Today, four brave beautiful women - Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, Simone Biles, and Maggie Nicholes, - testified before the US Senate Judiciary hearing regarding the Inspector General's report on the FBI's handling of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse investigation. These courageous elite American gymnasts stood strong as they spoke truth to power, recalling the betrayals by "powers that be" who were charged with protecting them (and hundreds of other young athletes) and who failed to do so.  

Depression. It pops up in the news, especially when we lose celebrities like Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. For a few days or a few weeks, there will be caring and compassionate conversation around their losses and the causal factors surrounding their suicides. News anchors, reporters, and experts are disclosing explanations around mental illness, past and present struggles with addiction, and various relational, financial, professional and personal life stress factors.

Resolutions are statements about whether to do or not to do something. We make them, especially as we enter into a new year, hoping they will encourage us to make shifts and changes in our quality of living. The problem is that when it comes time to implement them, most folks become easily discouraged, give up, and abandon them as quickly as they were made. Unfortunately, after our good intentions have failed once again, we feel embarrassed. We feel regret.. and lots of it.

Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry have produced a new series on mental health - "The Me You Can't See" If the words, "the me you can't see" speak to you in any way, I encourage you to watch this powerful series. If you're feeling like an imposter or unseen because you are hiding behind your hurt, the stories of shared suffering in "The Me You Can't See" will connect with you in ways which you may not have felt before.

As with so many issues of social/political justice or of wellness, the designation of a given day or month of remembrance, celebration, or call to action sometimes feels so inadequate in comparison to the magnitude of the cause de jour. And certainly, Veteran's Day is no exception.

Although Veteran's Day is just behind us, I would like to continue acknowledging and honoring the sacrifices that our military members and Veterans have made and are making. For those who have returned home and for those yet to return, many will fight on - battling their visible and invisible wounds of war. One of the organizations which has been dedicated to providing free and confidential mental health treatment to military service members and Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts and their extended families is The Soldiers Project.

With the New Year here, many of us are already stressing about what new resolutions or expectations we should place upon ourselves. That is typically followed by the dread of how quickly we will break them or not measure up to them. I have a suggestion - let's greet the New Year by letting go of stuff.

TAKE SOME TIME - THINK ABOUT AND WRITE DOWN ANSWERS TO THESE TWO QUESTIONS:

What is working in my life? Who or what is contributing to my well-being - augmenting my wellness, enhancing my sense of worth and of self, and fueling me in healthy way

Today, we are going to look at Step Three: In Letting Go We Give Back To Ourselves. Step Three is not really a "step" in the literal context of the word, but it is a critical concept of our renewal process in the New Year. Let me explain by sharing this short narrative.

Parents and Guardians, every generation has it challenges. We certainly had ours and our children have theirs! However, there is something very uniquely problematic about raising children in this digital age.

Although their narratives varied, most victims' assaults, rapes, molestation, etc. occurred within "closed systems", which means there is a hierarchy of power established to protect its brand and its reputation at all cost. Universities and colleges are examples of "closed systems"; however, they are not alone in perpetuating this cultural epidemic of sexual violence.

Because this unhealthy dynamic involved a family member, I had let it go on far too long, and I had disrespected my well-being in the process. It was time to release it and free myself from it.

Always being judged by the last deed that was done for her and being told that it fell short in some way was crazy making. Never knowing if we were in her favor or out and so often not having a clue as to why, caused my sisters and I to withdraw and to protect ourselves.  It was just too hard.

With the news coverage of the secrecy and silence surrounding a plethora of sexual assault cases within a "closed system" (this time a USA gymnastics organization), it is important to revisit steps for Proactive Parenting in the protection of children and in the advocacy of victims.

Domestic Violence has been in the spotlight as video evidence has surfaced of well-known individuals allegedly abusing their partners. Domestic Violenceis a complex issue with numerous theories regarding causation as well as sound approaches that address intensive treatment for the perpetrators and recovering programs for the victims. I believe there is a missing piece - an underlying psychological component - which is not talked about.

Given the myriad of social dangers in today's society and with the prevalence of child abuse, I believe that parents and guardians must navigate throughout their children's development with that same or increased vigilant commitment they naturally and willingly blended into their parenting when their children were entering that first environment away from home. I believe that to do less is to put our children in harm's way

Most responsible parents work hard to provide nurturing, loving, and safe environments for their children. To do otherwise, in my opinion, is shirking the responsibilities of parenthood.

When I am discussing relapse, it is important to clarify that I am referring to any individual who falls back into or regresses into to a previous pattern of unhealthy thinking, behaving, or feeling. In other words, I am not speaking solely of issues of addiction; I am talking about letting go of current healthy habits, rituals, practices, or ways of being and replacing them with thoughts, behaviors or emotions that are harmful to us.

Most of us are familiar with Stage One - Passion and Chemistry. This one does not need much explanation! We are intensely attracted! We are swept up! The other person can do no wrong! We cannot get enough of the other person!

Valentine's Day is almost here! Are you ready? More importantly, do you feel that your relationship is stronger now that we are constantly 'connected' through technology? Many couples that I have talked with, especially females, are experiencing a loss of connection with their partners even though they are interacting electronically throughout the day!