Totally caught off-guard, I was tearfully surprised!
Delicious cookies were mixed on the table with paint and glue and paintings of chronic conditions-love and healing.
Sitting around the table were 6 incredible women, all with their own fear, pain and hope. It was the last of 8 meetings of the Purposely Positive Support Group/Workshop for people with life-altering medical conditions.
And the sneaky little group surprised me with love. A HUGE 22 x 16 framed Thank you picture with messages from each that were so warm and touching I couldn’t hold back the tears.
Hey, I tried. After all I’m a Professional (note the capital “P”). I’m a psychotherapist (note the small “p”) Everyone else is supposed to have feelings. I am TRAINED to remain calm but curious, engaging but not engaged and humane but not human.
I blew it. My well-trained psyche collapsed under the weight of love. Theirs and Mine.
In alphabetical order:
CURIOUS to the MAX 
I’d love to hear more about what you do for those eight sessions! Thanks, Kate
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Kate,
Thanks for the inquiry. The SupportGROUPshop is a combination of support group and workshop. It’s called Purposely Positive as the focus is moving toward a better life WITH the Life Altering Illness.
What we do at each meeting is varied. What I will do is explain it in more detail on a post so everyone who has inquired has a better sense.
Judy
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PS: of course, Max can take SOME credit!
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Dear My Best Friend,
Lorrraine,
Wadda ya mean SOME credit? I am used to getting MOST of the credit.
LLLLLLLLLLLLL,
Max
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No wonder they gave you cookies and a card: you are a very special psychotherapist, professional, person! And, as such you are allowed to feel emotions.
The students in the first summer school course I taught (as a full-fledged instructor, not teaching assistant) took me out for beer and gave me two pairs of earrings. I lost it; and it wasn’t just the beer! We are allowed to be touched by gestures, both small and large, from our students/clients.
You definitely deserved your card and cookies!
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Lorraine,
Two pairs of earrings possibly meant they got twice as much out of the course! That’s such a wonderful acknowledgement. I’m going to tell my group about the BEER!
J.
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Judy, You touch so many hearts! The world is a better place because of your professionalism, your caring and your humanity. Thank you for sharing yourself and your work with us on your blog.
Hugs, Melinda
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