt returns averaging 4.8-yard per return. 7 missed tackles which include Allen Rossum, Lawrence Timmons, LaMarr Woodley, Anthony Madison, and Arnold Harrison. With the exception of Timmons and Woodley who are rookies, these others have been on special teams for at least 2 years.

In 2001, the Steelers lost the AFC Championship to the New England Patriots and a chance at another Super Bowl because of Special teams. The Steelers will meet the Patriots Dec 9th in Foxborough, hopefully for a chance to beat the unbeaten. To that we need special teams.

Sunday afternoon, the Steelers meet with the N Y Jets. The last time the Steelers played the Jets at home Dec 14, 2003. In blizzard conditions the Steelers lost 0-6, thanks to the offensive play calling of Mike Mularkey. With Tommy Maddox at the helm, Mularkey called for throwing the ball in the blizzard instead of running it with Jerome Bettis. The Jets on the other hand chose to run the ball with RB Curtis Martin who rushed for 174 yards setting up 2 field goals to win the game and a shut out.

The 1-8 Jets are coming off a bye and are hungry for a win. Kellen Clemens is slated to play instead of Chad Pennington. Clemens has played two games thus far this season, Sept 16 loss to Baltimore where he threw for 260 yards and 1 TD and last Sunday’s overtime loss to the Redskins. It was his first start. Clemens completed 23-of-42 passes, and no interceptions which has been a problem for Pennington. He also rushed seven times for 48 yards.

The Jets run a 3-4 defense as the Steelers and are listed at No. 32 in rush defense, 24th against the pass. We can expect Fast Willie Parker to have a fast start and Big Ben to spread out the defense.On the other hand, Jets RB Thomas Jones, formerly of the Chicago Bears, will face the No 1 rush defense in the league. Jones hasn't scored a touchdown in any game this season and has only gained over 100 yards. RB Leon Washington has 1 TD thus far this year.

The Steeler secondary will be tested by WR Laveranues Coles who can go deep and Jerricho Cotchery, the underneath routes. Coles has 6 TDs and Cotchery 1. This should be another in the win bracket.

Let’s Go Steelers.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

“Home for the Holidays”

The Hope Lives Foundation is giving away a “Home for the Holidays” to a deserving Military family from the Pittsburgh area. Local servicemen and women can learn more at http://www.coolstuffradio.com/

Pittsburgh, Pa October 2007

The Hope Lives Foundation will give away a newly renovated house this holiday season to a military family experiencing hardship due to a family member’s service in Iraq or Afghanistan. The organization, founded in 2001 by Real Estate Riches president Jim Toner, provides emergency aid to people facing disaster, tragedy and unforeseen circumstances.

Jim Toner has been a member of the Salvation Army’s board of directors for years, and created the Hope Lives foundation to assist an immediate need in the Mon Valley for interim housing. In 2005, Jim Toner’s compassion for the young men and women serving in Iraq, lead him to a decision that would change the life of one American solider forever. He decided to take one of his houses, do an extreme home make-over on it, and give it debt free, to a deserving local family. The organization will once again honor a veteran from our area with “ Home for the Holidays” 2007.


“We wanted to find a way to say thank you to a Pittsburgh family for their
dedication to our country.” Toner noted. “We are hoping to give a
veteran a proper homecoming and a fresh start.”

Jim Toner and Hope Lives volunteer Todd Lash will be special guests on the Cool Stuff Radio Show heard locally at 7am on 94.5 3WS. Cool Stuff Radio is hosted and produced by local radio personality Kathy Svilar, who is also a Hope Lives Volunteer. Get more info at http://www.coolstuffradio.com/

The 2007 “Home for the Holidays” house is a three bedroom, two story home in West Mifflin. The home will be completely renovated, and the group is currently raising additional funds to furnish the home to meet the specific needs of the family selected. The entry criteria are very simple, and the application and information can be found at http://www.thehopelivesfoundation.org/.


For information:
The Hope Lives foundation
412 673-9800
http://www.thehopelivesfoundation.org/

Cool Stuff Radio
Kathy Svilar
http://www.coolstuffradio.com/

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

IS YOUR PAST KEEPING YOU FROM YOUR FUTURE?

By Renee P. Aldrich

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past,
you can't really go on well in life until you let go
of your past failures and heartaches.

Anonymous

The above quote has been said many times, in many different ways. I believe so much so that so that at this point the words “you must leave the past behind” no longer has as strong a meaning as it once did. It is rather like what happens to young couples when one or the other every weekend has something to apologize for; and the “I'm sorry’s” begin to lose some of their steam. Many us know what it is to say, “I'll just have to move on”; but have not really discovered the fine art to 'getting over it'.

Self help gurus have written books, conducted entire workshops and held seminars on the importance of closing the door on what was, and focusing on what is to be. And while many of us women work hard to convince ourselves and others that we understand this concept and practice it; the truth is, 'letting go” is more than just “saying so”.

In fact, getting over past hurts, disappointments and offenses can be extremely difficult. If it weren’t, it wouldn't be such an issue for so many people, especially women. I am not saying we are completely unforgiving; actually, that is part of the problem, many times we want so badly to appear as though some misdeed is not bothering us; we act as though we have forgiven and forgotten when the reality is we haven't really dealt with the issue so that we can freely release it. . We have just tried to bury it and move on. When you do that, invariable it comes back to haunt us in some form. The other extreme to this is that we allow the anger and hatred for someone or about something to get deep down inside of us, we stay 'mad' at that person; perhaps waiting for them to realize how wrong they did us until it eats a hole inside. Again we think we have handled it by just hating, and being angry, but it is still festering within unresolved and ‘blocking’ the pathway to freedom that forgiveness provides. There is definitely a special consciousness involved in this thing called “getting over the past”.

Let's exam why honest forgetting, forgiving, and moving on is such a struggle. One reason, as strange as it may seem, is that sometime we want to stay stuck in a place of pain. For some, wallowing in that unfair thing that happened to us, gives us a kind of identity that perhaps we are afraid to break free of. In other words, we have such a shabby sense of self, that we fear the freedom to just look at ourselves without the weight of that baggage. We unconsciously know that if we shake off that old stuff, we may have to do something productive and responsible with our lives.

Another reason we lag in our past, is that it is easier to stay, than to invest in the 'work' it would take to climb out. Inability to forgive ourselves is another reason we remain locked in some past event for which we blame ourselves. The challenge of entering a softer, more loving relationship with ourselves is acknowledging our errors, owning the weakness, forgiving ourselves and focusing on the future. This is important because its a fact of life that if we cannot bring ourselves to forgive ourselves, then we won't be able comprehend the all consuming power of the love of God who stays ready to forgive us, wants to do it, and will do it.

The top reason, however, that we can't get over some of the pain of our past, is the inability to forgive the one who offended us. This is how our past gets in the way of our future. Our anger, bitterness, resentment and sometime rage consumes us, and fills up those places were blessings belong.

We have the notion that forgiving the person who wronged us is saying that “it was okay” what they did. This is a grave misunderstanding. Be assured that the expectation in forgiveness is not that the offender has no accountability, and that should blindly stay targets for repeat offenses. The act of forgiveness is directly related to the appropriate process for moving our lives to the next level. It is seeing a situation for what it is, handling it, and making a self affirming decision to step away from the harm or pain and then not holding on to it.

The act of forgiveness is between you and God mostly; and when in cases were it is feasible, yes, it could mean a verbal declaration to the offending individual. But it is in your heart where it is most important that you make the transition from the anger to peace; the peace that comes from understanding that your time, and energy are so much more valuable that to be used obsessing about the terrible event.

I specifically recall a situation that transformed me. I belonged to an organization where I one day found myself the object of, what I thought at the time, was a terrible conspiracy by a certain individual within the organization to discredit me; and ease me out of a position I held. (it was not a leadership position) I was called on the carpet about some alleged infractions in front of about 10 people—including the head of the organization. Everyone was there with the exception of my accuser—who had submitted a 3 page letter filled with accusations about me. This was in September of 1996, I vividly even now remember the emotion as I sat there listening to these people asking me to essentially defend myself about the information that was in the letter (which by the way had been 3 months earlier of the same year). So what I learned on that day in September was that everyone in the meeting had been walking around interacting normally with me all these months (including my accuser) knowing about this letter and that this meeting was coming. I was told that due to scheduling problems it could not be dealt with before 3 months had passed.

I was totally blind sided by this whole thing. While I was definitely aware that due to transitions within the organization, the accuser and I were butting heads, still, I felt that the respect we had for each other and the fact that we had already been working together indirectly for six years, would provide an opportunity for us to smooth out our issues. I never thought this tactic would be taken -- taken before the leadership board in this manner, without the presence of my accuser.

Of course, I wouldn't even entertain the idea of defending any of the content of letter; and of course I immediately resigned from that position. For almost two years I wrestled with this thing, I still tried to remain a part of this organization thinking that I could just move on mentally. At the end of that time I knew that trying to stay had been a mistake.

I was there, but I lingered in my resentment, I watched as it seemed that no one within the organization had a heart for what I was going through. It was tough to walk in there and not keep getting the visual of the humiliation I experienced on that day. I could not forgive these people and did not want to forgive them. Until finally the wisdom of an elderly lady friend brought me to the reality of what I had to do. When I kept complaining to her saying that “they had to know how wrong it was of them to do that to me, every one of them, even the head of our organization.” She said to me, “People have a way of convincing themselves that they were right about something; you want them to come forward and say they were wrong—and you can just forget that. Waiting on that is what’s tearing you up inside—holding on to that hope keeps you the victim. You will stay torn up and confused and miserable as long as you hold on to it. LET IT GO!!” In that instant, was through, I left that organization and begin to systematically forget the incident, and over time I forgave the parties. Subsequent to that, I had doors opening for activities and creative situations that I would not have been able to take advantage of if I was still in that position with that organization.

What I learned from this painful experience was that for every reason people find to hold on to the negative past, there are just as many reasons for letting go. A key reason being is that the longer you hold on thinking there is some value in that, the longer it will eat away at you; another important reason it is better to let go, is that the longer you delay the process of moving on, the longer you delay your healing. It is a fact that you cannot progress with an open unhealed wound because when you least expect to, you bang that wound and the pain goes all through you again. And lastly, but most importantly, holding on to those old hurts and anger, does not have you in a POSITION OF POWER, but really is a reflection of your POWERLESSNESS. Think about it, in any situation where our physical or emotional power is compromised, we still have free will of our thoughts, and literally can choose to release anything that is holding us in a mental hostage.

Accomplishment in life lies in the free creative flow of our beautiful minds. If our minds are cluttered up with remnants of some distant, unresolved hurt, there is no space for growth. We must keep ourselves open to the blessings intended for us by consciously deciding to step out of that past stuff. Just like I was told by my wise elderly friend, “waiting on someone else to make a past situation right will tear you up inside”. The first tool we possess to help us in moving on is our minds and thoughts. Whatever our past experience has been, whatever wounds or heartaches they have rendered to us—We are still in charge of our thinking—this is where our power lies.


TIPS FOR MOVING ON

Quit sharing the story over and over again with friends or family members
(if you need to talk with a professional do so, but don't just keep it as a topic of your conversation in general)--even supporters tire of the broken record you become.

God has provided prayer as a means of communicating with him things that are larger than you USE IT

Go ahead and give yourself permission to be sad, angry, disappointed, disillusioned
or whatever you need—PUT A TIME LIMIT ON IT, and then start the process of moving on

Understand that moving on is a process, and the quicker you begin it, the quicker you
get to your healing.

Don't expect it to be easy, but do expect it to be doable—Do not be ashamed or to proud
to seek professional help, it is a sign of strength




Renee is a Community Cancer Control Health Educator for the American Cancer Society, a writer of poetry and prose, and is free lance writer for the New Pittsburgh Courier. She can be reached at
Tehreh06@aol.com or 412-414-1347. You may also post a public comment below.