So Long Lansing MI> Hello Detroit Aiport, Boarding For Tampa yesterday

Not perfectly lined up in three shots

BUT

closeups in sections of the clock tower

to the right

of the

9/11 memorial on the right side

corner

in Lansing MICHIGAN!

Another amazing sight to behold while I was there!

And this is inside close up of the bottom third...

Rather stunning isn't it?

I looked on amazed at it's workings!

So now,

it is up to you to line it all up

in a perfect architectural line

of great beauty

cos' it truly was!

Now about three blocks in the other direction of the Radisson

where I stayed...

was a most lovely view of the capital there

And on the little streets

more eateries than one could count

and

the oldest bank in Lansing with lovely

architectural style

and one way streets

and

folks walking here and there

Not very far

from

the

Home of

MICHIGAN STATE

the home of the Spartans

and

a stadium that holds 75,000 people

that is usually field when the folks

follow their team

to successes

on the football and basketball seasons

inside and out.

AND

where Magic Johnson

began a career that

left people glued to the screen

and the auditoriums

as he

amazed and delighted

as a point guard

then moved on to the Lakers!

"Oh how Kamryn will be delighted to receive his Jersey from Michigan State"!

And at the end of a particularly long and draining

seminar with a small group of Professionals

including a physician, a couple of nurse practitioners,

lovely social workers, a physician assistant,

a funeral industry worker who had fabulous self care tools solidly intact and was not sure why she had come to this session, and others who were demonstrating signs and symptoms of Compassion Fatigue

and

more than 3/4's of the room who have trouble sleeping;

and speaking to a few afterwards...

I went for a walk

and looked down to the most remarkable

"dinner plate size hibiscus"

only a few steps later to discover one

in

PURPLE

on my way to see the capital!

What a lovely gift they were to my eyes and senses.

After two most incredible days in Michigan

with health and mental health professionals in

Traverse City and Grand Rapids

I was rather amazed at the small turn out

in Lansing

the home of the capital, the home of the

9/11 Remembrance Memorial.

BUT

there was also a few nurses in the small crowd

including a couple together that were great friends;

both each others best support systems

with one having been a nurse working for 39 years.

She had humor, she had Compassion fatigue

and

luckily they both had each other for support

during the hard work they do.

There were three sitting in the back row

I believe they were social workers;

one in the profession 1 year, one 16 months, and the other a fun young woman with a lot on her plate now

as her dad is dying and in hospice care.

I enjoyed her so, and she purchased a copy

of

Healing Heartaches to give her "MeMae"

as a gift and has been a social worker for only a short time maybe a year or two.

AFter lunch a switch had happened; that was unlike any city or state I had been in. They seemed to have lost their comfort zone as a result of one or two other persons in the room, as a few told me after the seminar.

They could not laugh anymore; they appeared weary

and

I worked hard to restore that for them

but to no avail.

It was rather heart breaking to see

and

I felt badly for them

even the funny slides did not prompt laughter for them

nor re circuit the brain to allow them permission

to laugh or relax.

It was as if they were overloaded

or

exhausted by their own issues or that they were just

done for the day.

As flat as it felt and appeared

I DO BELIEVE THE WORLD IS ROUND.

Having spoken across the globe, I think pehaps their compassion fatigue had perhaps been placed in front of them, and they were now having to feel the impact of it

now that it had been put in the frontal lobes of the brain and a couple had questioned the validity of it.

Sometimes getting real is asking for self honestyand self honesty means self transparency, which requires the the ability to to look inward to cultivate insight and questing ones own self beliefs while stepping out of one's comfort zone.

But essential to that development of self honesty

is the ability and need to suspend judgment

and criticism

and to halt judgment

and the automatic response of immediately categorizing a concept or idea according to an already exist set of ideas of what right might be right, wrong, good or bad, or possible or impossible; what may be well thought o if or not, pronounced to your liking or not, what may be funny or not.

Suspending or putting a stop to your personal/professional judgment is not easy for others; it takes stepping outside of yourself and being open, while temporarily stepping outside of self and into others!

This requires feeling safe in a room of those you do not know and letting go of ego, and accepting that we all are one, guided by the Universal Energy of all.

As I have spoken to thousands across the lands

I have been told that

unquestionable beliefs; those basic ideas we hold feverishly too that often become stagnant or outdated over time can have remarkable powers to shape our perception by creating expectations within us

can often and do often project onto the external world and those living within in it.

That may be some of the problem we have in the world today along with standing shoulder to shoulder with others along with finding new ways to do things

and

to coexist with others and new ideas!

Those things we feel and think are selected and shaped to a great extent by what we unconsciously expect to experience and

ultimately become

"self fulfilling prophecies"

and then

we then give mixed messages to our brains

and continually are amazed when we get mixed results.

People like to be right about things, the need to be right is one of our strongest and most strongly defended intentions it seems. Mostly because is supports and enforces the ego illusion like this:

"I alone am special, different and somehow more entitled than others."

We see this daily in our lives, by those on the HIll up there arguing for what is right for the people,

in the medical communities

when hearing doctors fighting within their fields

and

then feeling superior to nurses or social workers

or chiropractors

or patients

as if their titles make them better or more special.

We see it in families, when one or many stand in judgment of others and think they always know more, a better way of doing things

and

would rather not speak, but harbor ill will

rather than utter that

they are "sorry for words spoken in anger or haste, or ugliness".

The Ego is a mighty thing isn't it?

I often tell thousands I speak with

in

Compassion Fatigue seminars across the lands

that

support is critical; that self-honesty, personal responsibility, and that openness to want to balance body mind and spirit

with self care are essential

to healing self in order to best care for others.

I stress the value of humor

and

that self care and humor are not optional,

and

I have stressed it here

more times than not.

And, when this slide showed on humor near the end of the day and less than 10% of the audience laughed loud... I knew that someone had pulled the plug, the line had gone flat on the engagement, energy, emotion of the day, the safe zone was gone for those there to experience fully...

1. Their brains were on overload

from a day filled with information

2. Their Compassion Fatigue was just too much

3. The mood had shifted as a result of some just not able to now feel comfortable anymore

BUT

it was a first as at that time of the day, with the seminar being powerful, the individual work being done

and

the humor and its importance recognized

and

this slide usually evoking great laughter

and release.

So friends,

as a few dropped by to say so long and thank you, others left quickly and quietly after handing in evaluations and picking up their CEU's

some said it was a good/great evaluation.

One said it was

"thought provoking"

and rather engage in some of the exericse

I couldn't help but noticing she was writing feverishly the slides that were shown.
I am ever so glad that
I do not take tylenol for the fevers of others.

I couldn't help but think of the others in the last two days,
the sounds of the laughter shared in both cities, as I reflected on their willingness to step out of thei comfort zones,
the area of practice to embrace and honor the stories of each other, while stepping through their stories of pain, and the stories they hold inside
some of their traumas they have attended to and by the afternoon talk about how good it felt to hear not only the sound of their own laughter but that of the others in the room.
In those other Michigan cities people left feeling much lighter, having exhanged phone numbers and names so that they would have established a supportive network that would help them in their work of combating
compassion fatigue in the future
using the tools they recieved from a day together of
hard work, refinding old tools and new
ways of implementing them
thanks to
PESI/CMI bringing them together
for this seminar.
I truly hope that some of the folks of
Lansing will find their way to others
and be able to do the same
in their city
and
in their life.

After I thanked my coordinator and we visited a bit, she packed up all the information to be shipped back to WI,

and she herself headed home for a 2 hour drive to her home.

I took a walk and then

met a lovely young man

named MIKE

in the bar

and enjoyed a lovely dinner.

I have forgotten the water's name but he too was delightful.

I never met the GM as it seems they are not visible like at the

Holiday INN in Traverse City!

BUT

the room service tray sat outside my door for two days and nights

without being picked up although I did inform folks at the desk!

I enjoyed Mike at the bar, he was delightful, kind and friendly and

will be entering Michigan State

with great hopes of a PhD in Math

and hopes to teach at a University.

"Best of luck MIKE"

you will be great!

I also had the fortune of meeting a young man named Jason

the Valet

who also kept a watchful eye on my comings and goings

and

was most delightful and helpful

I felt safe under his eye

and

I hope he will move on up to manager

because he knows how to treat guests there.

I was up at 430am and off to return the rental car as Avis said it was due back at 6am.

Well I was there in plenty of time,

standing at an empty counter after filling it up and parking, recording the mileage and keeping my part of the contract.

After 20 minutes still no agent, I noticed a box and it said,

drop the contract and keys in the slot.

Problem was,

slot was taped closed,

then noticed the sign that said, if we are closed go to the budget counter!

Went to the budget Rental Car Counter where I saw a sign that read,

"If we are closed please see the

AVIS Counter".

Returned to Avis,

dialed the friendly 800 number and after waiting and waiting

spoke to three agents

and

then was told,

"uh, ere, well, you can leave the keys and contract on the desk behind the counter".

I said

"Would you like me to leave the GPS there as well, since I now have been here 45 minutes and have a flight to catch".

To which they replied,

"Only if you want to be responsible, I would suggest leaving the airport, returning to the car, locking it in the car, returning to the counter and then leaving the keys and the document behind the counter for the next available agent"...

You can imagine, at that hour at that point

AVIS had entered my "happy place, and managed to drop a brick on it."

So I let them know my thoughts on their

professionalism, their information system for customers, and promply hung up

after also letting them know that their are other rental agencies.

Arrived at my gate and had to have a bite to eat...
Met a lovely woman at the small counter of the
Spartan Pub,
Jimmy Dean sausage/egg/cheese muffin, milk, coffee
and a conversation with an unemployed
social worker
who NEEDS to be working in the field!
We talked a bit and she was friendly and kind.
Thank you Ms Spartan Pub Social Worker!

I found TSA and they liked me, I liked them

it was off to Detroit,

air to ground 38 minutes,

taxi time seemed much longer to the gate.

DETROIT TO TAMPA

in my happy place.

CLICKING MY HEELS at the baggage claim,

Action Sedans waiting for me

trunk open

Michelle takes my bags,

I'm in the back seat, resisting the urge to ask her to pull over so I can

kiss the waters edge.

HOME AGAIN HOME AGAIN

><

Color me happy.

Met an absolutely wonderful woman on the plane who works for the

Detroit Medical Center

and

we had a lovely conversation.

Hope she will let me know

she needs me to come out and do a keynote

at her next event for her staff their,

I would love to see Detroit,

The Motor City

and

home to some fine muscians.

I learned that if a person in Lansing was diagnosed with Cancer,
they should get to
Detroit Medical Center
or
University of Detroit
as they are cutting edge in Cancer treatment and research
and
this woman was bright, powerful
and
had years of experience. She was real, she was a woman that reminded me of those I have had the honor to work with before
"no nonsense, but with a passion that continues".
Thanks Dr Iris, it was an honor to meet you.

So
there you go,
another virtual and very real journey
now it is time to rest.

Happy Saturday
to all.

Mom is doing great, back from
"La La land" almost off the pain meds
and doing much better.
She returns via chauffer Angie to NC for her follow up with the Cancer Doc
and we are praying and saying
"cancer free"
and
that she will return to a life that is now
like the good ole' days
of no more health scares, no more deaths who are ill or dying
and
a life lived with joy and stress free for
COB.
She thanks all here for your support and prayers.

The fire is lit, burning brightly and the sage is going up,
with hope, healing and prayers in the air
for all who enter here.
Will be asking for some special strength for some warriors tomorrow.

"The Life you live is either inspiration
or Desperation"

Walk In Beauty,
DRSES
author of
Healing Heartaches
www.drsherryeshowalter.com

Thank you Grand Rapids, Hello Lansing Michigan!

Let me begin by saying;

it is currently 3am, and I am sitting outside the hotel, with a glass of ice water after once again, doing the

toss and turn and look at the clock!

So, I figured, might as well come on down, and feel the city of Lansing and talk to my readers~

First things first:

I recieved a text from cuz Angie yesterday during a break in Grand Rapids letting me know that mom, aka *(COB) was out of surgery, and was fine... She was released from the hospital as planned and being watched over by her nephew Tony, and was in "la la land" doing fine!

Sure wish cuz Angie, aka "my chauffer" was here on this tour to drive me, and to see first hand and experience the beauty of Michigan and her peeps!

Thank you all for "holding Cob" up yesterday...

I held her up as well and even ordered a delicious

COBB salad for lunch in her honor and it was

YUMMY!!!

Bet she will be hungry today!

Hello COB, time to get your feeling better on,

and

to stay out of docs' offices and be well!

Oh boy are u in trouble by the way, for not letting folks know early about what was happening with YOU.

haha

Oh what a day was had

in

Grand Rapids MI

at the Radisson Hotel!

The clouds of the day welcomed me

there after just a remarkable time

and welcome to Michigan

in Traverse City

where the hospitality of the

Holiday INN,

the Director and her staff,

the views of Lake Michigan, the FOOD,

and the atmosphere

the "cherry" and the "Wallyeye"

were just stunning

but

then those I had the honor to be with

just had me overjoyed!

And

then the trip to

Grand Rapids

and

well, er, ehem... I didn't meet the GM, nor the staff,

but the meal was great...

The view from my bed was of the TV

and the waking each two hours was rather disturbing, but then again,

I was in a comfy bed, so it served as a great reminder each time I woke up,

that I could enjoy the benefits of the bed all over again!

Grand Rapids

when I woke and got my coffee I met a lovely coordinator who drove from

"Lansing Michigan" to Grand Rapids to coordinate and be there for the day!

And set up, got my coffee and went and found the great view of the river, and then

looked up and saw those great clouds above that magnificent weeping willow!

I then said my morning prayer

*which I forgot to share with the

absolutely bombdiggedity professionals of

GRand RAPIDS during the day*

so maybe they are reading this and will now know it!

[Creator, this is a new city, a brand new day. I am filled with gratitude today, and so very excited... Thank you, for the many gifts that you have given me here in Michigan, thank you to PESI/CMI...

Now let's get this day going,

Creator...

use me UP...

*wisper*, just take you time!

Wado, *thank you* for all our relations,

I am tickled to life, to be here!

><

So with grand memories of a day spent in

Grand Rapids,

I arrived safely in

Lansing, after signing copies of

Healing Heartaches,

after a great day with so many

who participated and shared openly with each other as they

dug deep within addresssing issues of

Compassion Fatigue

while exploring tools

that will help them to restore

the passion for their work in their lives.

A few krumpled kleenexes were found

many laughs were shared

and the sounds of group laughter

during profound stories of the horrors and traumas and hard work being done by so many was welcomed into the hearts and brains of each that were there.

And oh such beautiful people were there;

those who are social workers, psychologists, nurses, those working in probations, with troubled teens, abused women and children, those working in trauma, in the schools, in hospice, and in homes...

One was pregnant and going to have her baby in four weeks, and oh how we tried to "induce" her and entice her to have that precious baby during the day,

just so we could "spring into action"

and

say

"we did it"

WE BIRTHED A BABE DURING A SEMINAR ON COMPASSION FATIGUE!!!

Now wouldn't that have just been a hoot???

We laughed and said, can't you just hear it now,

those who would scream and say,

"oh lawd, I don't know nuthin bout birthin no babies",

but not to fear, she was sitting right behind three nurses,

we had social workers, psychologists,

and

more than 670 years of collective experience

in the

professional helping professions in the room ~!~

We had her covered

in my way of thinkin~!

WINK

I was again honored as

several folks told me they were tempted to show up here in Lansing today

just to spend the day

doing this all over again,

hearing me speak again

and taking it in, knowing that it would further help them

and

empower them

in their work.

I am just over the top

feeling the love of Michigan and

those who care for so many !!!

AND

that babe is still within the Mama, 4 weeks til the birthin!

Sure hope she sends me a note to let me know that the babe was born with a dimple,

as she allowed me to bless the babe

by touching her belly,

and

I told her I was giving the little one a dimple

in the process!

LOL

Thank you, all of you

in

Traverse City

Grand Rapids,

it was truly an honor

to be with you,

I hope our paths will cross again!

HELLO

LANSING!

The home of

Michigan STate...

Just think, the place where Magic Johson played basketball and captured the eyes and the admiration of basketball fans!

Needless to say, Kamryn (the next MJ)

will be insane

when he gets this jersey

from

"da Godmother"!

Here we are again...

The Radisson at the Capital

at Lansing MI

I'm getting pretty good at taking you along

on these virtual trips aren't I?

BUT

hang on to your coffee, cos once I got here

it was not too long after that when I gazed out my window at the river

and a statue wondering what I was looking at,

I soon became

weak in my knees!

I'm on the 5th floor

oops my pic only shows the three floors!

BUT

I think there are 11!

I am facing this side

it is the "river view"

and behind is

the

Capital View!

Quite a lovely city from what I can tell as I set out in hot pursuit of Kamryn a

Michigan State jersey!

That has become our "tradition" now on my travels

as he is quite the athelete and is jersey crazy!

The jerseys are "real" if the Godmother can get them in the actual state,

and

if by chance I should encounter a real player

or have access to an autographed football

basketball

or similar

oh boy am I really  somebody then!!!

So

needless to say

I am on the look out for

MIchael Jordon #23

"the man"

at all times

and

all cost!!!

Anyone out there with connections to him

or

any football/basketball players and autographs

please let me know!

*signed a desperate Godmother"!

LOL

So now I can tell you,

here I sit at 3am

and

now I will share with you

the

remarkable power of

Lansing Michigan

and

this place that I now am again staring at

across the street from where I now sit.

As I speak across the country,

I let folks know of that day

on

September 11,2011

and

the day that forever changed our lives.

I was a first responder at the Pentagon,

and proudly served, lives forever changed,

and

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

9/11

as soon we will again find ourselves

standing on the anniversary of that day

that the world stood still.

Just yesterday

we talked about the vicarious trauma

and

secondary traumatic stress that was suffered when folks could not remember to turn their televisions off

during 9/11

and

the scenes of that horrid day were played over and over and over

and then played in the nervous systems of those who witnessed it from distances across the globe.

Many of us continue to remember the sights, the sounds, the smells... and there are times when those times may be triggered.

A prime example was that of Sandy and Stuarts recent fire of their home as a result of arson, and the sights, sounds, smells

and seeing the street blocked off when I returned home from a speaking tour on May 21st at midnight and my street was closed.

I immediately flashed back to 9/11 with the sights and smells and the darkness and the soot!

It is remarkable the gifts that Michigan has brought, and the great and most

amazing gift of this day of arriving here.

I looked out my 5th floor window and

saw the river, then saw what looked like a sculpture.

BUT

I could not tell what it was...

So after my getting lost in Lansing,

and

my grand find of the

Michigan State Jersey..

I returned, meeting the most kind

Valet fellow named Jason!

So far the kindest of the folks here at the

Radisson I might just add!

And then I wandered across the street.

Here's where you hold tight to your coffee, grab a kleenex and prepare to "krumple" as Granny would...

There in front of me, was the most

incredible sight...

And I felt myself go

weak in the knees,

I have no idea of how long I was there,

I was lost in time.

MY HEART STOPPED

Tears were falling on my face

and I was filled with

Amazing Grace

I was alone

here

in Lansing Michigan

and filled with

such memories

and

filled with the grace of the Creator

It was truly amazing

IT IS amazing now

A huge Steel Girder

that fell from

The Twin Tower

in New York

on

September 11, 2001

now

here in

Lansing Michigan

in Memory

right here

across the street from where I am staying,

as I prepare to speak

on

Compassion Fatigue

at 0800.

I finally just went and touched it,

and then found my way to sit and place my back

against it, and the tears fell

for the 3,000 lives lost

the many many first responders,

the thousands of loved ones;

the families, children, friends, communites

and

those who ran

to enlist.

The tears fell

for those who have returned in flag draped caskets

who gave all,

for those who have returned with images seared in their hearts wounded warriors

and the families and friends and communites

as they worry

and have sleepless nights.

The tears flowed

in great gratitude

that we are free because our

colors

DO NOT RUN.

That we are a people who gather

in the face of crisis

and

stand UNITED

in times of threat and sorrow.

My tears flowed

in sorrow that we do not do that when the sky is blue

and that we do not back whoever it is sitting in that White House in DC

no matter what,

out of respect,

in order for other countries to see us as

UNITED ALWAYS.

Knowing that the

USA

is

UNITED

in times of great threat

and

great times

NO MATTTER WHAT, WHO OR WHEN.

Perhaps that is why I am awake at this ungodly hour when the rest of Lansing is sleeping,

although I have watched and heard a young man pull up to check in with his stereo blaring, and he had his "drunk on"!

He was rather funny and tried to say hello,

but then had to apologize to me

and let me know

(guess I looked like his priest)

that he was checking in cos' he had been to a stip joint and needed to sleep!!!

Then apologized when telling me

"I love strip joints"!!!

Almost lost it lauging, and told him

no aplogy needed

and

*I do love your music pal, get some sleep*

><

With great gratitude,

I thank you Lansing

for remembering.

Wherever you are today,

whatever you are doing

Go buy yourself a flag,

FLY IT PROUDLY

NEVER FORGET

9/11

or

those who served,

are serving

those who were lost on that day,

those who responded.

STOMP!

And please know:

"I'll STand by YOU"

Just sayin... turn up the volume please~

Don't blink friend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU_JL-f0AN8s...

*sure hope I can get my swagga on for this day, cos' I got a feelin, it's goin to be outstanding*

"keep walkin Dr Showalter, keep walking"!

The sage just got lit, prayers goin up for all

with blessings to all... "won't let nobody hurt U"

I'll stand by YOU.

I'll be here til' Friday early morning when I board Delta to Detroit and lay there for an hour then headed home to Tampa!

Should arrive home about 1pm to hug me some four leggeds ... by then maybe the sun will be shining since the liquid sunshine is there now!

*Final note:

I too have been wondering where our Breast Cancer Survivor warrior Chris is... We have missed her ..

So given that our Warrior here Irene, aka "Firm/EyeScream has asked...

How bout it FIRM?

I think you need to seek her out, check on her for us, and get her back on this page!!!

You have her number dearheart, call her and roust her out of hiding for us!

Tell her WE MISS HER

AND TO GET HER WARRIOR SELF BACK!!!

Blessings to all of you

gentle warriors here!

stomp

Walk In Beauty,

DRSES

author of

Healing Heartaches

www.drsherryeshowalter.com