Fifth Session

Tonight we talked about hidden rules some more and asked the investigators to share examples they have experienced themselves or observed in others.  One of the women said there should be a reality show about people in poverty and wealthy people switching lives/circumstances for a while to see how they would spend their money and handle their situation.  Of course it's not realistic for such a scenario to occur, but what an interesting idea.  Who could survive longer?  I think the wealthy people put in a poverty situation would freak out!  I know I would... it would be a total shock and I would feel lost, but I suspect that I would eventually figure a few things out.  After all, people in poverty are problem-solvers.  


The most talkative member of the group wasn't able to attend this session, as he had a prior obligation.  We weren't notified ahead of time, to my knowledge, but he showed up on time to let us know that he had to be somewhere else.  Honestly it felt like we got a lot more accomplished in his absence.  Pam and I are trying really hard to stay on track.  Graduation is in December!


One of the investigators had an aha! moment when she moved from the concrete to the abstract when we were discussing patterns.  Her first understanding of a pattern was a quilt or dress pattern.  After a few moments of contemplation, she said "or maybe it could be like a mental pattern."  I pointed out to her that her thinking had shifted from the concrete to the abstract and she was amazed at herself.  It was a great moment.


I have a lot of hope for the investigator who has a management position at McDonald's.  She's currently reading the book of the founder of the company and she plans to stick with it and move up.  She has been very helpful to other members of the group by bringing clothes for some of the other women.


We also proposed that the graduation dinner be held at Outback and the group loved the idea and were so excited about it!  One of the women pretty much already placed her order for steak and shrimp.  They deserve a great reward for the work they're doing.