New Directions Emotional Intelligence Workshop

I'd like to share a few thoughts with you ND'ers. Although I have not been to ND for awhile now, I am still actively focused on working on my core issues, both at home and at HG. Since I retired from the County at the end of March, I have felt a sense of freedom that I have not felt in a long time. I am free to focus my time and energy on what I CHOOSE, not what someone else chooses for me. I can make my day whatever I want it to be - I am completely in charge of me! Contrary to what some may think, I have not given up anything (except slavery); rather I now have the time and energy to focus on the things I love to do - with some financial constraints - nevertheless, I am in charge! Now the only person I can blame for having a bad day is me! And if I don't like how it's going, I can change it. Wow - I love having the power to make those choices. I am totally responsible for me - if things get screwed up, I can't blame. I can just say to myself, well, that was interesting. What did I get out of that? What can I learn from that? What's that, you say? I always did have the power to make those choices? Probably, but I didn't know how to do both - be a slave to my employer and be a fake person every day, then go home and be a loving wife and mother. So, I don't always multi-task very well. That's ok - I don't have to now. I can choose to, if I want to, and that's a big difference for me. I am just loving my freedom and feel that whatever comes along I can handle it. And if I stumble, I know there are people out there who care about me who can give me the support I need when I need it. Of course, this doesn't mean I have a perfect life - far from it. But the difference now is that I THINK I can handle most of what comes at me. I have choices - and now a lot of them are MY choices! I may slip back a couple of steps once in awhile, but I know how to get back on track. And that feels great!

Gay

Sure...29yrs ago and I still remember how great and honest it felt. If the rating is 1-10 I would give it a 100!!!!!!!!!!!

Melann K.

New Directions has changed my life in many ways large and small. The first thing that happened to me in my very first class (August 1989) on the very first night was the safety and security to finally begin to grieve the death of my mother (16 years from then). It was an incredible experience, such a relief and so cleansing. The next day I got to find out that I was not the only person there experiencing panic anxiety and again was given the safety and security to work through the feelings without masking or running from the anxiety. So that was just my personal stuff, then my husband was there with me and we got to do a lot of work on our feelings about the relationship. It was a very busy weekend and I was validated, encouraged and loved through it all.

New Directions gave me tools and taught me how to get through the hard times in my life. I also met wonderful people in the classes; many who I still have close and dear relationships with.

Helen T.