I went to a lecture the other night on Seeing Color & Enhancing Creativity presented by photographer Seth Resnick. To warm up he had the audience close their eyes and picture what the person next to them was wearing. Because many couldn’t do it, he used the exercise to illustrate just how much we miss even when something is right in front of us.
Walking By Joshua Bell
Seth’s warmup exercise reminded me of the Washington Post’s subway experiment where world renowned violinist Joshua Bell, disguised as just another street musician, played music during morning rush hour in a Washington DC metro station. Every time I watch the Joshua Bell subway video it makes me cry.
In 43 minutes of playing some of the most beautiful music ever written – 1,097 people – most on their way to work – walked right on by. The few that listened dropped a grand total of $32.17 into Joshua Bell’s hat. Only one woman recognized him. Never did a crowd gather. If we are unable to break out of our daily trance when moments like Joshua Bell emerge, what else are we missing in our life?
We currently live in a world consumed by speed, instant gratification, and crazy schedules. I believe our lifestyles contribute significantly to not seeing the truth and beauty that is right in front of us. I cry because we miss our kid’s smile, the squirrel scampering across the fence, the smell of rain, the warmth of the sun. Every day we hurry around in our own bubbles of busyness, missing out on the life that is right in front of us.
Mindfulness and Addiction
To overcome addiction requires enhancing your ability to see. You must learn to recognize the patterns that lead up to acting out, and awaken to what you really want in the moment you decide to inject a drug, put money on the poker table, or take another sip of wine. This is easier said than done, because when addiction is active it puts your brain in an altered trance-like state that makes it challenging to fully experience the present moment.
One way to break out of the trance – and out of addiction – is getting good at being present. The best way to do this is by developing a mindfulness practice that over time helps you connect to the magic of the moment. It’s magical because it’s in the present that we experience life and have the opportunity to proactively influence our future and change behavior.
5 ways to build a mindfulness practice:
1) Spend some time learning about mindfulness practices:
2) Pick a method of mindfulness practice that appeals to you, and that you can commit to doing for a trial period of time – say 90 days.
3) If the various methods discussed in the above sites don’t appeal to you, think about which sense (or senses) engages you most in the world – sight, smell, sound, touch, taste – and then learn to use that sense as way into your deeper self and the world around you.
For example, the images I create from taking pictures are mirrors of my internal world. They help me better understand myself, what I care about, what I focus on, what I see – and what I don’t see! Photography for me has become a mindfulness practice. But the same can be true of cooking, making music, being a masseuse, or any other discipline that relies strongly upon our senses.
4) Develop a daily habit of incorporating your practice into your life by making time for it, prioritizing it, and doing it no matter what particular rollercoaster life takes you on. Pick a simple and easy way to track progress, such as assessing daily your level of calm energy and stress, and perhaps how it influences your addictive behavior.
5) There is no right or wrong when it comes to developing a mindfulness practice. You can stop, change, or make adjustments along the way. The key is finding a way to live in the present moment as much as possible, where you are fully awake, aware, and able to decide how you will respond to any given moment. It is also in the present, in the gap between stimulus and response, where you consciously do what you need to do to overcome addiction.
I have never personally experienced addiction. However, I most certainly have been privy to missing pieces of life as it passed me by. I have often wondered about how even though I had been looking forward to a vacation or a gathering with friends for the weeks prior to the event, when the actual event came it seemed to pass with such swiftness I often couldn’t remember what I did to have so much fun. I think times we get so involved in taking photos of our recreation activities, for example, that we don’t stop to make a mental photo in our mind. Obviously taking photos is a good thing and can help us recall the event; but actually soaking up the moment is something I have missed time and time again. This article has helped me make a connection between the experiences I have had and the applications that can be made to addiction. Thank you for the article!
Bob, very insightful feedback. I am guilty of often being immersed in a moment behind the lens and missing the bigger life moment. On a recent trip to Iceland with my family we went out whale watching and my camera died. I sat below deck angry for a long time trying to get it to work. Then I realized maybe it broke for a reason. Maybe the lesson was that I should be out on deck with my wife and son immersed in the moment of seeing these amazing creatures, and not busy clicking off shots. Life is about learning, for that I am sure.
J
Getting outdoors and walking or hiking through the woods is my favorite way of creating mindfulness. It changes my perspective to leave civilization and technology behind for a while. When I connect with nature I am more aware of my surroundings and I appreciate them better. What is really important and what is not become defined in my mind. When I return to civilization I am refreshed and balanced.
I could not agree more…nature is among life’s greatest healers and awakeners – so long as we can shut off technology and just be. Thanks for the comment.
J
I agree that practicing mindfulness is vey helpful. It helps to slow things down long enough to get a steady focus of where you’re at and what you are experiencing as far as psychological, physical or emotional sensations. I use to come across this teenage boy at the park where I’ve been taking my little girl since she was a baby. He would swing on the swings for at least 30 minutes with his headphones on looking so happy. He was difficult not to notice because what teenage boy likes to swing at the park? Well, I asked him one day what he was doing and he explained to me that he was swinging and listening to worship music as a way of re-charging.
My best form of mindfulness practice is to just stop what I’m doing and spend time doing what is most important in life and that is spending time with my kid. Yesterday I sat through my daughters volleyball practice and this was as refreshing as breathing in a fresh mountain breeze. People let life pass them by without taking a moment to appreciate what’s important until one day it’s too late. Look at what’s in front of you before it disappears, runs out, stops playing music or grows up and moves away. Spending time with our children is a great way to build mindfulness skills.
Although I am not an addict, my mother, my father, 3 sisters and one brother all struggle with addiction issues. My father is sober one year and 5 months, my sister is 9 years sober and a leader in her recovery community.
Jenny, sounds like you are well attuned to mindful practices, I wish everyone appreciated the moment as you do. Also sounds like your family is quite resilient and working hard on overcoming struggles with addiction, glad to hear.
Thanks for the feedback
J
Great blog! I have 2 kids, a 3 month old, and an 11 year old. I work a very busy 40 hour a week job that I love, but we have constant deadlines, which makes me work far more than 40 hours a week. I am always working on publications that publish a month or two ahead of where we are actually at so my mind is always at least a month ahead. When I am shopping, reading, coaching, etc… I am thinking of what is going to happen next, or what I need to get done, the next drill, the next deadline, the next dinner at home etc… This article makes me STOP. BREATHE. I looked around today at my baby girl playing on her toy, and my oldest daughter texting on her phone while I was sending an email (on my day off) for work. I immediately deleted my email, put my phone down, and asked my daughter to play a game with me. I know this doesn’t have to do with addiction, I have never had an addiction so I don’t fully understand the struggle, but I do need to practice mindfulness and live in the now and quit trying to always be ahead. Today is today, yesterday is gone, and who knows if I will even have a tomorrow so thank you for this article. It was an eye opener.
Tonya S.
I love the idea of mindfulness. I have had severe anxiety disorder my entire life and my problem is that I am constantly living in the future in fear and worry on whats going to happen next. I finally saw a therapist and she told me that my problem is that I lack mindfulness. I have now learned how to manage my anxiety and to appreciate the moment I’m in rather then worry about everything that is out of my control. I have found hiking and going out in nature to really help me with my anxiety. I think that every person should know what the idea of mindfulness means and why it is so important to have on a day to day basis as you go through life.
Thanks for the comment, I could not agree more with the benefits of being in nature and the need for more mindfulness in our society.
J
Thanks Tonya for the nice feedback. Lifestyle for many Americans is very much like you say – lots of work hours during the week (beyond 40), much to do between work, time using technology, and unfortunately little time spent in the NOW. Glad the article made you stop and breath, and hopefully think more about your lifestyle and day to day schedule, and what is truly important to you.
J
I have experienced addiction. I smoked cigarettes for 6 years. When I quit, I found myself with so much extra time on my hands. At first I couldn’t figure out what to do with all that time. I found myself trying out more difficult recipes in order to kill time. I went for more walks. I went outside and just sat. Not because I had to go outside anymore for a cigarette but just because I enjoyed being outside. When I went outside for fresh air, I was actually getting fresh air or as fresh as it can be in a metropolitan area! There is an app on Facebook called Quit Smoking: Cessation Nation. It tells you how many days it has been since you’ve quit smoking among other things. It has been 661 days for me. In that time I’ve saved over $3300, I have not smoked over 13000 cigarettes, and I have saved over 55 days of time by not smoking. It’s amazing that not only am I saving money (and my life) by not smoking but also how much time I am saving! I went from “So much to do, so little time” to “so much time, so little to do”.
After reading your article about mindfulness it made me a little more aware of my life and why I do some of the things I do. We have suffered as a family in many ways, but our biggest tragedy is losing our home and property in the country at the base of a National forest to a fire and having to move in with family while we put the pieces back together. While we lived in this most beautiful place with animals and a pond I would often find myself lost in thought with a vision, it could be just looking at the pond for the 100th time, or watching the animals go about their daily routines, or the wind blowing through the trees one day and the snow gracefully falling to the ground the next. It was almost mesmerizing and I couldn’t figure out why I would do this it seemed more often then maybe anyone else normally would. Since we have lost this beautiful place I have a million pictures in my head to shuffle through, so many of life experiences in the 15 years there to cherish and share with new acquaintances. It can be addicting in it’s own way to be lost in such beauty and thought. I feel so lucky to have had this experience but at the same time I am truly sad it is only a memory and not part of our daily lives anymore. Maybe all those times of capturing those memories in my head, through pictures, through our children’s lives was meant to be for me to help me through my daily life now, in the city, surrounded by asphalt and cars and homes so close to each other you can’t help but see into the neighbors home when you walk into your own yard. I feel my life in our home in the country was my trance, my tranquility to remind me to take it slow and not let the hustle and bustle of life take me down.
I have never experienced chemical addiction but I’d like to say I am addicted to nature, the outdoors, animals and fresh air. It helps me to recharge and refocus on the now and the hurried life we all live.
Nancy, sorry about the loss of your home, from what you said, it was a very special place. And yes, it does seem that perhaps your experience there was to help you prepare for your life today, and staying mindful of your life in the city which is likely more challenging. Thanks much for the comment.
J
I realized several years ago that I needed to find something that broke through the stress and pressure of my profession. So I began mediating and practicing yoga to get me centered and focused again as I was letting my job get the better of me. The “mindfulness” that I have been practicing for years never occurred to me as something that would be useful in assisting someone with addiction. A very close friend is struggling in his recovery and after reading your blog I believe the concept of mindfulness would definitely be beneficial for him.
I couldn’t agree more! Please pass on my blog to your friend :)
And thanks for reading
J
I agree with what you say about us humans are always on the go not having time to step back and notice the little things in our lives. As human beings we get caught up on the big picture of always improving your life in a financial point of view. We humans in our heads have the idea of the so called “grind mode” because we believe that money will make us happy which is does for temporary happiness but we fail to recognize the little things in life and how that small things can bring us joy and relaxation we just have to take our time and step back from our daily busy lives.
Hi Mr. Fitzgerald,
I believe that there is so much going on in peoples’ lives that we are so busy trying to make a living instead of well, living. It took me a moment to comment on this particular entry because I had to step outside and really take it all in—take in all that I just pass by on the daily, all the beauty and I even took a moment to look at my baby sister who seems to be so grown nowadays. I was in church one Sunday where the Pastor spoke about setting “margins” in life. These margins are what keep us from going insane, these margins are what help us take time to enjoy our life and notice all around us. I believe everyone should have margins as well as take the time to live and notice this beautiful world around us.
Hi Mr. Fitzgerald,
I have to say I really loved you blog on mindfulness. My mother passed away about 5 years ago and for me that was a hard thing to get past but she is the one who taught me how to be mindful of the things around me. I would go with her to the mall just to people watch. She would teach me on how to be aware of people and what things to pay attention to, I miss doing that with her very much. I am currently is a study group with a couple of my church friends and we are going through a book called The Purple Book and for me when I do my lessons that is when I have my quiet time. Once I am done with my lesson I meditate and think about things that make me happy but also about things that I could change in my life. I find this time so peaceful, quiet, and very therapeutic. I have to say your blog has given me some things to think about especially when I am walking around in the world out there. I also find that my niece and nephew help me be mindful of the things I say but also of the things around me. It is quite intriguing on how children perceive the world. Thank you again for an awesome post! I have given a few of my friends your website, hopefully it will help them as it has helped me.
Stefanie T.
I am a recovering addict and when I was in treatment one of the most interesting things I learned about was mindfullness. I think itt was part of the DBT training we did. I also then went on to read a couple books. I think Dharma Punks was one, and Buddhism and the 12 steps. I learned about the importance of not stressing about the past or worrying about the future. The Serenity Prayer is kind of a mindfullness excercise. Accepting the things I cannot change is the past and future, having the courage to change the things I can, things that are currently happening, in the present, and the wisdom to know the difference is what being present allows me to do.
One mindfullness practice someone had me do was wear one of those rubber bracelets on my wrist, but switch it to the other wrist everytime i had a negative or judgemental thought. Since I live in SE portland with a bunch of annoying hipsters I was switching it every 5 minutes, but the more I practice tricking my brain in to staying focused the length of time it stayed on one wrist got longer. It never got anywhere near the 30 days on one wrist, which was the goal, but thats not my fault, bicyclists should stop at 4 way stops nstead of tearing right through them.
I have never really experienced addiction of some sort other than food addiction and cravings which, to my understanding in correlation to the article it is quite different in some aspects. I do, however, have a practice to which I try to do every day which is meditation and praying. It’s partially due to my religious beliefs and practices but also due to getting in tune with my consciousness. I have found meditating as a very helpful tool to not only relaxation of the body and mind but also doing my best to tune in with all my other senses. Your post and the links have really helped me expand my knowledge of body-mindfulness and it has added to my list of practices to do. I do agree, that our lives are on constant super speed mode no matter our occupation, region, etc. It is always a blessing to take some time to stop and recoup with your inner self because self care is just as important as the work we do for others. Thank you once again for your blog post and links. I will definitely share with my networks!
– Fipe H.
Meditation is great medicine! Thanks for the feedback.
J
Stefanie, sounds like your mum was a wonderful person, what a gift she passed on to you.
J
Never has the power of mindfulness, breathing, and meditation found it’s way into my undergraduate university studies and the holistic approach to healing. I have to thank you for the power and new foundation it has given me.
your welcome :)
You said “To overcome addiction requires enhancing your ability to see. You must learn to recognize the patterns that lead up to acting out, and awaken to what you really want in the moment you decide to inject a drug, put money on the poker table, or take another sip of wine.” Well what do you say to the person who does see and just simply ignores it and passes on by. We see a few stragglers in the video posted above catching a glimpse of the violin player and some even donating money encouraging his work. They see, but then they forget they let go and the move on. My dad his whole life has said to me he wanted nothing more then to be proud of me. He saw my potential in many things and the chances he got to see me and be proud he turned the other way. Maybe i’m taking your response to literally, but the perspective of an addict can be challenging. I feel as though many people have enhanced their ability to see the world in a different view but they don’t care to actually use it.They feel its inadequate, to minuscule to waste there precious time on. So is it really about seeing, or is it about the need to stop turning away and face the truth.
Brittany, you are correct that an ability to see a problem does not necessarily mean change follows. We must see a problem in a way that awakens us to the discrepancy between the way we are, and the way we want to be, and that gap needs to motivate action. And yes, seeing in a way that motivates change often means facing painful realities. I would also add – and this is a generalization – that fathers of the past generation did not learn from their parents developmentally how to show affection very well. This does not mean they are off the hook, just that in my experience expectations between generations need some contextual understanding. Thanks for the comment.
J
John,
My personal life had just about came crashing down on me this last summer. I don’t know how or why but I gave myself two days to pout about it and to then get up and do something instead of just sitting. After those two days, I was able to begin my journey of living in the present, not in the past and not in the future. At this moment, I am proud to say that now more than ever in my life have been able to keep myself focused on “the now,” in present. Never had I thought with being the biggest stress ball I am, would I be able to live in the present.
Currently, I am working on getting back into my old habit of exercising daily and eating healthy. I love to eat and I am one of the worst stress eaters– I will keep going for hours on end unless someone, most of the time my mom, has to point out to me what I am doing. This is also something I am currently working on. School is my number priority and some days I will forget to eat because how focused I was on studying. In high school and my first year or so of college I was able to balance school, work, friends and exercise perfectly, but now all I do is study. I have been doing great in keeping up with small healthy meals and have finally incorporated my main goal of getting some sort of physical exercise in the gym for at least 3o minutes daily. It’s working out pretty good and I am proud of my self for being consistent. Your article has reminded me of what I need to continue doing in order to make time for something that I enjoy doing. Exercising is something that I very much so love participating in, especially high intensity exercise, it is where I find my mindfulness. Thank you for the extra motivation!
Sara, very inspirational comment, thanks! It is hard to live in the present, but your story is a reminder that no matter how stressful things get in life, it is possible to rest in the now. Your comment about food reminds me a post I did about calm energy, please check it out here: http://addictionmanagement.org/calm-energy-addiction-antidote/
J
The five ways to build a mindfulness practice is a very worthy information. The word addiction can be described in many ways, like physical addiction , addiction to a particular substance or even addicted to stress and anger. Before addicting to something research, you are only be into it for pleasure or anything else. Its like a mental illness whether its a drug dependence or other. Even a trustworthy counselling center can also help the people who are out there in addiction.
Personally, I am not fighting any addition, however, I do struggle living in the present moment. I strive to live this way, yet working full time and being a full time student at PSU can be overwhelming at times. I desire to make connections with people, laugh, and share precious moments with those I love. I truly appreciated the speech you gave at PSU about drugs and treatments etc. I found the last part of your speech to be very powerful because I believe so many people forget how to live in the moment or to recognize each other’s talents and interests. I believe people spend too much time telling others, whether it is a friend spouse or even client, what they need to quit doing. I grew up with parents who abused drugs. My father abused my mother both mentally and physically. I grew up all around Portland with little support from my parents because they let drugs control their lives. Today, they continue on the same path. My parents are homeless and sleep in a jeep that barely runs. Just a few months ago, after many years, I saw them on the PSU campus. I stopped, stared at them for a few moments, and I saw this flash back of my entire life, with them and without. I approached them and instantly saw this deep intense sadness and shame in their eyes. They both surrounded me gave me a hug, while the tears effortlessly fell from their eyes. During these short few moments I asked myself “what if…?”, “what if they got the help they needed?” They never got to see any of my accomplishments growing up because I left them when I was 10. My mom didn’t see me at graduation, or get to see the expression on my face when I got accepted into college. Every day I think about how my life would have been if she could have freed herself from her addictions that’s separated her from reality and the one’s she loved. She seems too far gone now and I wish things could be different for those who suffer with addition because I believe all people have talents, interest or desires, but life oftentimes makes it difficult to live out such dreams. Currently, I attempt to go on jogs in between writing essays for class, write poetry, enjoy my love for photography and the outdoors as much as I can. When I go without doing these things, I get far too overwhelmed with life’s demands. So as you suggest, may be all learn to practice mindfulness and live in the moment as much as possible.
Thank you!
Jennifer
Jennifer, thank you for sharing your story – very moving, and sad. Despite your parents problems, your resiliency to go down a different path is palpable and inspiring. I too share a love of photography, it is one of the few things that really allows me to feel a flow in life. Do follow-up on evolving a mindfulness practice, it will serve you well into the future.
J
Thank you for your response. I also believe practicing mindfulness will serve me well, especially in busiest of times.
Thanks again and I wish you luck on future endeavors!
Hello Dr. Fitzgerald,
I love your minfulness blog as it reminds me of my life before my mother passed away.I took care of me practicing mindfulness, took care of my mother and engaged her in joyful practice, went to school full time and volunteer at Clackamas Service Center, a homeless shelter in S.E. I have never experienced addiction in my life.My grandfather, was a Holocaust victim, my Jewish family nested in Romania a communist country then finally when I was 14 we immigrated to this country.My social location has been “chronic oppression” but despite the fact I fought hard against destiny to keep my hope alive.I have no regrets whatsoever.I have been fighting the good fight.But 10 months ago after when my mother passed away I have experiencing so much pain that words cannot describe
Ever since I am not myself.I cannot escape the pain.Even writing about my beloved is painful.I cry a lot at night when no one sees me and walk exausted all day long.I have periods when I am feel that I have died.The pain makes it hard for me to breathe.
School is so hard for me right now and I can hardly help the homeless anymore.
I am afraid that I will never attain the mindfulness state because if I don’t keep my mind busy I cry until I hypervantilate.
It will be a year in June since my mother passed and I miss her so much.I miss my life and my mindfulness.
Your blog reminded me of the sweet joy in those moments that I so long for now.
Will I ever be able to experience mindfulness again???
Thank you so much for sharing this blog.
Daniela
Daniela, the pain you express about the loss of your mother is palpable. Know that the flip side of pain and loss is that it forces us grow, learn, and eventually awaken in a deeper way to our true nature. Don’t listen to society that says we should get over loss quickly and just move on, this is not the path to deeper truth. Instead, stay with your own process – however long it takes – and know that you will come out the other side stronger and more awakened to your own life purpose. And yes, as best you can, be mindful of your process, feelings, and life experiences and know that it is OK that life is hard, that you don’t feel yourself. Also, consider that in your pain there may a message for you about your life. Perhaps the pain of the loss of your mother is linked to earlier pains in your life that have remained unresolved or unexplored? Time is a great healer, and an even better one if we use it wisely.
J
This is such a common yet overlooked phenomenon; the speed of our lifestyles. As a student, I am consumed with due dates and daily responsibilities, all things I tell myself, “I need to get done,”. But most of the time, I am racing through these activities. After too much time in this mindset, the weight of stress I cary becomes unbearable, and that is when I now know I need an outlet for that speed, and just like you say, an activity that helps me slow down and breathe. But it hasn’t always been that way, as I used to struggle with intense anxiety. Practicing mindfulness has been particularly tricky for me, as I felt like I had to re-learn patience. Fortunately, I have learned to cope with my anxiety, and I have learned to identify the sources, which are mostly the past and future, but not the present. Funny.
Something simple for me is cooking. I try to cook dinner at home most nights a week, and most of the time I make it a social thing, with friends. It’s a time for us to put our phones down and to take a break from our laptops and talk about what is going on in our lives, and to enjoy a good meal together.
It is a funny thing how you can truly feel like time slows down when you are mindful of the present.
Thanks Claire for the comment.
J
I concur with Dennis and Scott that additcion is a chronic condition. Assuming I worked at a public treatment center there are several things I would do to further the work of aligning this belief to what is actually practiced in our profession. Direct work with clients and families would include the education piece about how additcion is like having cancer, not like having a really bad case of the measles. Framing the issue of chronic vs. acute this way is crucial to helping all involved take the long view of success. Group work with a mixed-stage set of clients over an extended number of sessions as in Weegmann and English, skyped or cell phone based assertive continuing care, in-person quarterly RMC’s, would all be woven into my practice (assuming my agency was supportive). Much systemic work is needed to spread this vital reframing of additcion as a chronic condition. From an education standpoint, this concept and practice is not a hard shift to sell, but many of these shifts will cost money. When it comes down to dollars that is a different story. From all levels within the agency, to community, state and federal funding sources both education and advocacy is necessary. I am ready to sign up for the sustained push that is required for progress to be made. Taking these sytemic changes even further into the very critical need for overall change in our nation’s additcion treatment and aftercare structure. Toward that end I agree with McClellan and Meyers and say increases in funding support are needed to implement best practices in treating adults, adolescents, those who are dually diagnosed and incarcerated.
Thank you so much for sharing. I haven’t experienced any addiction before but I have been practicing yoga recently as a way to keep myself calm and relaxed. Yoga really helps me overcome stress and improve my concentration on working and studying. I am working as a pharmacy technician and I have seen so many inpatient patients who easily get angry and yell at me even when I don’t do anything wrong or just because they were in a long line to get their medications. My job requires me to stay calm at all time while being able to focus on doing different task at the same time. Yoga and meditation are powerful ways for me release all the tension and stress I might have during the day. Therefore, I think yoga in particular and practicing mindfulness will help get over addiction as well.
I agree, yoga and meditation are food for a good life! Keep doing both and know you will gain much more than just calmness…you will gain insight into your internal world and discover your truth.
Namaste
J
This year has been a world of change for me. I won’t go into detail but I must say I suffer from clinical depression and severe anxiety. I decided to not take medication anymore due to the adverse reactions I have experienced in the past. I decided to go back to school and continue my education. But this time I decided to take advantage of my school’s counseling program. My therapist referred me to a group therapy session in where I learned about guided mindfulness meditation. Although I don’t suffer from drug addiction, guided mindfulness meditation helped me tremendously to quiet my mind and it helped me get sleep at night. It’s a learning process and battling my conditions is quite a challenge. Tools such as mindfulness are a great tool to help me deal with my challenges in a an effort to keep focused and work on what’s important. I have recommended this to many people… It doesn’t work for everybody but its always nice to hear that at least a few people in my life and myself have been able to benefit from it. Thank you for your post.
Thanks for your feedback!
J