The next time someone talks about staging an intervention to help a person that is a danger to themself or others, I pray that another option be considered. I feel interventions don't help anyone except the person who has staged the action, and even in those cases where the subject seeks help afterward, even in those cases where good happens, it is likely that other options could have been used with as good or better results.

Today I was reminded how one attempt to intervene in a woman's life a few years ago haunts her. Apparently yesterday she was told to get over the past and this horrible attempt to intervene to force her to find help that these do-gooders wanted for her. However, those do-gooders didn't know her whole story and, even yesterday, it was apparent that one of the do-gooders still doesn't get the message several years later. That do-gooder still continued to think the same ill thoughts that initiated the intervention attempt, despite all the evidence otherwise--evidence that their claims were totally unfounded. But, more than that, the subject was totally devastated in every area of her life. She lost her family to where her children were taken out of her life and now that they are back, they just don't have the same sense of "family" that they used to. She works miles away from home because these people called her potential employers and told them their false beliefs--the only way she got her current job was not not tell these do-gooders where she applied and then work there for a few months on a temporary basis (and when the do-gooders figured out where she was working, her supervisor was totally aware of the situation and wouldn't listen when the do-gooders called this potentially-permanent employer to report how horrible she was--and now she's been working there for almost two years). She can't participate in her original family's get-togethers because they are the ones who hurt her so badly she's still affected on a daily basis. They stopped helping her financially, even when she had to get a divorce and they knew that it was important to support her--and a judge in a court of law advised her family to give her support, but they didn't follow his good intentions. Her transportation is sabotaged on a regular basis--her mechanic knows that when she comes in, he better first check her gas lines because someone's cut or removed the gas lines, or poured sand in the tank, or somehow messed with the fuel pump. The worst part is that this is a close relative that's doing this...for reasons that she nor I can fathom. He honestly thinks she needs help, but she's made it through these horrible things and she's succeeding. However, in the process, she's learned that she can't depend on anyone and that even family can be hateful.

Next time an intervention is considered, don't! It's really very simple. Be there and help where you can--but help at the instigation of the subject, not at the denegration of the subject. Life can be bad, it doesn't have to be deliberately be made worse!

Now, don't get me started on "tough love"!

A young woman named Kelsey was kidnapped and murdered in Kansas last week. Today they arraigned the young man that is thought to have done the horrible crimes that took her from this world. Tonight, her parents appeared on television and said they were in court for Kelsey, and only because Kelsey wasn't there. They also said they wouldn't let the murderer take any more from them. He took their daughter, sister and girlfriend, but they won't let him take their emotions. They don't want to give him anger or vindictiveness; instead, they want to do something positive for this young lady that was "scrubbed in sunshine."

I laud their thoughts in this very emotional time. They have to be grieving like I cannot imagine. And I sympathize with them, and only wish I could offer words that lend them comfort.

And I believe they are right. The man who killed this beautiful person doesn't deserve their emotions. Let the judicial system deal with him. The justice this family finds will come from promoting the positive attitude the Kelsey would have wanted, and in her permanent physical absence, to now allow a permanent emotional inspiration. Nothing will bring the young woman back, but her spirit can be allowed to grow in a way that death could not stop.

Life is precious, and the more we give to life, the more it gives back. I would want only good things to grow from Kelsey's life, and I would encourage all who have lost a beloved person to remember the positive in life and truly enjoy the life we perpetuate with our thoughts.

I haven't written in a while. I've been trying to get things in order here, including my exercise program. I've really been trying to walk every day, and my legs, butt and trunk are really feeling it! It really isn't used to this.

And, after doing this for a couple weeks, I thought I'd lost weight. But I steppped on my scale last night, and it looks like I've gained four pounds. Then, this morning, I stepped on it, and I lost ten pounds just since last night. And, of course, the original scale was at the doctor's office, so I really don't know how accurate my numbers are. I'll find out in a couple days when I go back to the doctor on another couple issues.

This will be a challenge. But yesterday they had a series of programs on TLC that showed some very, very large people (some over 700 pounds) and how they appeared and how hard (or not hard) they were trying to lose weight. I also keep remembering how the doctor told me that if I don't start losing weight, I'm going to have to consider gastric bypass surgery--which he really wouldn't recommend to anyone. So, I don't want to be like those people, and I don't want to do surgery, and that means that I need to take this seriously. So, I have started and will know in two days just how things really are.

Until then, I'm going to do some walking....