http://www.patriciapotts.com

 

-          On the 8th I was once again reminded of the principle of practicing!  First, I woke up in the morning and felt impressed that I should visit a neighbor who was in the hospital.  When I arrived I learned she was no longer there.  Later that day I felt impressed to attend a class clear up by the U.  When I got there to meet Dan for dinner before the class I realized that I was there on the WRONG DAY!!  I began to second guess my ability to hear the spirit.  Why would I feel impressed to do something then have it not turn out?  It was then I remembered a lesson long ago when I realized that sometimes we just need to practice listening to the spirit and following it.  Just the drill is enough. 

Help! I’ve been kidnapped and taken on another guilt trip. 

 

It was though guilt came in the form of stout and scowling Aunt Hilda.  She sweeps into my life, packs my bag full of past guilt trip paraphernalia.  When I ask what she is doing she answers gruffly “You asked for this.  I don’t like coming here like this any more than you do but you asked for it.  It is your fault.  It is always your fault!” When she is satisfied she pulls me like a small child across the hall, drags me down the stairs and out the front door, away from the security of home.  After effortlessly tossing my luggage up to the carriage driver she forces me into her four wheeled monster and hurries away from leaving peace and serenity far behind.  

 

Aunt Hilda is not a pleasant person to travel with.  She chatters constantly from the bouncy carriage seat with frayed, navy cloth reminding me of my mistakes as well as everyone around me.  She knows everything bad about everyone.  Sometimes our miserable trips last for minutes, sometimes weeks and a few times they have lasted for month.  

 

Her chatter seems endless but finally she begins repeating herself like a broken recording and I begin thinking of a way to escape.  Finally when I have “had it up to here” with her critical rendition I grasp at the faint memory of a past relief and cry out in prayer “Father, please cast Satan far from me.”  Abruptly the car comes to a halt.  Aunt Hilda’s balding head turns to stare at me.  She pouts and acts hurt as she throws my luggage from her carriage and pushes me out and I land face down in the dirt. 

 

She stays right where she is, glaring out the window.  I suppose she is waiting for me to come to my senses.   

 

By now I am standing on the deserted road like a figure from an old cowboy movie.  I wish she would go away, I wish I had a compass; I wish I had a bottle of water and I wonder how I can ever find my way back home alone.  Then you appear out of nowhere motioning for me to follow.  You are an ordinary person yet so extra ordinary.  I know you but I don’t know when we met.  I can trust you fully, completely.  I wonder if you can lead me back but then as though you read my mind you say “I can help you because I’ve been this way before.”

 

Aunt Hilda fades away as we walk along the well-worn road, patches of weeds line our way and the sound of the wind plays with the trees like harps in a musicians hands.  You remind me of good times, of things I have done right and you create pictures in my mind of past memories that embrace the essence of love and goodness, kindness and hope. 

 

Somehow the miles pass, the sun dips down in the forgiving sky and the horrors of my guilt trip fade away and are replaced with your hug or your arm occasionally loped across my weary shoulders.  At last I see home in the distance with its lights and soft music.  The trees bow across the road with honor and the crickets sing their happy welcome. 

 

I rush forward to stand on the front porch then look back only to find you are gone.  Vanished in the folds of the night yet somehow integrated in my heart and I smile as I open the welcome to my home.

As I was walking yesterday I noticed how green the trees were and I felt gratitude seep into my heart filling it and lighting up the corners with love.

Gratitude has not always come easy for me.  Sometimes it eludes me as anger, hurt or frustration invade the walls of my heart shutting windows, locking doors and barring entrance.  Other times depression has filled my heart with darkness, absorbed my every thought. and kept me from happiness.  Other times I have written lists of things I should be grateful for,  but true gratitude never made it from the paper to my heart.

What made the difference from today’s brilliant colors and yesterdays drizzling grays?

I believe that my new attitude is the divine gift of God– a miracle as great as the parting of the red sea.  And I believe it is given to me in portions like manna.  It comes in seasons: “To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.” (Eccl. 3:1)     When it is my season to learn to be long-suffering my exercises in gratitude are just surface. When it is my season to rejoice and be glad I can FEEL the joy of people and things around me 

How can I invite this divine gift of God so that I can feel gratitude heart-deep more often?

Sometimes I must wait.  Sometimes I must ask for it.  Other times giving service warms my heart and helps it to become a vessel ready for light and truth. 

In all cases I have found that recognizing gratitude as a gift from God brings me closer to magic, wonder, and exquisite joy.

To be included on our email list simply email me at patripotts@mstarmetro.net

~~A newsletter all about Changing and brightening YOUR world one step at a time…one idea at a

time… through books, recordings, videos and more!

January 10, 2009 Issue #3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aug. 4, 2009

Testimonial for: MY JOURNEY FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT:

Patricia Potts has written an incredibly insightful ‘insider’s guide,’ describing what it is like to suffer from depression and bi-polar illness. [ASIN:1419694952 My Journey >From Darkness to Light: How to Overcome Depression and Bipolar Illness One Step at A Time]. Reading her book, one cannot help but be overwhelmed with sadness and empathy for those who suffer from these illnesses. I am embarrassed at how little I truly understood about the feelings and struggles of those suffering these illnesses. I am ashamed to think how many times I may have ignored pleas for help, been insensitive to sufferers, or made comments that were not helpful.

Happily, the book is not just a description of the daily struggles for those suffering these medical problems, but is a story of hope and a way to cope — if not overcome. Patricia has written an indispensable guide book that will assist not only sufferers but also family members and friends. Her vivid writing style and emotional descriptions clearly teach the reader that it is not a solution (for the sufferer or the well-meaning friends) to say “just get over it,” or to ignore the problem.

There is so much to learn from this account of Patricia’s struggles, on several levels: The reader learns the importance of help by family, neighbors, friends, and fellow church members. Patricia’s story recounts the amazing patience and loyalty of a loving spouse. The value of medication (and recognition of this as a medical problem) is convincingly illustrated.

The most powerful moral of the book — and the source of its uplifting theme — is the compelling story of how Patricia came to know God as a result of her experiences. At great cost, she has come to know God in ways and to a degree known by few others. The question for me, as a reader, is whether I will ingrain into my life the wisdom, insights, and personal relationship with God that she has gained — without having to undergo the same wrenching experiences that led Patricia to her spiritual state.

(Book available through patriciapotts.com)

Table of Contents:

New Ideas/Blogs/Videos and more:

You are Invited to:

Patriciapotts.com

Hello my friends,

Summer has been busy and is scheduled to get busier still with a Family Retreat coming up at Moon Lake so I haven’t been writing very much lately. We have some great sites for you to browse though.

Dan and I on our fishing day (he did the fishing, I did the hammock)

New Ideas/Blogs/Videos and more

Check out this site offers additional insight on depression and bipolar:

http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20188216_3,00.html

Check out this site. It has a helpful video about bipolar on it:

http://knowingbipolardisorder.com/2009/07/the-black-feeling-of-hopelessness-in-bipolar-depression/

Till next time-

Thanks for spending time with us.

J Patricia

You Are Invited to

· Subscribe to all our new youtube presentations. Simply click on the yellow box at the left: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRkt5Rd547M

· Add yourself to my facebook friends. I am having a lot of fun touching basis with old friends there. It’s also fun to just be candid!

· Join a support group. The ones I have enjoyed are 12 step, heart to heart and NAMI (see Referrals tab on my website.) For more info. Write me at patripotts@mstarmetro.net

· Send a story or article to me for our blog “From Darkness to Light”. Email it to patripotts@mstarmetro.net

Check out over 30 blogs with helpful topics found at:

http://fromdarknesstolight.wordpress.com/

I told my child “NO” to another loan. Guilt followed when he didn’t communicate for weeks. Then my friend shared her quote:

When you have to tell your teenager NO just remember that your son/daughter knows it’s right as much as you do. – Lora Woodbury

Her words struck right to my heart offering solace and peace.

Recently I had a situation with my 20 year old son when I wanted very badly to change his thinking so I was humbled as I read in my Alanon book:

Keep thyself first in peace and then thou wilt be able to bring others to peace. Have, therefore, a zeal in the first place over thyself. – Thomas A’ Kempis

It reminded me of another thought from FIRST AID FOR FEELINGS:

When a storm hits the sea, sailors quickly learn that before they can
help others, they must first secure one hand on the helm. When an
airplane is in trouble and oxygen masks are dispersed, passengers
are taught to put their own masks on before helping others. So it is in
our lives, we must pay attention to our own spirituality and well-being
first; then we will be prepared to help others. (Patricia Potts)

Patricia’s newsletters are also available on her website: patriciapotts.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Turning Darkness to Light

Whether you are having a down day
Or experiencing the darkness of Bipolar or Depression
Patricia Potts is Changing and brightening YOUR world
one step at a time…one idea at a time…
with ideas,experiences, and inspirational stories including her
VOICES OF HOPE video series to help you go from feelings of darkness to feelings of light.

You never need feel alone!

Junly 2009
Table of Contents:
ANNOUNCING NEW TABS!
You are Invited
New Ideas/Blogs/ and more:
Question and Answers:
What People are Saying:

Patriciapotts.com

To be included on our email list simply email me at patripotts@mstarmetro.net
“I love to be shared with others. That’s how I help spread light and hope” – Patricia’s Newsletter 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A newsletter all about Changing and brightening YOUR world one step at a time…one idea at a
time… through books, recordings, videos and more!
January 10, 2009 Issue #3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ANNOUNCING:
TWO NEW TABS ON PATRICIAPOTTS.COM !!

QUESTION AND ANSWERS: Here you will find 36 questions commonly asked by those going through discouragement, depression and bipolar disorder. I have invited a panel of experts to address these questions. They are individuals who have experienced their own depressions and found answers. An author, a therapist and a NAMI (National Alliance for Mentally Ill) expert join me as we share hope, knowledge and answers.

MEDICATIONS AND OPTIONAL SUPPLIMENTS:
I am not an expert on medication, however, many have asked if there are supplements they can try before going the route of medication or use with the medication they are presently taking. This tab is dedicated to collecting data you can evaluate on your own with your physician or psychiatrist.

I love to hear from my readers. If you have had experiences negative or positive with medication or suppliments, please send me an email at Patripotts@mstarmetro.net.

I have a question:
One of our readers has a teenage son who is suffering from bipolar. He would like to reach out to another teen who is successfully managing his bipolar illness. Please could you write back at Patripotts@mstarmetro.net

You’re Invited….
I will be performing at the Legacy Retirement Center the afternoon of July 31st. Let me know if you would like to come. Patripotts@mstarmetro.net

New Ideas/Blogs/ and more

I ran across a great slideshow on ENERGY FOODS! Check it out!
http://www.webmd.com/diet/slideshow-energy-mood-boost-diet

What People are Saying
(Feedback from emails etc.)
You truly are an amazing person and one of those success stories that I’m looking for. I hope that my son can be one of those too. – D.

Dear Patricia,
Thanks for putting my hopeful video on your website. It was amazing how I was able to detach from my own words and learn from them. Even though I know my own thoughts and I was completely honest, my perspective on my trials seems less dire, as if I’m someone else, more wise and god-like, saying, “Of course you can make it through this!”
Maybe I should video myself often! – Gwendolyn Larsen
http://www.patriciapotts.com/Vids.html

Dear Patricia,
Thanks for writing your book! I’m sure that you are helping lots of people.
I am very amazed at how you share such embarrassing and personal info openly. That takes lots of confidence! People feel more willing to share their own uncomfortable, but necessary-to-heal, info in such an environment.
Love, Gwendolyn

You are so wonderful doing all these uplifting things and helping so many people. Maybe someday I will be able to help others with what I have learned like you. By the way, you have taught me so much!!! I would love to view your newsletter L.C.

There is a member of our church in Utah who is bipolar and who has a stepson who is bipolar. She knows what depression is all about. She has a very uplifting website and tries to help people with songs, hopeful stories, thoughts, etc. I just thought you might want to check it out. Any light in the storm is helpful when we’re going through these rough times. Her website is: patripotts@mstarmetro.net. I hope that Michael is feeling better. D.
-

-
Till next time-
Thanks for spending time with us.
 Patricia

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Journey from Darkness to Light can be purchased at several locations
in Salt Lake City (total cost with tax is $10.52).
Call first to see if they are open. Some are home businesses:

Potts Enterprises – 888 Walden Hills Drive Murray, Utah (879-3427)
Striking Image Salon – 3636 Wendell Drive South Salt Lake (759-2154)
Shirlaynes Health Food Store – 5578 South Redwood Road (982-0305)
Elite Massage – 560 W 5300 S Murray, UT 84123 (801) 261-7474
Roger Larson – physical therapist- 6040 South Fashion Blvd. 266-7534

If you would like to offer my books on consignment at your place of business please email Patricia at patripotts@mstarmetro.net
You Are Invited to
• Subscribe to all our new youtube presentations. Simply click on the yellow box at the left: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRkt5Rd547M
• Add yourself to my facebook friends. I am having a lot of fun touching basis with old friends there. It’s also fun to just be candid!
• Join a support group. The ones I have enjoyed are 12 step, heart to heart and NAMI (see Referrals tab on my website.) For more info. Write me at patripotts@mstarmetro.net
• Send a story or article to me for our blog “From Darkness to Light”. Email it to patripotts@mstarmetro.net

Check out over 35 blogs (with a great search engine) with helpful topics found at:
http://fromdarknesstolight.wordpress.com/

Hello my friends,

I hope you enjoy our newsletters this month. This issue includes two VOICES OF HOPE interviews, some summer singing and more! (See )

This Newsletter is for YOU! As always, I love feedback.

Also, I am creating a question and answer section in my website and I could use your help. What questions have you had about depression, bipolar etc.? Please could you email them to me at Patripotts@mstarmetro.net.

Thanks,

Patricia

Today is Mothers Day. I woke up with a bad headache at 4:30 A.M. and spent the next several hours using everything from exedrine to tylenol to various oils and to deal with the anxiety and fear that accompanied the pain. I did some cognitive therapy to sort out the sense of loss I felt in several ways including my email program crashing and not attending church because I felt yucky.

I took more exedrine, then ate some oatmeal which helped me somewhat with the pain and anxiety but within an hour negative waves of frustration, It’s-Mothers-Day-this-is-not-fair and anger came back crashing on my short as if they belonged there.

Then one daughter called with her family to sing “Happy Mothers Day to You.” She also wrote a loving blog that made me cry.

Another daughter texted me a Happy Mothers Day. I set the phone down with a smile.

Another daughter who lives out of state called to wish me a Happy Mothers Day and listened to my pity party then gave her honest assessment of my day as she empathized with me then reminded me that my losses were all replaceable. She then excitedly announced that a surprise package was on it’s way. I hung up with tears in my eyes.

Now, although my head still hurts some, it doesn’t hurt as bad. Although I still feel the loss of some computer systems, it has now been put into perspective. Although I will continue to have pain, loss and tough times in the future – for today – I can enjoy my daughters and tears in my eyes.