Ms. Harriet Rossetto, the CEO and Founder of Beit T’Shuvah, has announced that she will be releasing her much-anticipated book, Sacred Housekeeping A Spiritual Memoir in early 2013.
Below you will find an excerpt from the chapter The Fair is in Pomona in which Harriet directly addresses the residents of Beit T’Shuvah.
“My qualification to be your life teacher is I have been where you are. I’ve seen it all. I know your torment, your war against yourself. I have battle-‐hardened experience and I still struggle every day. And I have learned how to live an integrated life. You will too.
You are sure that whatever you’re addicted to is the only thing that will relieve the misery of your emptiness, the hole that aches. Without (fill in your own blanks) drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex, food, money, power and prestige… there is no reason to get up in the morning.
You will see eventually that the agenda is to hand you back your life and teach you how to be You, the authentic you, to stop comparing yourself to others and judging your worth comparatively and conditionally. I can help you find the ammunition to tame your self-‐defeating demons, your ‘What’s the point?’ ‘Why bother?’ ‘Fuck it!’ voice that “crouches at your door.”
I don’t give a shit about your tattoos, piercings, hairstyles, costumes or kashrut. They are only props you used when your spirit was subdued. You don’t yet understand that rebellion is not freedom: you have merely conformed to different masters. We will bombard you with alternative highs and rushes-‐-‐ surfing, singing, drama, art, writing, cooking, joining the choir or band. You might run the marathon or play golf or do yoga. We will teach you how to have fun in sobriety – dancing, sports, concerts. We will allow you to have relationships and will be there every step of the way, so you can learn how to draw on the power of love to better regulate your own reactions and emotions. You will learn patience, acceptance and tolerance in relationship with one another.
Connection to this community will become a stronger connection than connection to your dope dealer. And ultimately we help you frame your life by connection to a Higher and Eternal truth that governs your choices and provides a road map for the journey. And then back to the things and people who are important to you.”
-Harriet Rossetto
Sacred Housekeeping, A Spiritual Memoir
