For those who are interested to hear more of the story, click here for my conversation with George Lewis, author of Mastering the Light and founder of SpiritualNotReligiousTV.com. ♥

On December 31st, the Dr. Phil Show is going to rebroadcast "The Realities of Motherhood", which featured my interview with him.  Check your local listings for the channel (CBS in NY) and time. 

The clear bead at the center
changes everything.
There are no edges
to my loving now.

You've heard it said
that there's a window that opens
From one mind to another.

But if there's no wall,
there's no need
For fitting the window,
or the latch.

~Rumi~

Dead, Not Forgotten

If Facebook had been around when Hannah died, I would have found this very comforting. It is wonderful to be reminded that others remember our loved ones, and grief's grip loosens when we speak openly of the dead. ♥

Myspace is a sinking ship, at least in terms of social networking.   In my opinion, they lost the race, because they allowed, even encouraged, fake profiles on the site. Once 'real people' realized this, they migrated.

There is little time to think behind-the-scenes. Make-up people, hair stylists, production assistants, and others who look important vie for your attention. As your image in the mirror becomes a television-reality version of yourself, you suddenly realize, "Holy cr*p! I'm gonna be on the Dr. Phil Show!!".

Your mind races as a busy person with a headset opens the door to your dressing room. She gives you the once-over, while someone else rolls you with a lint-brush, then it's showtime, better known as "try not to freak out while you wait backstage".

Most guests of the show know little about what to expect, and I was no exception. But the topic I was there to discuss, based on my experience as a non-custodial mother, was more important to me than my fears.

While I sat behind the audience, waiting for Dr. Phil to introduce me, I watched the monitor, breathed deeply, and prayed. Then a video clip of my story was shown to the live and television audience, and I was led to the chair next to Dr. Phil.

As the two of us shook hands, my idea of him vanished and was replaced by the real person. He seemed genuinely interested, formal but accessible, and I will always be grateful to him for engaging in the conversation. ♥

Love is reckless; not reason.
Reason seeks a profit.
Love comes on strong, consuming herself, unabashed.

Yet, in the midst of suffering,
Love proceeds like a millstone,
hard surfaced and straightforward.

Having died to self-interest,
she risks everything and asks for nothing.
Love gambles away every gift God bestows.

Without cause God gave us Being;
without cause, give it back again.
Gambling yourself away is beyond any religion.

Religion seeks grace and favor,
but those who gamble these away are God's favorites,
for they neither put God to the test
nor knock at the door of gain and loss.

   — Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi (1207-1273) ♥

Click here to read Dr. Phil's response to the feedback he received about my interview.

Click here to see a clip from the Dr. Phil Show interview.