 Hi {!firstname_fix} Ok, I am finally settled from jet lag and the emotional power of ranch. Now I am simply enjoying Fall in beautiful New Mexico. The cottonwoods are starting to change color so it is all gold down by the river. We have done a number of changes in the community over the last 10 days. Some of you may have noticed that we changed a lot of the step list names to be consistent. I heard that my creative building of lists offended some of the more tidy ones heh heh. Now they are all organized and clean. A number of you asked about our holiday classes. I have gotten them into the schedule and thank you for the reminder. These classes will begin Wednesday, October 29, 2008. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page: Step 1: The Art of Breakfast (1 week) is our foundation class to get you started. Learn all four parts of step 1 in a structured way. Learn how to progress through them with enjoyment. Let us support getting your program off to a fabulous start. Step 4: More Than You Think (1 week) is the potato class. Come learn everything you ever wanted to know about the timing, size, frequency of your potato. Learn about the best vitamins and talk all you want about them. This is a nice way to strengthen and refine your step 4.  Anger Management (2 weeks) is a new 2 week class designed to help sugar sensitive people learn
new ways of coping with hard feelings. This class is open to anyone on step 3 or higher. It will
be intense and VERY practical. If you want to change your response pattern but have not been sure
how to do it, this is the class for you. If you are ashamed of this part of you, even if it has been quiet for
a while, this will be a safe place. Anyone taking this class will be asked to watch the movie The Incredible Hulk before
starting. If you have any questions about the suitability for your situation, email me first.
These classes will begin Wednesday, November 5, 2008. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page: Radiant Store Tour (1 week) is is a free guided tour of the store. David will be leading this class so if you want to get to know the guy that makes it all work, come sign up. This is his first teaching experience, so you can show your support for the work he does to keep you happy. Handling the Holidays: Thanksgiving (1 week) is a special class to help you prepare for the holdiays in a centered and reflective way. We love this class. I hope you will join us. If you are on disability or low income (your household income is less that $1000 a month), you may take classes for free if you get certified. I have put the guidelines for certification on the class schedule page. The class schedule is on line. Click here to see what is planned. Please do not sign up for classes that are not yet scheduled. A number of you have asked me how the classes work. Check the class list page for more information on this. The classes are done online and you do not have to be at your computer at any set time. It does not matter whether you are in the US, Europe, the Far East or Australia, you simply respond on your own time. And although I advertise that the classes are one or two weeks, sometimes we are a little flexible and they may run longer. And please go read the questions and answers before you write to me. If you have trouble getting through the process, write the tech forum. Please feel free to pass this week's newsletter on to your friends and family. Don't forget to let me know what you like and would like to see me cover. Be sure to visit our Radiant Recovery¨ website and Community Forum regularly. Warmly, Kathleen **********************************************************************
October 27, 2008 ** Quote From Kathleen **
Not remembering is significant information - sort of like standing up a date. *********************************************************************
** Testimonial for the Week**
LOL ohmygod yes, I really want to do this. It is time. I can see my inner body matching my outer self without squinting now. I am slowly getting closer. Yep, I'm ready. Hmm, the elements in that passionate experience that made it so wonderful - not doing it alone, having others traveling with me, the rewards of my world going from dark and black and white to vibrant colors. With recovery I have received the gift of being able to hear the whisper, of understanding how to be present to the divine in my life. In recovery I met and married my soul mate - that is a HUGE element that has made the journey so wonderful. I guess the feelings of being able to be my authentic self in all walks of my life. No more hiding or faking it. I am who I am and I am comfortable with me. Gail ********************************************************************
**Radiant Ambassadors** We are just in the process of building a press room for the web site. Kathleen and one of her colleagues who is a professional newspaper person are drafting it as we speak. Then our ambassador team will play and see what else we might add. Come join us if you are excited about spreading the news. ********************************************************************
**Radiant Kitchen**
Ingredients:
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**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**
YLDonline is a membership program run directly by Kathleen DesMaisons herself. We have revised the YLD manual. Why don't you come on over and get your updated copy. And if you are thinking you might wait til January to *start*, come now and join us. Give yourself permission to have the extra support during the holidays. And if you would like to give someone the gift of YLD, I am offering a special discount to current members who purchase it for a friend. You can get 50% off for giving this gift. Fill out the order form for the person, but include your information in the payment section. Make sure to note that it is a gift and we will charge you $49. If you are not a YLD member, come and join us. Click here if you are ready to change your life or just plain ole have fun. ********************************************************* ***********
**Radiant Recovery Store **
David manages the Radiant Recovery Store. He is also Kathleen's oldest son. Several people have asked me about gift options for the holidays. I have set up a special gift process for you. You can order anything and I will put together a special package for you with a gift card. And this year, we are adding a really fun service. You can send a Radiant Stocking to anyone on your Christmas gift list. Tell us what you want it to be stuffed with, we will wrap the items and put them in one of our wonderful stockings and send it off for you. Or we can simply include a gift certificate and put that in the stocking. Or, we can just send out a gift certificate. You can see we are being very creative. I am very excited about this prospect. Call me if you have questions. 505-345-3737 Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better. ********************************************************* ***********
**Our Online Groups**
The Radiant Journal list is a source of helpful information and support with journaling. On this list we talk about how to get started with the journal, how to start listening to our body and why giving it a voice is so important. We also discuss how to use the journal for detective work in our program and, of course, how to make journaling fun! Right now the list is rockin' with people supporting each other and making big discoveries with their journal. So whether you are just starting out or are looking for a recharge in your journaling, come on over and join in the fun! ********************************************************************
**The Calm**
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. Some of these stories, I tell you more than once. I love this one. I think it touches a lot of us. “Am I right in identifying it this way: the hit--as horrible as it is--is the meltdown and the immediate afterglow in which I can actually get my work done; as the hit wears off I'm left flat--that would be withdrawal; my anxiety levels begin to build and that increases the chaos in my life -- the hunt is on for the next big storm.... Oh, lord, it's good to know what's going on but I'm horrified that my actions are the actions of an addict my entire life...because I was labeled "drama queen" right from the getgo and teased mercilessly for it, which only fed it....“ I know that many of you can relate to the idea of being a drama queen (or king). The quote above came from a class member of the beta-endorphin group. I think that perfectly describes the pattern. You create a big thing – using whatever stuff is at hand. It could be leaving bills til they are over due, not paying taxes, forgetting a key appointment, having a fight with husbands, wives or partners or children, blowing up at work, having a temper tantrum, whatever - you get a rush. You get a rush from the STORM. It is such a great image. The rush is a flood of beta-endorphin, and a subsequent dash of dopamine. You feel clear, mobilized, able to cope and in charge. This is drug-induced euphoria. The skilled and effective drama queen. And then the flat rolls in. And you have no tolerance for it. Something, you need something. Sweets, fights, sex, drama. They are all activated beta-endorphin and then pushing through to trigger dopamine. This is euphoria and then rush. And then withdrawal, the flat. The problem comes over time. You build tolerance, so you need a bigger drama. Life starts to unravel and the drama becomes unmanageable. You pull it together; the pulling together is done in a flurry, another rush, more drama. Now the drama of getting fixed, organized, settled. So the pattern is veiled. Now the drama comes with the fixing. And the sugar use builds. When you step into the program, and work the steps, the steps themselves are designed to minimize drama. You want to teach you to cope with thoughtful planning rather than reaction and mobilization. You are creating behavioral. Learning to “wait” for meals on step three teaches you to learn to wait - and tolerate discomfort. Step six rolls in. Now you have biochemical flat since the charge from sugar is out. This is the hardest part of the program. You are learning to do life without spike. You are learning to tolerate some flatness rather than creating drama, drama. Then something funny happens. Flat starts taking on color. Flat becomes The Calm. And something in you starts to like it. And something in you starts to really like it. Eighteen months in and drama no longer holds the charge. You find yourself wanting to deescalate rather than amp up. Now the drama seems like an unnecessary wasting of energy far more suited to fun things. Another change slips in. Rather than drama queen, your funny, creative, innovative self starts growing. You are flexible and resourceful. You deal well with crisis, you no longer cope but are proactive in problem solving. Who is this person anyway? There is nothing in the world so wonderful as a healed drama queen or king. ©Kathleen DesMaisons 2008. Here are the folks who are helping put the newsletter together: Gretel, our webmaster, puts it all together David, who runs the Radiant Recovery¨ Store talks about what new products we have. You are getting the weekly newsletter from Radiant Recovery¨ in response to your signup. A copy of this newsletter may also be found posted on the web at http://www. radiantrecovery.com/weeklynewsletter.htm. ©2008 by Kathleen DesMaisons . All rights reserved. You are free to use or transmit this article to your ezine or website as long as you leave the content unaltered and use this attribution: "By Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. of Radiant Recovery¨. Please visit Kathleen's website at http://www.radiantrecovery.com for additional resources on sugar sensitivity and healing addiction." Please notify me at kathleen@radiantrecovery.com to let me know where the material will appear. Banner Photograph by Geraint Smith |
