Pop Quiz: Are you truly accepting?

guest post by: LuAnn O.

While everything I do ties back to acceptance, I struggled a little with the word at first. What does acceptance mean? Is it a belief or an act? How does it tie to core emotion? How do you know if you are genuinely accepting? As a therapist I have come to learn that our true beliefs are manifest in our behavior. I like to believe I am accepting of myself and others, but on occassion (or rather often) my actions show the contrary. I’m not sure we ever master acceptance. It is an ongoing process and something we have to think about every day.

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Puddles of Depression

guest post by: Liz S.

“It's not depression. I don't have depression," I said to my Indian-born psychiatrist as I was curled up in fetal position on a couch. In a white-walled room. On the psych ward. At a hospital. Somewhere in Northern Virginia.

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Pregnancy: Pilates for the 1st Trimester

by alisia

Right now I am in my third trimester of pregnancy. This is my second baby, so you would think that I would have this thing down by now. But no matter who you are, how many pregnancies you have had, or how good pregnancy looks on you, you feel huge. Period. Loving your body and welcoming every change in pregnancy is a challenge.

 I really have to remind myself that I am not just gaining weight, but that there is a new life growing within me. I am the support system for another human being. The miracle of that process is unfolding before my eyes every day, and every change in my body is a sign of the miracle that I am blessed to be a part of. 

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Making My Place

by cat

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE 

Men from Pakistan

the best hummus ever made

I wish I were a writer.

If I were a writer, I would express how I feel like a visitor in my own life right now.

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Spread the Word to End the Word—March 6, 2013

by Julie

In high school, I had the amazing opportunity to be a volunteer with the Special Olympics and I loved every minute of it. There was much joy and celebration for every athlete that crossed—or didn't cross —the finish line. Smiles were abundant, as well as some tears. Most importantly, the athletes were treated with a measure of respect and dignity indistinguishable from that shown to able-bodied athletes. It was during this experience that I became firm in the belief that people with disabilities deserve to be accepted and included in society, just as much as able-minded (or able-bodied) people.

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Acceptance: Let it Rain {+ free printable}

Download the Let It Rain printable

From Rachel W.: As we've said before, here at Doe a Deery, we are trying to be real, and REAL fabulous, and we want you to realize how REAL fabulous you are too! So, each month, we'll be presenting a new theme or goal that we can all think on and work towards together. And this month our theme is, drumroll please, rat-a-tat-tat, ACCEPTANCE! Isn't this print by Melissa's husband Jon just right? Print it out. Hang it up. Practice it.

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