ON THE DEAN'S LIST

I am launching a new solo podcast called “On The Dean’s List.”  This is a celebration of the art of conversation.  Our podcasts will air LIVE on Wednesday’s at 11 am Eastern Time. You can even call in to the show and join in the fun. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onthedeanslist On The Dean's List I am so excited about a new project I want to share it with you. Let me share our upcoming line-up … We launch on Wednesday June 5th with former WDIV Channel 4 Sportscaster Katrina Hancock.  She will share what happened at the station, what’s she’s been doing since she left, and sharing her thoughts about media and communications with us: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onthedeanslist/2013/06/05/katrina-hancock On June 12th, author Ellen Meister will join us to talk about her current book release, the novel FAREWELL, DOROTHY PARKER, channels the great Dorothy Parker, through her heroine movie critic Violet Epps.   We’ll also talk about Dorothy Parker, the writing and publishing processes and much more: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onthedeanslist/2013/06/12/ellen-meister June 19th, Our guest is Sharon O'Dell, our technology contributor, talking about gamification. Gamification is using game elements to help engage, inform and motivate employees, customers and other publics - Join us and learn how to use the process of gamification the right way: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onthedeanslist/2013/06/19/sharon-odell Other upcoming guests include friends Danielle Workman and Rosh Sillars. You can listen live every Wednesday morning and call in, catch us on iTunes and download the show onto your mp3 player, or listen to a recording on our social media sites.  On The Dean’s List is sponsored and produced by Dean’s List Publishers.  Make plans to check in every week --  You never know who may wind up “On The Dean’s List …”  Join me~! Dean La Douceur Celebrating the art of conversation ...  Click Here!

Moving forward in 2012 through forgiveness.

In order to move forward in 2012, I have chosen to work an honest program of working on myself and removing barriers to having the life I choose to have. 


I dedicate this blog to a former minister and spiritual adviser I was close to in the early 1990's. I recently saw his profile on a mutual friend's social media site and this memory came back to me.

I went to him then with the idea of writing and publishing a newsletter about business communications and public relations. He did everything in his power to talk me out of it. As I recall it, I hear his voice telling me "Who would read it?"  I was privately devastated. But I took his advice and dropped the idea. I suspect that my adviser may have meant it as a gut check to see how much I really wanted to do that, and what I was willing to do to achieve the goal. I also think he may have felt my efforts would be more successful if employed by someone else. I look back to see that I took this to mean that I was incapable of writing successfully under my own name. 

If asked, I doubt he would even remember the conversation. I may have buried the details of that day, but at the sub-conscious level ... I know this affected me greatly.  I also wonder how this 'realistic attitude' colored the thoughts and work efforts for the projects I took from others. But the realization of what he said and what he did was a painful memory. The world is filled with enough people wanting us to 'just be realistic,' verses supporting our dreams. 

As someone who has set the goal of publishing my first self-authored book in 2012, I felt the need to have closure about this. Over the past few days, I have quietly and privately looked at it and prayed a good deal about it. I have two choices: hang on to the memory and give up or forgive him and move on. 

I chose forgiveness. 


Forgiveness isn't the easier choice. I know that from working with this that I forgive him to free up my energy and move forward. The resentments and anger have been mine to carry for almost twenty years. So, I have chosen to forgive him with my entire mind and my heart. I choose to make decisions about whom and what I am and how I express that. While he may have offered me well-meaning counsel, the ultimate decision here is mine. I wish him only the best and release any perceptions and judgments I have about what he said. I wish him nothing but the best both now and in the future. I also release him and I of any judgments and blame associated with his counsel.  

Bottom line: I now forgive that guy and I move on.