All Is Well 2: More Stories of Guts and Grace, Courage and Compassion.

By Lee Hartley

As soon as the first volume in the All Is Well series was launched in December 2010 word began to spread about how inspiring it is. Positive reviews were received and encouraging feedback came rolling in. Many people told us that they had intended to read just one story a day, but found they couldn't put it down once they began, and stayed up most of the night reading it. Also, the subtitle 29 stories of Guts and Grace, Courage and Compassion was declared particularly apt to what they had learned about the story authors.

Readers reported feeling inspired and encouraged to make their own personal changes. They found that they were starting with a new mindset that included "If they can change their life by changing their mind, so can I." Others thought "Yeah, I'd really like to..." quickly followed by the questions, "...just what does change your mind mean?" or "How do I do that?" Now they had some specific examples in the book to refer to, and in addition, we taught an All Is Well class for people who wanted to create their own personal change. Actually the first six-week class prompted this second book into being. The final assignment due on the last night was to write a story about a time when they actually changed their life by changing their mind. We had anticipated that all the stories would be read in one evening. However, we quickly realized that the stories were longer than expected and we were running out of time. So we took a vote:
1.Stop at 10 p.m. and some stories would not be heard
2.Stay until all were heard (that would mean we'd be there until nearly midnight)
3.Come back the next week to hear the rest of the stories read by their classmates

The stories were so open and heart-warming no one wanted to miss even one, so the entire class voted to return the next week to hear the remaining stories. Every member came back the next week. It was gratifying to see how supportive and caring the group was of each other. The class participants and the instructors were so touched by this.

Meeting later at a local coffee house we (David and Lee) discussed once again the power of stories to get our attention and to ignite the full range of emotions that set off our laughter or tears, or motivate us to make new decisions and to align goals.

We had just witnessed the power of story telling in action. Class members learned that stories can actually change a situation from one outcome to a completely different one. Some of those shifts are astounding.

Stories show that we are all part of a larger group and remove a sense of isolation. Stories console us by letting us know that we are united with the rest of humanity and that others have been in the place where we are now. They help us to avoid pain or hurt as we learn from someone else's story. Many stories stay with us throughout our lifetime and are replayed mentally over and over again and assist us to create a new life. As you read you will be amazed at how people have overcome difficulties in their lives and gone on to thrive.

We know that their stories could motivate, encourage, instigate, and arouse others. So we asked the All Is Well class to share the stories they wrote about how they changed their life by changing their mind ... and many from the class generously said, "Yes!"

This book is the result of the story authors' openness and generosity. Just as the stories in Book I are powerful, these are too. Reading them inspires you to envision what you can create in your own life. The worksheets will help you to process your own "stuff." Write down your own questions, answers, and ideas to "change your life, by changing your mind."

Enjoy the process!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lee Hartley
• Release date: Dec 24, 2011
• ISBN: 9780984010325

Book preview

All Is Well2

more stories of guts and grace,

courage and compassion

Editors:

David Bruner

and

Lee Hartley

All Is Well2

December 2011

Smashwords Edition

Designed and produced by Hartley Publishing

All Rights Reserved

Copyright © 2011

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the written permission of the editors.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, then please go to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated.

This book is available in print and can be ordered at: www.alliswellbooks.com

ISBN

Hartley Publishing

Los Gatos, CA

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to you the reader. The following lyrics written by Daniel Nahmod beautifully summarize our thoughts and hopes for all of us to replace any old decisions that get in our way with new loving ones:

LOVE IS MY DECISION

Love is my decision

It’s up to me to give of my heart

…No-one else can tell me to start

And once I decide to change my mind

God will show me how

Love is my decision

My decision, right here and now

Love is my decision

It’s up to me to stand on that bridge

…No-one else can make me forgive

Love is my decision

It’s up to me to dance down the road

…No-one else can lighten my load

And once I decide to change my mind

God will show me how

Love is my decision

My decision, right here and now

Words and Music by Daniel Nahmod

All Is Well2 is a collection of stories we know will help you to discover the love in all of your decisions.

Enjoy!

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For Your Information

As you are reading All Is Well2 you will notice three references that occur several times within the stories. The references are to the Center, the spiritual director, and to practitioners. You may want to know what they mean.

In the book we speak of the Center frequently. The term refers to the Center for Spiritual Living–San Jose. It is the spiritual community and home of all of the inspired collaborators involved in writing their stories, to the editors of the book, David Bruner and Lee Hartley, the benefactors of the book who generously contributed their services, Diane Gralewski and Kaylen Jacobson, and the creative collaborators who worked on the production of the book, Lisa Chambers and Lorna Johnson.

The spiritual director refers to Rev. Dr. David Bruner. He has been the Spiritual Director of the Center for Spiritual Living–San Jose since 1999.

The practitioners are spiritual counselors who receive at least three years of intensive training in the transformative teachings of Science of Mind. They provide treatments and affirmative prayer, and they participate in or lead various activities, programs and courses at the Center. Also, they provide private sessions.

For further information visit the Center’s website at

www.cslsj.org

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Table of Contents

Introduction

A Mother’s Gift

Ceci Cox

Life Can Change On a Dime

Love—the Only Option

Kat Voci

Ready Or Not

To See Or Not To See

Kathleen Kelly

The Choice Is Yours

Some Assembly Required

Damien Cox

Picking Up the Vibe

What If My Life Wasn’t About Me?

Denny Ready

The Shy Guy

Following the Call

Ann Licater

Listen, Reflect and Act

Climbing Out Of the Abyss... One Step At a Time

g Susan Gable

Starting Over...One Step At a Time

A Light in the Darkness

Janet Pullen

Letting the Light In

Lessons From the Ride

Marcia Bencala

Spiritual Lessons From the AIDS Lifecycle Ride

Taking On the Challenge

My Soul Mate, My Growth

Lee Leonard

People, People, and More People

My Soul Says Yes!

Marilyn Pelz

To Be Or Not To Be (Sick)

Death Bed Left Cold... Or How the Hell Did I Wind Up Here?

Max Overland

On the Edge

Out Of the Darkness and Into the Light

Cynthia Hume

Climbing Out Of the Darkness

Seeing Myself In the Mirror

Esmarelda Alderete

Decisions, Decisions

Dimming My Own Light

Mark Schwab

Dialing Up to Being

Living a Reconditioned Life

Gaby Wise

Change Starts Here

Yes, and...

Steve Voldseth

Which Are You?

I’m Choosing Joy Today

Karen Mattos

Creating Joy

Tapping into the God In Me

Tengu Muna

The New Version of Me

Passing the Test

Maureen Ross

Worry and Doubt Vanished

The Scarlet Letter—A Is for Affirmation

Nicole Fraser

Post-Traumatic Growth‒Life Keeps Getting Better

Dancing In the Rain

Lei Ming Petersen

Learning New Steps

Time to Exhale

B.J. King

Breathe In, Breathe Out

Reinventing Me

Jessie Kreiss

The Fresh New Path

Love Is My Decision

Luanne Gray

The Truth Comes Out

My Consciousness Tool Kit

Scott Springborn

Getting Unstuck

The Year of the Transplant

Marji Harding

More Time

Bright Lights, Big City

David

All the Difference

In Loving and Happy Gratitude

Marc Eisenhart

The Happiness Continuum

Creating Your Own Story

* * * * * * *

* * * * * * *

Introduction

As soon as the first volume in the All Is Well series was launched in December 2010 the word began to spread about how inspiring it is. Positive reviews were received and encouraging feedback came rolling in. Many people told us that they had intended to read just one story a day, but found they couldn’t put it down once they began, and stayed up most of the night reading it. Also, the subtitle 29 Stories of Guts and Grace, Courage and Compassion was declared particularly apt to what they had learned about the story authors.

Readers reported feeling inspired, encouraged and energized to make their own personal changes. They found that they were starting with a new mindset that included If they can change their life by changing their mind, so can I. Others thought Yeah, I’d really like to… quickly followed by the questions, …just what does change your mind mean? or How do I do that? Now they had some specific examples in the book to refer to, and in addition, we taught an All Is Well class for people who wanted to create their own personal change. Actually the first six-week class prompted this second book into being. The final assignment due on the last night was to write a story about a time when they actually changed their life by changing their mind. We had anticipated that all the stories would be read in one evening. However, we quickly realized that the stories were longer than expected and we were running out of time. So we took a vote:

* Stop at 10 p.m. and some stories would not be heard.

* Stay until all were heard (that would mean we’d be there until nearly midnight).

* Come back the next week to hear the rest of the stories read by their classmates.

The stories were so open and heart-warming no one wanted to miss even one, so the entire class voted to return the next week to hear the remaining stories. Every member came back the next week. It was gratifying to see how supportive and caring the group was of each other. The class participants as well as the instructors were so touched by this.

Meeting later at a local coffee house we (David and Lee) discussed once again the power of stories to get our attention and to ignite the full range of emotions that set off our laughter or tears, or motivate us to make new decisions and to align goals. Stories help us to see a multitude of potential solutions to the query, How do I do that?

We had just witnessed the power of story telling in action. Stories brought the people in the class together and allowed many of them to begin to think more creatively about solving their own unresolved issues, and to explore being all they can be. Class members learned that stories can actually change a situation from one outcome to a completely different one. Some of those shifts are astounding.

Stories show that we are all part of a larger group and remove a sense of isolation. Stories console us by letting us know that we are united with the rest of humanity and that others have been in the place where we are now. They help us to avoid pain or hurt as we learn from someone else’s story. Many stories stay with us throughout our lifetime and are replayed mentally over and over again and assists us to create a new life.

About a year before we had discussed some of the awesome stories that we knew about people in our community at the Center. Now, we had just witnessed the telling of just as compelling stories that had been shared in class. We knew that these new stories of guts and grace, courage and compassion could assist even more people. As you read you will be amazed at how people have overcome difficulties in their lives and gone on to thrive.

We know that their stories could motivate, stir, encourage, instigate, enthuse and arouse others. So we asked the All Is Well class to share the stories they wrote about how they changed their life by changing their mind…and many from the class generously said, Yes! This time, in addition to using a print format, we are also creating audio and ebook formats so that it can be seen or heard by many others.

This book is the result of the story authors’ openness and generosity. Just as the stories in Book I are powerful, these are too. Reading them inspires you to envision what you can create in your own life. The worksheets will help you to process your own stuff. Write down your own questions, answers, and ideas to change your life, by changing your mind.

Enjoy the process!

David Bruner, DD, RScF

Lee Hartley, EdD, MFT

If you are inspired to write your own story about how you changed your life by changing your mind, use the last chapter of the book to create your own story.

Check our website www.alliswellbook.com to order books in print, ebook and audio formats, book signings, and dates for the All Is Well2 class.

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Prayer is the place where burdens change shoulders.

T. F. Tenney

A Mother’s Gift

Ceci Cox

Who could have known that a loving gift to my mother would ultimately cause her death? It started when my mother’s best friend, Cheché, accidentally ran over our little dog while backing out of our driveway. Cheché was beside herself with regret. So when Cheché found a tiny black puppy on the beach the next morning, she immediately thought of her dear friend Ruth and brought the foundling to my mother as a gift. My mother opened her heart to care for the cute little rascal that loved to rough-house and chew on everything, including her left hand, breaking the skin. Shortly afterward my mother began having a problem with that hand and went to her doctor, who misdiagnosed the problem. It was only when my mother became very anxious and was not making sense when she spoke that it became apparent that there was something more severe going on and its true identity was discovered. She was rushed to the Anglo-American Hospital in Havana. It was there that my beautiful, forty-two year old mother slipped into a coma and died of rabies two days later. She left behind a husband and two daughters that adored her. My sister Elaine was ten years old and I was sixteen.

My carefree, happy childhood came to an abrupt end. Each day that followed brought more sadness as I watched my once chatty, happy father sink deeper and deeper into the deafening silence of depression. No matter how much he drank, alcohol seemed to afford him only a little temporary relief from the anguish of losing the woman with whom he had shared so much. I was in a lonely hell of my own and ached for dialog with my beloved daddy, so we might grieve together and support each other through this horrific loss. Whenever I asked him questions about my mother, he would reply without focus or emotion, as if in a stupor. I would see him sitting in his favorite chair, swallowing back the tears, unable to give a voice to his unspeakable pain.

On April 7, 1961, eight months after my mother’s death, my family’s future became uncertain. We were Americans living in Cuba. Fidel Castro, the self-proclaimed new leader of Cuba, had forcefully exiled the previous dictator Fulgencio Batista in December 1959 and had broken all diplomatic ties with the U.S.

Dad told me that there were rumors of an impending American-backed invasion of Cuba that aimed to oust the Communist regime. On the eve of that terrible April day in 1961, my ten-year-old sister Elaine was spending the night with a family friend. Like my father, I understood and feared that Castro would ensure the survival of his new Communist regime at all costs. My father was a kindly man, non-political by nature, but he was American, and therefore, considered to be an enemy of Castro’s revolution. It didn’t matter that our family was well liked by our Cuban friends and neighbors. It didn’t matter that we considered Varadero our home and loved living there. Dad began to make plans for us to leave Cuba.

I never heard the G2 militia (the new Cuban Gestapo) knock on the kitchen door that night. When I awoke, Juanita, the gentle woman that had cooked and cleaned for our family since Elaine and I were little, was shrieking through her sobs that my father had been seized by the militia. They had taken him to a concentration camp where he was falsely accused of attempting to mount a frog man operation against the Castro regime because he had too many scuba tanks in our garage. I was so frightened. What on earth was happening to our family? Where was dad? Was he alive?

For the next week, Juanita stayed in the house with me and we slept under our beds holding kitchen knives for protection in case the G2 militiamen returned to harm us. She told me that they would likely return to loot our home. At night we huddled in fear listening to the machine gun fire aimed to keep all of Varadero’s citizens terrified and immobile. There was nowhere we could go. The main road and bridge out of our peninsula had been dynamited so that none of the men in Varadero, or in any other part of Cuba, could join or assist the Cuban refugee-manned and U.S. trained resistance. This was unlikely to happen since any man that was not a member of the militia or a known Castro supporter was now, like my father, incarcerated