Patti Joy

What ongoing personal care (spiritually nurturing) routine have you developed?

“I focus on listening to all conversations with others.  I listen to their words, their body language and their reaction to my words. I have used this at work and with my family.  I am not perfect with this, but I am more aware of my contribution to conversations.”

Jennifer Holcomb

What parts of the conversation have been of greatest/least value?

“Our conversation on what we are passionately committed to is one that hit closest to home for me.  It is a question I struggled with for many years, and I believe not having a passion in my life, contributed to my struggle for focusing, whether it be professionally or in my personal life.  When I discovered that for me, that a passion was not a thing, or a relationship, or something to go looking for, that it was something that comes to you, that effects your outlook on the world in such a profound way on a daily basis, everything just fell in to place for me.  This conversation is one that has had the most significant impact on me both personally and professionally.”

Clifton Malcolm about the  “Advanced Exploration.”

What parts of the conversation have been of greatest/least value?

“The three person discussions of this series of classes have offered intensity, challenges, nurturing and eye opening opportunities.  There have been numerous occasions that have left me questioning my continued participation.  After having gotten through those times of doubt, I have concluded the series with a sense of gratitude that I participated in the discussions. I have grown by experiencing those doubts and striving through them. I have more consciously explored and strengthened my own guiding principles of life. I have discovered the depth of my faith and my depth of commitment. I know that I have all the capacities and capabilities to action or inaction granted to mankind as a whole.  I am getting better at forgiving myself of my own perceived short comings.  These things are due to my participation in these discussions.”

Bill received the following letter from Donna Walls, a participant in the “What One Person Can Do” program being held at MSAD 11.

Happy Thanksgiving Bill,

This year I am writing my letter of thanks to you.  Thank you for helping me find answers to questions that I could not find myself.  I don’t remember a day in my life that I was not afraid.  Being afraid uses a tremendous amount of energy.  The only thing worse than being afraid is having people find out about it (that is what I believed). Thank you for offering your class and helping me realize that I don’t have to be afraid and I don’t have to be ashamed to admit that I am.

I have a dim memory of knowing that if I embraced the fear, it would go away. I didn’t understand how to do that.  I didn’t know that by loving those fears, that have been a part of me for so long, would give me the power to make the choice to let them go and exchange them for loving kindness.  At one of our first classes you said something like, ‘You can let the fears control you or you can use them to make a better life.’  I put the idea before my mind.  Thank you for opening the door for me to walk through.

There have been times in my life that I caught a glimpse of pure joy, but I didn’t know how to keep it.  There have, also, been times when something happens that is so traumatic that I have to let go and let God.  I didn’t understand that I could make the choice to keep the joy and to let go.

Thank you for helping me know that everyone that ever hurt me were the ones who were unwell and suffering.  How could I not, then, love them?  I, now, know that the deeds were not about me, but about them.

I have a sign on my desk that reads, ‘Try being kind over being right.’  I thought I knew what that meant.  Thank you, Bill for helping me find a whole new meaning to that phrase.

Thank you for offering your course and for the great group of people that I have come to know and love.

For years I have put myself in situations where I would be hurt because I felt that I deserved that.  You have helped me realize that life doesn’t have to be that way.  I choose to stop acting, hiding and to participate in life.  I choose to do everything I can in love.  Thank you.

I know I have power inside, I know I can make new agreements to replace the old ones, I know I can become part of the solution. I thank God everyday for sending you to be part of my life.

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving day filled with love and joy

Thank you, Bill, just for being you, I love you, Donna”

Click here for More Reflections on the changes experienced by students in What One Person Can Do.