April 21, 2014 What could the Great Fifty Days of Easter, Mother’s Day, and commencement exercises have it common? At first glance, not much. One is a season of the Christian liturgical church year, one is a Hallmark Holiday, and the last one is in some ways an initiation into another developmental phase of life.…

March 25, 2014 Due to the fact that I hang around many faith-based people, and also because the season of Lent has become so popularized, I have heard many comments about what people are giving up for Lent. It has been traditional to fast during Lent, often from a certain food or substance. When I…

January 5, 2014  This story starts on the first Sunday of Advent, which this liturgical year was December 1st, 2013. It was evening, and I was home alone decorating my tree. I felt good, happy, was listening to Handel’s Messiah, had eaten a good dinner and was sipping a glass of wine in between hanging ornaments.…

February 13, 2014 Did you grow up, like I did, hearing The Golden Rule espoused as the litmus test of moral living? Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. This is a universal moral code, found in the scripture of every great religion of the world.  It is a helpful rule,…

On a recent drive to the mountains of NC, my husband and I were talking as NPR played on the radio in the background. I heard a phrase that broke through to my awareness, and I stopped our conversation and turned up the volume.  All joy and no fun, I heard repeated again as my…

For a few weeks this past month I felt like my husband and I just weren’t “in the flow”.  Everything seemed difficult.  We were snappy with each other.  Little things which are usually easy, almost unconscious, seemed difficult.  I didn’t think either one of us was particularly happy to see the other.  Trying to discuss…

Posted by AmySanderMontanez at 3/23/2014 3:29 PM | Add Comment Picture yourself on a continuum.  On the far left is a state of self-contempt.  You do not have an accurate self-image.  You do not believe you are enough: good enough, smart enough, worthy enough, pretty enough, rich enough, whatever enough.  You have trouble knowing what…

Posted by AmySanderMontanez at 2/11/2014 11:46 AM | Add Comment Yes, you read that title correctly.  Embrace the dysfunction. This is one of the best pieces of holiday advice I can give you.  I am not talking about embracing pathological or destructive behavior.  I am talking about embracing normal, universal, our-family-is-nuts and I-can’t-believe-I-have-to-do-the-holidays-again kind of…

Posted by AmySanderMontanez at 11/13/2013 4:55 PM | Add Comment   Forgive me, dear Reader, for the recent lapse in my blog writing.  I have been busy getting my book published, (which it is) and getting it launched (which is happening this very month.  Please visit www.amysandermontanez.com for more information on that)  I just have…

Posted by AmySanderMontanez at 9/3/2013 2:50 PM | Add Comment “Amy, you have to be completely, solidly on your leg.  You cannot depend on Nick to hold you up.” “Nick, you have to communicate to her-let her know that you have her.  She is not going to let go if she’s not sure that you…