tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44630152509263785762024-03-15T10:20:53.304-07:00Daily Journal of Charlie HortonThis website is about the value of love, spirituality, the potential of the mind-body connection and the connection with all things. These are my daily thoughts about my life, my feelings, and my spiritual journey. I post these "Daily Journals" on a regular basis, so please come back often to read my latest posting.Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comBlogger2383125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-80277392654269602732024-03-15T10:20:00.002-07:002024-03-15T10:20:16.912-07:00The Love Seed<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Several years ago during meditation as guided by Nisargadatta Maharaj I encountered a place he called the Absolute and the sense of I am where I could feel love, God, eternity and tremendous power. Through my meditation I realized that was part of me and later in my work with recovering heroine addicts, I realized that it was part of all of us. I came to know that part of myself as my God or love seed, the origin of my “small quiet voice”. Later in my life (2006) during my near-death-experience I realized it was the same feeling/presence I call God. As I said in my last entry, that feeling changes my behavior dramatically. We all have that capability and feeling inside us and we are not simply “sinful and broken”</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-54286169022277725642024-03-14T08:32:00.001-07:002024-03-14T08:32:14.838-07:00Loving Action<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I use the words love, compassion, understanding and God a lot. I am aware that many people do not like the word God, which used to be me as well. As far as I can tell, the word or words you choose to use make no difference but how a person acts does. In the morning I often take a moment to close my eyes and focus on the feeling of love or an image of something or someone I feel love for. If I can carry that feeling with me during the day it changes all of my interactions during that day and also the way I feel about life in general. The changes in how others respond to my presence is dramatic. Acting out of love creates more love.</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-22916052088442013142024-03-13T16:03:00.005-07:002024-03-13T16:03:50.231-07:00Working With Spirits<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Today I helped a dog make the transition of dying by guiding them after the moment of physical death to welcoming spirits in that realm. I did not know I could do that so I asked for guidance and listened. Before being put down she was scared so I generated and then projected the feeling of love, God and eternity to her. Her spirit was confused in the moments after death so I guided her to the spirit realm and, not being allowed in that realm, I passed her on. The love and power I encountered there was overwhelming and hard for this physical body to manage. It’s been several hours and I still feel shaken.</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-31889498310755231542024-02-25T12:52:00.003-07:002024-02-25T12:52:40.336-07:00Reality 3<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Recently we experienced a large ($300,000, our life savings) financial loss due to the unethical and probably illegal behavior of our financial advisor. Through meditation and given my current impression of reality, I realize that this loss is both meaningless and sacred. If I was “of” this world I would consider this of huge importance and that it called for various actions in retaliation and attempts to get the money back. I would feel fear and anger and probably cause a great deal of chaos. Alternatively, being “in the world but not of it’, as stated in my book, I could feel love, faith and compassion. I have done what I can to get my money back ,while also feeling that “the universe is unfolding as it should” (Ehrmann). The sacred part is that I acted out of love and feel nothing but love and compassion for the man that caused this.</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-4785292794095957532024-02-25T10:56:00.002-07:002024-02-25T10:56:30.669-07:00Reality 2<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As I said in my last entry “My reality has shifted”. I used to really believe in the features of this world like the importance of having a job, an opinion, the right appearance, values that fit this world. I now feel peace, love and laughter much of the time. I can also feel the eternity we live in and realize that in that case these things mean little or nothing. I feel that even when I listen to the news about what people are doing to each other and this planet. I even feel love and compassion for people when they are doing me harm. I am also very aware that this feeling impacts all those around me and that all people are constantly interacting with the unseen reality around them. I know enough to know I don’t know</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-44304923049295899302024-02-18T16:56:00.001-07:002024-02-18T16:56:21.997-07:00Reality?<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I find my current way of looking at the world/reality difficult to get used to ... at times ... and wonderful at other times. Some time ago I made a switch during deep meditation where I could sense love, peace eternity and what I call God.. I also realized the feeling was the same as during my near-death-experience. I use the power of that feeling for my own self healing. I have also used that feeling/power in my healing work with other people and spirits. I find that I can generate and project that feeling/power in working with others ... but only by allowing it, not reasoning, wishing or forcing. For that I need a feeling of inner peace and love. I now feel that way most of the time. My reality has shifted.</span></p><p><br /></p>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-35574693706634665702023-12-27T12:35:00.001-07:002023-12-27T12:35:15.851-07:00Love 2<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Back in 2006 I had my near-death-experience when I went to the “other side”, or was dead or near to death for however long it took During that time I experienced a feeling of intense Godly love and was told that “this is what it feels like to be dead”. I was then offered a chance to come back and “be of service” by spreading that love. Since then I have succeeded in transmitting that feeling to others, though only when it was “called for”, not as a result of my own effort. I also find that I can generate that same powerful, healing, loving feeling when I meditate deeply. I use that feeling for my own healing and continue to attempt transmission to the healing of others. It works for me and I am not dead yet so will keep trying!</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-32690270593890621592023-12-08T13:57:00.003-07:002023-12-08T13:57:48.611-07:00Love<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I once wrote that “Love is a willingness to sacrifice and devote oneself to someone else’s emotional and spiritual well being and growth. It is both a feeling and the action springing from that feeling. Passion, excitement and lust come and go, love does not. Love always increases the integrity of the universe. It is inclusive, compassionate, understanding, forgiving and accepting. Judgement, exclusion, self-interest and criticism do not fit within love”</span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span> That strikes me today as a very good description. More recently I have been reflecting on the power of love to heal and support everything and everyone who experiences it. As I have described earlier in my journal, I use love for my own physical healing. Feeling love also broadcasts into the energy around us, affecting all, as do fear and anger. I used to feel a lot of fear and anger — I much prefer the feeling of love.</span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"> "Love has a quality you can learn to discern. It 'feels right'. It is truthful and inclusive. There is no objective measurement to confirm that you are experiencing love. You can only trust your intuition and do your best. If you do, your capacity to discern love will grow. We are all learning this skill." (Shepherd Hoodwin)</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-53927036332724621682023-12-03T14:49:00.002-07:002023-12-03T14:49:29.817-07:00Conscious 2<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I would certainly like to know and understand more about consciousness, but I am also grateful to know that it is far more complex and expansive than commonly believed. I find that if I listen openly and without judgment or fear, I can hear the “whispers” of plants, spirits and various forces from within the unseen realm around us. I often notice “lower” animals responding to those whispers as well and suspect that the ability has evolutionary significance. I have also had several out-of-body experiences when my consciousness seemed to be out of my body. “There is a door in the mind that opens with acceptance, and closes with judgment of any kind. There is a door in the heart that opens with trust and closes when fear of any kind is felt.” (Paul Ferrini)</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-43400465827707100442023-11-27T16:17:00.001-07:002023-11-27T16:17:33.938-07:00Listening<p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Today I have been reflecting on my ability to listen deeply, which I work on daily and have commented on many times in this journal. My ability to listen has added greatly to the richness of my life. If I am internally quiet I can communicate with the plants in my yard, feel the more intense feelings of those I am interacting with and communicate with spirits. I just have to quiet my internal dialog, which of course requires constant attention and is next to impossible. I do better to not watch or listen to much news and stay away from rapid fire things like the internet. I like meditation and quiet time. Laughing at my own brain chatter rather than fighting or judging it also helps.</span></p><p> </p>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-71709055499369594932023-11-26T11:01:00.003-07:002023-11-26T11:01:53.478-07:00Truth<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Many years ago, when I was involved in my post-doctoral studies, other scientists and I were deeply involved in exploring the issues of that time, which included topics like competition, imprinting and behavioral determinism. At that time several respected scientists and a Nobel Laureate commented that there was something far more complex going on. They were ignored and/or discredited, which disappointed me since they were making the important point that the truth was more than was being attended to. I have noticed a similar pattern many times since. It seems to me that scientists and others are searching for truth as long as that truth falls within certain comfortable and predictable boundaries. That is not how truth works! The reason this is on my mind is that unfortunately my health condition falls outside of those boundaries since I am doing far better than I should be. The truth of the actions I have taken is largely ignored or discredited while it could help others. I live that truth.</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-65970609887247426592023-11-24T16:54:00.003-07:002023-11-24T16:54:56.744-07:00Consciousness<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I would like to know and understand more of what is usually called consciousness. I do know enough to know that I do not know, so I am keeping my mind open. There is the simple and logical part of the conscious mind which can guide us in doing many wonderful things, like designing computers, judging right and wrong, performing job functions, telling us to brush our teeth, performing scientific studies and providing us with an endless source of entertainment. In short it can tell us some simple facts about how to get along in the world. The conscious mind can and often does a great deal more than that, if a person is willing to expand their awareness beyond the limits of commonly held beliefs. For example, we are interacting at all times with the unseen reality around us through our feelings, intuition and interactions. Everything we say or do impacts the energy field around us, and we react to that. “As I understand contemporary trends of physical science, there is increasing recognition of vast unknown areas which science may explore and assist in ordering, but to which it may never provide anything like complete answers.” (Margaret Mead)</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-50125857101956362672023-11-23T16:17:00.005-07:002023-11-23T16:17:39.122-07:00Differences <p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Today is Thanksgiving and in addition to feeling my normal peace and gratitude, I am very aware of how different I am from the dominant culture. This morning while on my exercise machines I listened to NPR and they were all about socializing, feasting, black Friday, video games and buying things. I have no interest in any of that. Last weekend I had a lovely conversation with my sister-in-law about her home furnishings and some other matters. What was lovely about the conversation was not what we talked about but the feelings that were shared. I enjoyed the enjoyment I felt from her. I used to try to fit in, now I just enjoy</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-60142919531789830642023-10-22T12:13:00.001-07:002023-10-22T12:13:27.259-07:00Feelings<p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In my entry toward the end of last month I wrote of “joining with” and not fighting my disability and that has been true for me. My emotional position allows me to listen to what it has to tell me. I also just realized how angry it made (makes?) me. I have found it very important to feel all of my feeling and in this case if I am to honor, respect and accept my disability, I also need to feel my anger and intense dislike for what it has put me through. I need to love it note like it.</span></p><p> </p>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-32068571230772057012023-10-01T11:26:00.000-07:002023-10-01T11:26:07.935-07:00Sacred Balance<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Life on this planet is sacred and beautiful. I can see it, feel it and enjoy it all day, every day if I am internally and externally quiet. The beauty includes all things alive and supposedly dead — rocks, trees, soil, babies, sunsets, death/dying and feces. Everything is becoming or fading in a beautiful and delicate balance. I find it easy to celebrate the creation side of this scenario with its growth, hope and promise. It is also important for me to realize that death/dying/fading is a necessary part of creation. That part is sad and often contains regret for me, but also the possibility of more creation. “It [inner silence] is to establish an inner peace, an inner harmony, which will allow us authentically to contribute to the establishment of an outer peace and an outer harmony in the world at large.” (Daniel A. Seeger)</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-42737637213680604902023-09-28T14:56:00.005-07:002023-10-22T09:51:29.279-07:00Listening not Fighting<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>For my own peace of mind and clarity I have been attempting to piece together how I have dealt with my disability over the last thirty-five years. My disability is a chronic, degenerative, neurological disease similar to Parkinson’s or M.S., but, as I mentioned in my last entry: I have gotten better, did not die and have not gotten worse. So, my question is what have I done differently.</span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I did not “fight” my disability or struggle against it in any way. Actually my disability taught me that since fighting spastic muscles just makes them worse I’m better off accepting them and what they can tell me. In fact, my disability has taught me many things since I listen to it without considering it an enemy. It has helped me with things like patience, acceptance and tolerance in addition to teaching me to listen better. I am the person I am today in part, because of my disability. My relation with it is complex and multifaceted. I have “joined” with my disability, treating it in some ways as an unwelcome partner in my life. It has definitely made my life more difficult in many ways. However I am very grateful for the person I have become. I respect it, accept it but do not like it. I also honor it as a sacred gift from God just like just like rocks, trees, sunsets, rain and oceans. </span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In joining with my disability I also negotiate with it. On one hand I will do all I can to make it go away while also appreciating its gifts and respecting it. My disability is integral to who I am and what I do. I also know that, given a chance, it will kill me which I am not ready for yet since I am not done. There is no feeling of malice or anger on either side, it is as it is.</span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Looking back, I would not change a thing since that would make me different, but I wish that was not so.</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-41764598509581738222023-09-20T12:28:00.002-07:002023-09-20T12:28:27.963-07:00Power of Love<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Earlier this month I wrote about truth and reality. Part of reality that people in the medical profession have difficulty accepting is what I call the power of love. In my case I have repeatedly used that power to my obvious benefit, often while being diagnosed and seen by doctors. I would be a fool not to believe in that power. I also need to acknowledge myself for using it.</span></p><p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In 1988 I was diagnosed with cerebellar degeneration, a chronic, degenerative neurological disease, and told it would never get better and continue to worsen. My reading informed me that I should expect to die within two to five years, and since I was in bad shape at that point, it would probably be closer to two. Well I did get better (not all the way), and did not get worse, except for my speech. I used the feeling of love with meditation and imaging. I have since used the same techniques for numerous skin lesions, hypothyroidism, heart, lung and prostate problems. I use no medications and have not been sick in eight years. Not bad for an old man of 75! Something is working!</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-39651409760881332362023-09-07T08:31:00.001-07:002023-09-07T08:31:50.597-07:00Quiet Time<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The other day my wife asked me to talk with someone on the phone and I signaled that I would do so but needed a few minutes of lead time. I took that time to clear my head of its regular thoughts (cooking dinner, balancing the checkbook, which movie to watch, etc.) so that I could listen better. I wanted to listen more clearly to them, God and my own intuition so that I could then respond to their needs, not something else. I find that I need periods of quiet time during the day in order to function well. “It [inner silence] is to establish an inner peace, an inner harmony, which will allow us authentically to contribute to the establishment of an outer peace and an outer harmony in the world at large.” (Daniel A. Seeger)</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-66827036140468551772023-09-03T09:38:00.001-07:002023-09-03T09:38:21.250-07:00Honesty<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As a child I noticed that many of the adults around me (primarily teachers and parents at that point) preferred appearances to reality. They wanted things to look good and tended to look past things they did not want to see. I realize now that my observation was overly simplistic, but I have certainly used it to my advantage. I have seen the same tendency many times since then, with a variety of justifications or rationalizations. My concern, for me, is that the approach is not honest. When I began recovery I realized that I was striving to present myself as the perfect recovering person, not admitting the truth of who I was. I did that well, learning the right things to say and do! I then realized I was hurting myself and began trying to be honest, difficult but worth it. I still have to watch myself on that one!</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-19380053927954825582023-08-31T12:55:00.003-07:002023-08-31T12:55:50.753-07:00Overthinking <p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>While meditating today I was reflecting on the work I do with spirits, in preparation for my wife and I visiting a troubled graveyard where some spirits hangout. As I frequently do when thinking ahead, I was focused on problems I might encounter and the possibility of not being able to cope with whatever happens, not worrying but definitely ruminating. What I then heard was “don’t think, just do. The fact is that when I am in the middle of any situation I simply do what I am called on to do or I ask for help. It often works out better if I do not plan ahead for some things. I can hold myself back. “Words and thoughts often block the doorway to the soul.” (Valerie Brown) </span></p>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-47970002978573340432023-08-23T08:50:00.001-07:002023-08-23T08:50:09.606-07:00God Seed<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I have made it a point to nurture the part of me which I call my God seed, the part of me that feels connected to God, love, compassion and eternity. I discovered that part through meditation and found it felt much better than my angry/aggressive/violent, materialistic and self-centered part, which I had acted out of for may years. I now know that the God or love seed is a part of each of us. I found that out through my work as a therapist with recovering heroin addicts and others who were having difficulties with the legal system. Love is the way I find and nurture that part. “From everywhere, it seems, we are bombarded with the idea that our nature is innately violent, that our chief preoccupation is with our sexuality, and that our main purpose in life is the acquirement of ever more nifty possessions.......Indeed, it is only through the practice of inner silence that we can begin to disentangle ourselves from our culture and its illusions. (Daniel A. Seeger)</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-7215758915629416192023-08-18T13:07:00.002-07:002023-08-18T13:07:32.769-07:00Choice<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In my self development process I have focused on developing what I call my God seed, the part of me that feels connected to God, love, compassion and eternity. In order to develop that part I have found it best to de-emphasize my aggressive/violent, materialistic and self-centered tendencies in favor of things like being of service or relationships. It’s a simple choice of which wolf I want to feed. I also need to do a lot of self-care in order to be available. I make my choice because it feels best and more fulfilling. “To become a person one must both affirm and deny himself. One involves the other.” (Rufus Jones)</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-45515502372318450272023-08-17T09:46:00.001-07:002023-08-17T09:46:25.405-07:00Spiritual Experiences<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I have been reading The Varieties of Spiritual of Spiritual Experience, 21st Century Research and Perspectives by Yaden and Newberg and found it very thorough in terms of the varieties of experience and attempts at elucidating them I have also had numerous spiritual experiences of my own and had my life changed accordingly. In my reading, I am reminded that “No process of analysis, no piling up of descriptive accounts, no reversion to antecedent causes, brings us any nearer to what we mean by beauty, goodness or love.” (Rufus Jones). I also recall that Margaret Mead once wrote that “As I understand contemporary trends of physical science, there is increasing recognition of vast unknown areas which science may explore and assist in ordering, but to which it may never provide anything like complete answers.”</span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-12159204385334511932023-08-16T08:39:00.000-07:002023-08-16T08:39:24.273-07:00God/love<p> <span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I do not personify God since I find no reason to do so. I experience God as love and have integrated that feeling into all; of my beliefs and activities. I practice formal sitting prayer and meditation for at least an hour a day and, less formally, walking around meditatively for another hour or so. I generally feel connected to God/love and grateful for the rest of the day. So I know and experience God/love much of the time, but I wish to also clarify that I do not understand God/love. It is a wonderful way of life and I depend on that connection. I use that power for my own health and healing as well as other activities, but I do not understand its full extent, "That God is both utterly beyond me and yet totally within me at the same time is the exquisite balance that most religion seldom achieves..." (from “Immortal Diamond”, by R. Rohr) </span></p><div><br /></div>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4463015250926378576.post-30011297949857917872023-07-27T09:38:00.002-07:002023-07-27T09:38:12.196-07:00Loving Communication<p><span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>While contemplating my upcoming visit with a neurologist I realized that because of my past unhelpful visits with medical people, I was setting up a defensive attitude for this visit. Not a good idea! I would like the visit to be free, respectful and understanding, resulting in a neurologist who is an ally who appreciates my position. Understanding on his part would also be nice, but is probably unrealistic given the fact that using my various practices, I accomplish things that are considered impossible and am far healthier than I should be. My assuming that I have to defend myself starts us off on the wrong foot. I fully realize that I am putting him in a challenging position so starting out with an open, loving and respectful attitude is more likely to produce the results I desire.</span></p><p> </p>Charlie Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17354610798687815905noreply@blogger.com