Bored In America? Why I Decided To Go Fishing.

I discussed this theme on my last Possible Society In Motion Radio Show, “Bored In America. I Am Going Fishing.”  

The “why” about it is this ---

First off, my take on boredom is that it is an emotional, somewhat physically uncomfortable state that substitutes for the fullness of authentic, meaningful connectedness. 

(See the full GRAD definition here. Then score yourself on the Survivor/Addict Personality Inventory, which focuses on what I am really discussing here, to identify the personal characteristics of yours that feed this state. Each one of the items on the inventory can be a contributing factor to “your boredom. Think about it!)

Boredom then is akin, in many cases, to being a non-ingested chemical addiction, meaning an addiction state that the individual creates out of their own chemistry.

For example, no internet, no cell phone – boredom. But what about fishing?

If you can understand that “boredom” arises out of an emotional state reflecting the absence of meaning and/or substance, you might comprehend why I decided to go fishing, metaphorically (as the only fishing I have ever done is for crabs in the Chesapeake),  for the Memorial Day weekend.  

My family is dispersed, to say the least, and our wonderful U.S.A., as acted out in front of our very eyes amid unceasing reports of local, national and internation conflicts and violence along with our national election campaign drama, is hardly fulfilling. At least not for me, it isn’t. 

Everywhere we turn there are media reports of the rather routine proliferation of human impoverishment we are living in to the level of pure glut of nothingness!  I am concerned, of course. But still, after awhile this "news" is boring, especially when being any significant part of the solution is way out of reach.

This is except for the 1%, of course, exemplified by our noteworthy celebrities who are so bored they must create almost daily dramas of one sort or another, off or onstage such as the case may be, to seemingly give themselves some semblance of being alive. Boring!

When it comes to substance and meaning we are sadly lacking, steeped in want of the special kind of riches, unique to humans, that eludes many if not most, as things stand now.

But Mother Nature, the caregiver of forested trees, fishing holes, sparkling waters, bright sunshine and fluffy clouds is abundant with endless troves replete with natural resources to offset boredom.  That’s why with a free weekend for me, as this one has been, having gotten, early on, to the point of boredom with our present political campaign dramas and other offerings of the greater world via high tech, I thought going fishing would be my best bet, along with my daily indulgences of unlimted writing times.

Wishing you the abundance of your life well-lived and the bounty of your human endeavors overflowing, I offer you here one more tidbit for consideration on how to better our world, at least in America –

 If you’re bored, how about a walk in the woods or hanging out your own “gone fishing” sign – and doing it, one way or another.

Then, if you are still feeling an absence of meaning, tune into my podcast on –

“Bored In America. I Am Going Fishing.”

Questions and Answers About Groder-Rosen (GRAD) Principles and Perspectives

This discussion in its entirety begins with this article.

Q and A: A work in progress

Since I am blessed to have an extensive network of support to help me keep on track with everything I do, now, in life, I asked members of that support network to give me feedback on my introductory piece to the Groder-Rosen (GRAD) theory.

That brought me to see, surprisingly, that simply elucidating all “I” know about the various points I offered could, in actuality, become another whole book. I hadn’t thought of that on my own. GRAD seemed so self-explanatory to me. That can happen when you are sleeping for years with someone, or a theory -- and -- when you are intent on going it alone!  You get to a place where you can't see the forest for the trees.

I used to be that way to a fault! OMG!

In fact, I found it a bit of a stretch, as a psychotherapist, to put myself in the shoes of the hundreds, if not thousands, of people, especially women, I counseled in my twenty-five years in private practice, who were co-dependent. I, personally, was almost totally anti-dependent (a true solo flyer am I)!

The book that some of my supporters saw emerging from that brief introduction, offered yesterday, to the best of my knowledge, would be a book I have no interest in writing! I think it would be a most boring exercise for me. Could the right person/co-author change my mind?

I have no idea!

What I am, now, going to do instead is take advantage of this very intriguing online creation, the blog site, to use the format to expand upon what my friends/supporters are suggesting is a mere introduction (one friend called it a” teaser”) in an attempt to expound upon my own original thinking on various aspects of that piece.

Expect this endeavor to follow in the form of “Questions and Answers.”  Some of the questions will derive from my own conjectures. Others will originate with questions and/or comments from others. I hope my format for the effort will provide reading comfort and contemplation for you, the reader.

The Interactive Side of “Questions and Answers”

Over time we at New Horizons have discovered through reader comments that our blog sites do not seem to take comments readily.  A workable alternative has been derived; if posting a comment, is troublesome for you, you can send me your comment, directly, and I will post it myself if you write me at: SuperSleuthDSW@aol.com.

This being said, there is no reason that you, the visitor to this site, if inspired to converse with me about the principles, philosophies and so forth, should hold back from doing so. As I indicated above, simply send your comments and questions to me in an email at: SuperSleuthDSW@aol.com. I will post your comments/questions etc., personally, and our dialogue can thus commence and move forward with a bit of an online “community” discussion.

You can also bring your thoughts, ideas and so forth to the Coffee House Conversations by Conference Call forum that Jack Slattery, my Possible Society In Motion Radio Show co-host, and myself host every other Thursday evening. Details here.

More on “Questions and Answers” on the way.

Coming Up Next: The Groder-Rosen Theory of Almost "Everything" Human (GRAD)

Introducing the Groder-Rosen Addiction Development Theory (GRAD)
(Originally the Survivor Addiction Development Theory (SAD) 

I have been finding it no small undertaking to translate a series of three books (still unpublished), written under contract to Random House (1988 and 1998) into an online blog format. However, the content the series covers is too important to hold back. 

It was so when the series was sold initially. It is even more so today. So an online version seems necessary, at least for now. 

Most important of the content, as I see it, are the detailed formulae the series offers for individual and collective betterment. The basic formulae provide principles that are fundamentals for model communities to serve, not only in ordinary ways, but also as learning laboratories for personal and collective transformation.

Certainly this is a rather utopian dream, most appealing, no doubt, to idealists like me. Yet at this point in time, on the heels of the award of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, I am inspired to put some of my top priority time and energy into another round of efforts to share the teachings passed on to me, in what I now hold to be a sacred trust, that they might be known and utilized.

Perhaps our time has come!

At the outset of this endeavor, begun last November, the effort to translate the body of knowledge developed originally by my mentor, Martin G. Groder M.D.  (1939- 2007), then researched, expanded and finally written up by myself in my three unpublished books on the subject seemed to be a worthy one. In fact, when I began this task almost a year ago, I thought the endeavor might even offer some refreshing ways and means to present what possibly had grown a bit staid as the “trilogy” sat on my shelves these past years. 

Then I began finding innumerable obstacles that took on an almost daunting quality for me. This accounts for the scantiness in the number and irregularity of my blog posts here.

Not the least of these challenges has been that Groder, in his devotion to the elegant body of theory known as Transactional Analysis (TA) and based upon it, endeavored to create the ultimate theory of the universe on how to bring the world out of its darkness into its ultimate best, if it would only see the Light. This intent on Groder’s part combined with his yearning to be known as one of, if not the, most brilliant men (people???) in his field to lead the way to such a grand destination. 

I admit to being, not only respectful and admiring of Groder’s conception, originally named the Survivor Addiction Development theory (SAD) and later the Groder-Rosen Addiction Development theory (GRAD), but one who could see the potential for its application and eventual success, if enough people would embrace and utilize it as a discipline. I was, without reservation, committed to go as far as I could with the venture. That, still, was an ambitious vision. 

Maybe the 100th Monkey Effect would thus be proven valid here in this instance. If not, so what, I, personally, would have learned to live as beautiful a life as possible, as I believed one should.

However, the “if” has had so many challenges and obstacles built into it that the vision alone could be daunting, if not adjusted for reality.  With this, I believe, I have done well.

On the up side of my challenges is that one thinking construct, in particular, is central to the message I took from Groder’s guidance and already appears to be gaining credibility. The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet dranatically shows us that it just might be possible, even worldwide, for people to begin recognizing, respecting and acting upon the notion that --

"Communities of people working together for the good of the whole can generate enormous change for each as well as the group."

Groder made this teaching tangible in his role as one of the first prison psychiatrists at Marion Federal Penetentiary. As far back as the late 1960s (which I will write more of later) with his efforts to create a viable counterculture, within the prison soon after it opened, replacing Alcatraz as they most maximum security prison in our country. His notable contribution in this arena remains as a remarkable attainment even today.

In my advancement of Groder's theories and organziational strategies for the collective "rehabilitation" of individuals within a group, altering the group as well, I eventually blended his theories with certain methodologies, garnered from my second important teacher, New Horizons’ Beloved community development mentor, Murat Yagan. This expansion of GRAD has now given me an enhanced map and a methodology that I offer you as one that is almost fail safe in delineating how and where to travel for both personal and collective betterment, if that is what you truly want. 

The map is almost as golden as the "egg" I got from Marty. If you can interpret it, it can serve as your own personal TripTik to destination "awe," a place I hold to be attainable, if one puts forth the effort and discipline.

If you cannot make the sense of it that you need and are still intrigued, ask me. I will be your guide, if appropriate.

With all this in mind, along with the inspiration I am taking now from this recent Nobel Peace Prize award – and – the joy, fulfillment and encouragement through recent events I am involved in locally, affirming my ideals almost daily, I am prompted to now be ready again to offer one more round of the wisdom Groder handed off to me.

This is all quite a mind full (and mouthful) for me to present to you. But I am intent on doing my level best with it for this intent. 

Thus I now invite you to, once again, begin exploring this site, as well as your own Dark Side. Our personal and shared growth beckons us to seek out this “the adventure of a lifetime” and a best possible society.

More on the way.