Thirty Thousand Days - Fall 2013 Vol 18 No. 1 | Page 3

Upcoming Distance Learning
Programs

Gratitude, Grace & a Month
of Self-Reflection
A Distance Learning Program
Nov. 14 – Dec. 13, 2013
Thanksgiving is a holiday that encourages us to pause from
our busy lives, notice our blessings, and celebrate our good
fortune. And every November, for the past 18 years, we
have supported that spirit of Thanksgiving by offering this
experiential self-reflection program.
Take this wonderful opportunity to integrate self-reflection
into your daily life, through exercises, readings, video and
online community discussion. Primarily based on Naikan,
the program also draws on material from Albert Schweitzer,
Ben Franklin, Brother Steindl-Rast and others. The program
requires about 30 minutes per day and can have a profound
impact on your attitude, relationships and experience of
the holidays.
Register by Nov. 7th to receive
$10 early-registration discount

Call 802-453-4440 for more information or register at
www.todoinstitute.org/ldlp_selfreflect.html

15 CEU’s available (additional charge)

Living on Purpose
A Distance Learning Program
Jan. 9 – Feb. 7, 2014
Many of us desire to live a more purposeful life. We want to
use our time well, put our energy towards that which truly
matters to us, and leave a positive legacy that we are proud of.
But life is complicated, demanding and busy, and our purpose can get lost and buried. This program helps you zero
in on your true priorities, and to begin devoting time and
energy to those purposes. You’ll learn how to stay on track,
rather than getting derailed by countless distractions,
opportunities and challenges you may encounter.
This is a course about direction – finding direction, setting
direction, and staying on course. It’s a great way to start
the new year!
http://www.todoinstitute.org/ldlp_purpose.html
Both programs are facilitated by Gregg Krech, Director of the
ToDo Institute and author of the award-winning book,
Naikan: Gratitude, Grace & the Japanese Art of Self Reflection.
Cost: $78 for ToDo members ($93 for non-members)
Each program provides 16 credits toward ToDo Institute’s
Certification program.

Programs to change your life, not just your mind

Thirty Thousand Days

My Religion is Love
b y L i nd a Ander s on K re c h

S

ix years ago Viv Monahan learned that she had a
faulty valve in her heart, a genetic condition that
would someday require replacement surgery.
This past summer her cardiologist told her that someday
had arrived. Within the week a surgery date was set for
September 19th. All of her immediate plans, projects
and goals would need to be pushed aside to make room
for open heart surgery and six weeks of recovery. And
so began Viv’s medical adventure. It’s an inspiring story,
woven through with richness, humor, gratitude, wisdom
and love. It’s a story about facing adversity with grace
and finding strength within it.
Preparing for major surgery is a process unto itself,
both psychologically and physically . . . and one that Viv
became very experienced with. During the pre-op testing it
was discovered that Viv’s carotid artery was 90% blocked,
which had to be addressed before heart surgery could be
done. So carotid surgery was done on August 26th and
heart valve surgery was moved to August 29th. But the day
before, two emergency heart patients were moved into her
slot, and her own surgery was rescheduled for September
12th. On the morning of the 12th, Viv was settled on the
gurney in pre-op, with an IV in her arm, when she learned
that the air ducts in the operating room had malfunctioned
and all cardiac patients were being sent home. Her third
surgery date was September 23rd.
That morning Viv and her family arrived bright and
early at the hospital, once again. “There I was at 6:30 am in the
pre-op room, in my cute little striped hospital gown with matching
robe and jolly green skid-free socks, with an IV setup snugly dug
into the vein of my right arm, my husband and daughter hanging
out with me, all of us a bit sentimental.” And then it came — a
code-red emergency from another of the surgeon’s patients.
This time they waited in the pre-op room for seven hours,
keeping each other entertained, saying their goodbyes,
waiting for the process to move forward, only to learn that
they would all be returning back home together once again,
as they had three previous times. The fifth and final surgery
date was scheduled for two days later.
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