The rain stopped and the sun appeared. We lucked into a table by the window which we opened wide to catch the warmth of the afternoon.  We crowded around a small table as we greeted one another with big smiles. We had coffee with pie a la mode and we talked, told stories of our summer experiences – highlighting the funny bits – and we laughed out loud. We purposefully kept our encounter light. The focus for the afternoon was to re-connect and enjoy a couple of hours together.  Good friendships are a lifeline.

Many clients who come in to my office to see me, a  Registered Clinical Counsellor, are in some form of emotional distress. When feelings of anger, anxiety and depression invade a person’s life, then such feelings can impact to their detriment the way they think, act and socialize. It is usually at this time that many reach out for professional help.

Intense emotions are signals that you need help in sorting out the life challenges that you are facing.  When these emotions take over your thought processes then you are not thinking clearly and your judgement or decision making is not sound.  Also, when you wallow too much in these negative emotions, you can isolate yourself or make it difficult for your friends to connect with you.

We are social beings and it is important to relax with friends now and then and laugh – to appreciate the lighter side of life.  Life is hard and everyone has or will have their unique challenges. Stay connected to friends and family.  And, when negative emotions or the feeling of being ‘stuck’ get the better of you, seek help. There is always a solution, there is always a way to move forward.

Stay on track, enjoy your frindships. LOL.

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“I cook dinner for my boys on Sunday,” I said “Sunday evening doesn’t work for me.”  The first conversation that he brought up on Saturday after we sat down in a chic restaurant was my cooking dinner for my boys on Sundays.

My sons are in their mid-twenties, single and busy launching their lives. Dinner with me is a happening every Sunday when they are in town. And, they must drive across town to get to my place. They have lived in other cities for extended periods of time. Yet when they are living in the city, I never cancel. They do sometimes. My friends will atttest to me cutting the 19th hole short to dash home to get dinner ready for the boys. I am not a great cook – getting better – at times I do confuse ” dunking” with “marinating”.

Years ago when my sons’ lives got busy with school activities, hockey schedules and time with their Dad, the only day that was left when the three of us could sit down together was Sunday night.  Did they try to get out of it? Absolutely, often.  Trust me, at times life would have been easier if I cancelled.  Yet, I know now that it was during those difficult times when the Sunday dinner routine was most needed.

Now, as young men, they could cancel every week. They don’t. They often call me to check, “See you Sunday Mom for dinner.”  Sometimes, they eat and run.  Sometimes they stay longer. Sometimes they are very talkative, sometimes not at all. No matter what, dinner is ready.

Sunday is a way of grounding us – of connecting us to the ordinary parts of our lives. My sons love sports.  I glance at the sports page on a regular basis.  It allows me to begin a non-invasive conversation ( i.e. Tiger, Olympics, Marc Savard & Matt Cooke) that often goes beyond sport.

I realize that each Sunday night dinner with my boys is a  blessing. I won’t cancel.

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