The deeper the attachment, the more palpable and painful the grief. Simple and true.

It’s amazing what our mind/body does in response to another’s suffering. Our compassion joins us with those who suffer. This is the hallmark of our God-created humanity, and one of the things that separates us from the animals: empathy.

We are a society that promotes well-being, self-awareness, personal growth, and health, and yet alcoholism is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

Some people use the illustration of an onion to describe the layers we have as individuals. I rather like the image of an artichoke because it’s filled with metaphor, and I do love a good metaphor.

Henry Ford is credited with saying, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” This rings true for me. I must make changes if I want something to be different. You aren’t stuck! And you can make adjustments!

I can’t think of a better way to begin a new year than to step into something new, and yet, something familiar and comfortable: walking alongside others in their pain, challenges, insights, new awareness, growth, and accomplishments.

Mentorship, and receiving feedback from others for direction, is not a novelty for me. Early on in life I looked to teachers, professors, therapists, and pastors for guidance in relationships, career choices, brokenness from my past, and spiritual direction.