Friday, October 21

We are the change we've been waiting for.

No, blog monkey isn't making a political statement. She knows tradition 10 forbids it: Adult Children of Alcoholics has no opinion on outside issues; hence the ACA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

What she is saying is that our current President had a darned appropriate campaign slogan. After all, isn't what he said just another way of saying:

"The solution is to become your own loving parent"?

Blog Monkey has been struggling lately with extra anxiety and confusion. Knowing she is powerless over the effects of being raised in a dysfunctional environment, she is reaching out for a Higher Power and asking for clarity. Part of the answer she received is to slow down and take extra extra good care of herself. She can never hear that enough!

Instead of punishing herself for not feeling well (and therefore not getting everything done) she is remembering her suffering and making allowances for it. Instead of leading to self-pity, complaining and blaming, she is realizing that admitting her pain and talking gently to herself actually leads to more peace and happiness. Wow! ACA works.

If you are having an especially hard time this week, with the shorter days, with the approach of "The Holiday Season," know you are not alone. Go to your meetings. Call people on the phone list. They will be glad to hear from you! (If you need a phone list for the Friday Our Stories Heal Meeting, please email blog monkey at ourstoriesheal@gmail.com).

If you are doubting whether recovery is possible it and whether you, personally, can do it, remember those other words that helped our President get elected: YES WE CAN!

P.S. What's the story behind this Barak Obama Sock Monkey doll? Apparently its the idea that never was:

The Sock Obama doll was reportedly created by David and Elizabeth Lawson of West Jordan, Utah, as a way for citizens to show their support for various candidates. But the Lawsons said they were shocked by the anger and tone of the negative emails they received about their product.

TheSockObama Company initiallyblamed critics, who they said had "chosen to misinterpret our plush toy. It is not, nor has it ever been, our objective to hurt, dismay or anger anyone," the company said.

Acknowledging their own naiveté, the company said "we don't think in terms of myths, fables, fairy tales and folklore."

But civil rights leaders and others were offended by the product. Jeanetta Williams, president of a local Utah chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, called the toy ''pure racism at its extreme.''

Under pressure, the Utah company pulled the toy from production and issued an apology on its web site. "We are very apologetic to all who were upset by our toy idea," the company said in its apology. "We will not be proceeding with the manufacturing of this toy."

The Utah company had contracted with Binkley Toys, a custom-toy manufacturer, to mass produce the doll, but the toy company itself was apparently caught off guard by the furor and did not realize the doll might cause offense. Company owner Rob Bishop said "my company is not just about 'dollars' and Binkley Toys Inc. prides itself on its social responsibility."

http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2008/06/utah-company-canels-000759.php