John S. Sommer Counseling
  • Home
  • Qualifications
  • Location
  • Photos & Essays
    • Photos
    • Essays >
      • The Entertainment Director
      • Fathers and Daughters
      • Reframing: The Art of Looking Deeper
      • The Incredible Absorbing Man
      • The Little Old Man Stuck in My Head
      • The Lobster Tale
  • Links
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Sound Bites

All persons and situations reflected in these writings are pretty much fictional, based on generalizations over the course of many years of counseling. Any actual events or settings have been changed, including names and other details, to protect client confidentiality.



Popsicle Awakenings

1/19/2016

0 Comments

 
I was 19, and in college in Austin when I joyfully was reunited with Belaire fruit popsicles while shopping. When I was a kid, a box of six popsicles and four children in the Sommer family meant two lucky kids would get two popsicles apiece, while the slower-to-the-freezer kids would get one apiece. As I loaded the treasure popsicles, I realized all six were mine. Six popsicles! Then, a few moments before I was to check out, I was struck with the Popsicle Awakening. I breathlessly left the checkout line, went back to the freezer section and snagged another box of popsicles. Greed? Negative. With an amazing enlightened view of my life, I realized that regardless of my previous life experiences, I was now graced with the ability to make my own decisions. This fantastic revelation has impacted almost everything in my life. Raising children? I (well, really we) can write the book of clever, joyful parenting. This includes clever, not so joyful discipline. I don’t have to follow the former rule of my parents, or with some limitations, even society. It’s my call. Marriage? Same inspiration. Why be like everyone else? Do I want to be a romantic old man? Sip wine, exchange stories, and play new board games? How about as a therapist? Yesterday I plugged in a kid’s phone into my good stereo to sample his taste in music. It was mainly enjoyment with only a touch of suffering. Today a teen and I transplanted an angel leaf begonia, peeled a luffa sponge and had a good conversation along the way. Plus he got the luffa and about 200 seeds. Hey, I’m an adult, and now I get to make the rules. Why mindlessly follow a worn down path when you have the ability to make your own? I love being an adult and writing my own book of life. After all, it all began at nineteen with two delicious boxes of popsicles. Yum.



Subscribe to John S. Sommer Counseling - Blog by Email


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Behavioral
    Hey John Advice
    Other Stuff
    Parenting
    Relationships
    Semi Personal

    Picture

    About the Author

    I did NOT like writing stuff in school. However, now that it's voluntary, I like it. I'm still working on that attitude of mine.....

    Subscribe to John's Blog by email:

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner


    Facebook

    Categories

    All
    Behavioral
    Hey John Advice
    Other Stuff
    Parenting
    Relationships
    Semi Personal


    Archives

    December 2021
    September 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015


    All persons and situations reflected in these writings are pretty much fictional, based on generalizations over the course of many years of counseling. Any actual events or settings have been changed, including names and other details, to protect client confidentiality.

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.