Once you’ve been in crisis mode, you sometimes forget you are writing a new book, not a new chapter, which is what is going on now. At Zumba yesterday, as we circled up afterwards to say why we’re blessed or why we’re stressed, someone said they have decided that every time they go to the place in their head that plays out the negative tape, they are going to turn the switch off and record…
“You are on the eve of a complete victory. You can’t go wrong. The world is behind you.” – Josephine Baker
Yesterday, I opened a new book, unwritten, but full of all the hope and optimism that any good book’s first page offers. And I dedicate this new book to yesterday because in that day I was touched by many people who pushed me forward into today. The first person was my son, who showed me that no matter what you are doing, or what is going on with you, if you approach it with a…
Okay so Alice – you are spot on! – admitting you have a problem is a new beginning. I, Rachel Dangermond, am a hoarder! And today, I started early packing, schlepping, cleaning and letting go of stuff. And I’ll be damn if by 8 pm I was not done moving – and here is what I accomplished: 1) copious small boxes and bags were moved to the new apartment and now are spread like invasive…
My mother subscribed to and collected magazines on every topic imaginable. And when her stacks became unmanageable, she bought shelves to house the stacks of magazines on. I printed out the definition of hoarding and how it is an affliction and told her she needed help. In the past week as I’ve packed and thrown out and given to charity I realized, I, Rachel Dangermond, am a Hoarder. Yesterday, at Zulu, I told friends I…
New Orleans has to exist because if it didn’t people would invent it. After so many episodes of In Treatment not to mention the reality of life in front of TV, I begin to believe that everyone is seriously flawed. And some people chose to anesthetize themselves, some turn to alcohol or drugs or both, some smoke, some lie and cheat, some gamble, but here in New Orleans, people spend a lot of that negative…
I sat on the porch to have my coffee this morning and watch the sun rise for the last time from the LaLa. The last few days have been especially trying for so many reasons it is hard to even begin to enumerate. I watched an episode on In Treatment last night sitting on the floor of the living room as my furniture now lives in my future life, not here in my present life.…
I have so much to do I could spit. But I took Tin to Zulu this morning by bike because it’s Mardi Gras and remember I live in the city that Care Forgot, which is why you have to go to a parade on Fat Tuesday. Lately, since I’ve changed my life I’ve had a series of encounters. The man at CC’s who asked me in all honesty if I would give him a shot.…
I was watching the second session with Walter that Paul has on In Treatment and even though my therapist said that the industry feels that Paul’s therapy is spot on – I beg to differ. The discussion is centered on Panic Attacks – of which I’m an expert. Walter keeps saying over and over again that his episodes are not panic attacks because they never happen under duress and Paul never addresses this and as…
[written a few days ago – today’s Fat Tuesday] I’ll share a secret with you that might not have been obvious at the time. In the summer of 2011, I considered taking my life. I would look outside at the bayou and dream about putting actual stones in my pockets and entering the bayou (and taking pills to ensure I didn’t come out). That’s how hopeless my life seemed to me then, that’s how trapped…