Good Morning, Friends! I am watching an apricot dawn bursting through layers of dark clouds- an ordinary sub-tropical morning in summer. Dawn unfolds gently, almost imperceptibly, yet within half-an-hour the sky will be lightened. This made me think about how it takes time to recover from trauma. We who grew up in the "instant gratification" generation lack patience for healing to take place. But there is no sudden recovery. It is a gradual awakening to well-being, a daily Practice of using the Skills for managing our thoughts and emotions. It requires a commitment to our health and happiness.

As many of you know by now, I am a practicing Zen Buddhist, which has certainly helped me get this far! The "8-Fold Path" to enlightened living includes "Diligent Effort." For myself, this is sometimes the most difficult practice. I begin my on my Course with great enthusiam, but after a time, I lose my steam and begin to drift. At times I fall way off course and fall back into the darkness. Then I have to correct my course and come back on pointe. In the process, I have lost headway.

Perseverance is essential to reaching our goal of health, happiness, peace of mind, serenity, and loving-kindness towards others. 

Do any of you in my new "Tribe" struggle with this challenge as well?