The purpose of this page is to provide more information about meeting speakers, topics, handouts and cited sources from prior monthly meetings.

Sunday, Dec. 17

Speaker: Fr. Joe Breighner
Topic: Holiday Survival - The Gifts You Need

Fr. Joe reminded us that we could use these gifts in our holiday survival bag:

1. Dare to Celebrate - It's okay to enjoy the season.
2. Bring your own best self (BYOBS)
3. Don't force yourself to feel any one way
4. Reinforce your good feelings
5. Beware of our HALT triggers (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired)
6. Practice forgiveness
7. Allow God to surprise us
8. Do something for someone else
9. Love yourself
10. Find ways to entertain yourself
11. Feed your mind on good stuff
12. Give your fear to God

Fr. Joe then read a letter from God. In it, God reminded us to:

1. Quit worrying
2. Put it on God's to-do list
3. and finally, Trust.
     

Sunday, Nov. 19

Speaker: Fr. Frank Donio
Topic: Not Beyond Hope!

Fr. Frank gave us an inspirational talk that drew upon his work at St. Jude's shrine.

Grief is self-centered. Hope is focused outward. As people become more involved with God and others, they start to feel better.

When bad things happen, it's all right to be angry with God. God can handle it. Remember, God didn't do it to you, but He will get you through it.

Fr. Frank cited two books:
Michael Downey - Hope Begins Where Hope Begins
Lou Anne Tighe - Growing in Hope (Life in Abundance)
   

Sunday, Oct.. 15

Speaker: Dr. Jim Dasinger
Topic: Nine Traits of a Winner

Normal healthy people live their lives optimally. The elements of optimal living are:
- Positive attitude toward self
- Growth and development
- Autonomy
- Accurate perception of reality
- Environmental competence
- Positive interpersonal relations

Winners are healthy people. Their traits are:
1. Good problem solvers
2. Expects excellence from self and others
3. Diplomatic
4. Confident
5. Keeps things in perspective
6. Positive mental attitude
7. Enthusiastic
8. Hates bureaucracy
9. Takes risks
   

Sunday, Sept. 17

19th Anniversary Celebration and Dinner

Many thanks to Claire and her committee of volunteers, Phyllis and her staff, and everyone else that made this year's dinner another big success.

Thank you especially to Sr. Joannes and Sr. Sue for supporting all of us through their ministry.

Sunday, Aug. 20

Speaker: Jim Kimble
Topic: DNA of Relationships

Jim Kimble's presentation was based on the book by Dr. Gary Smalley, The DNA of Relationships, which Jim says changed his life. Jim shared his story with the group, including his journey to discover the issues that lead to his divorce.

Jim then covered what he felt were the key points in Dr. Smalley's book:
- We cannot control others. We can only control ourselves.
- We all have fear when it comes to relationships.
- We can break down walls by communicating with our hearts.
- What we all want from relationships are acceptance, grace, connection, companionship, a sense of accomplishment, love and validation.
   
      

Sunday, July 16

Speaker: Dr. Diane Dixon
Topic: Living Single: Sowing the Seeds of Joy in Your Life

Diane began my reiterating that people and things do not make us joyful. Joy comes from within. Positive thinking brings us joy. Negative thinking can cause emotional and physical pain. Diane recommended that we meditate, preferably in the morning. We should express gratitude, think positively, pray and meditate, journal and work to find our space.
   

Sunday, June 18

Speaker: Lynn Cassella-Kapusinski
Topic: Understanding and Comforting Adolescents and Young Adults of Separation and Divorce

Lynn Cassella-Kapusinski is the founder of he Faith Journeys Foundation, Inc. (www.faithjourneys.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting children, teens and young adults with separated or divorced parents. She is also a child of divorce. She shared her approaches in working with children and adolescents in helping them deal with their feeling about the divorce of their parents. She went through a number of scenarios and illustrated her points by sharing some of her own personal experiences. Her talk was particularly helpful for a few parents in the audience with children still at home. It also helped the rest of us understand what our grown children might have gone through
 

Sunday, Apr. 9
and
Sunday, May 21

Speaker: Dr. Woody Powell
Topic: Personality and Relationships

In this two part presentation, Dr. Powell discussed relationships in the context of the Jung Typology test. He helped us understand ourselves and where others are coming from, so that we can better handle our interpersonal interactions.

Dr. Powell invited comments or additional question via email at wpowell@ccbcmd.edu

Eventhough the presentation is over, you can still take the test online:

Test Description

Take the Test!
   

Sunday, Mar. 19

Speaker: Regina Forte [web site]
Topic: Making Your Money Last

Regina Forte told us we should first discover our personal "money style", which is our own tolerance for risk. Secondly, if we decide to employ a financial planner, be sure that person is a certified financial planner, with no conflicts of interest. She recommended we avoid insurance agents, bankers or stock brokers, who may be more interested in selling "product' than in doing what is best for our financial health.
  

Sunday, Feb. 19

Speaker: Lynne Brick of Brick Bodies [web site]
Topic: Get Up, Get Moving, Get Healthy!

Lynne Brick reminded us that balance in life is important: body, mind and spirit. Her mission is to work on the bodily aspects of life. We need to train our brains that age doesn't matter. Physical activity is crucial. There are 400,000 premature deaths each year resulting from inactivity.

The foundation of a healthy lifestyle is FANSS.

• Flexibility through stretching.
• Aerobic training.
• Nutrition. Eating right and not too much.
• Strength Training.
• Sleep. This is when the body repairs itself.

Lynne Brick referred to the following authors and their books:
Meriam Nelson - Strong Women Stay Young (and others)
Deepak Chopra - The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
Barry Sears - The Zone (and others)
Ann Louise Gittleman - Super Nutrition for Women (and others)

In Honor of Heart Month ... In addition to our regular program, several nurse members of FOM offered free blood pressure screenings to all attendees.
   

Sunday, Jan. 15

Speaker: Fr. Sam Lupico
Topic: New Year, Fresh Start: Learn to Love Yourself

To start off the new year, Fr. Sam gave us emotional and uplifting talk. He said sometimes it not about a final resolution. It's about knowing where you are, and God knows where you are. He said that the Church needs to hear our stories. Institutions do not do well in welcoming the broken. Humanity demands the understanding of a broken heart and shattered dreams.

Fr. Sam told us his story. We were all moved by his frankness and honesty.

He praised the work of Friends of Mercy. He said that only people who have had the same experiences can understand our story.
  

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Sorry. Notes from years prior to 2002 were not saved.