Intimacies Group — Bodily Attraction, Apr 16
Join The Good Life columnist Karen Kreps and special guest, Lee Khoury, for a conversation about body image. How you relate to food reflects how you relate to others. Lee is a licensed counselor and marriage therapist who specializes in treating eating disorders. Meet Wednesday, April 16, 2007, 7 pm-8:30 pm on the third floor of Book People, 603 N. Lamar. Audience members will be encouraged to share their personal experiences. No charge, just bring your sense of humor and an open mind.
This event is co-sponsored by The Good Life magazine and Book People.
Intimacies Group — Satisfying the Libido
Join Good Life columnist Karen Kreps and special guest, Michael Johnson, PhD, for a conversation about how to avoid mistaking sexual intensity for intimacy. Michael counsels individuals and couples on relationship issues and leads workshops on sexual addition.
Meet Wednesday, March 19, 2007, 7 pm-8:30 pm on the third floor of Book People, 603 N. Lamar. Audience members will be encouraged to share their personal experiences. No charge, just bring your sense of humor and an open mind.
To join the email announcement list of this group, send email to p2paustin-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
This event is co-sponsored by The Good Life magazine and Book People.
Ghosts in your love life
Ever sense there is an unseen entity interfering with your current love life? Sometimes the memory (conscious or not so) of a past flame interferes with our being fully present and engaged in new romance. Shadow sex can take many disguises. Perhaps you were madly in love in your younger days and your current partner dims in the after glow of a long-ago relationship. Perhaps you had a negative experience (physical or verbal abuse from a past lover or even a parent) that damaged your self esteem in ways from which you never fully recovered. Or are you holding out for the perfect someone you envision yourself with and so you never fully open to the foible-filled mate who is just waiting for you to love ‘em “as is”? Every minute you spend focusing (with longing or loathing) on your ex is a minute that’s holding you back from a better future. Just because someone in your past let you down doesn’t mean that history is bound to repeat itself–unless your expectation for repeated failure is so strong that you set yourself up for it. Don’t blame the man or woman in your life today for what someone else failed to do or say. Be here now, as Ram Das taught. It’s easier said than done, but it IS do-able.
On February 20, Robin Shepperd, Doctor of Chiropractic, will be my special guest at the Intimacies Discussion Group, which meets at BookPeople. We’ll be talking about clearing such entities from our hearts and minds and being more open to a current or future love.
Robin says she helps people to clear “stuckness” around whatever is not working in one’s life. For instance, you really want a romantic relationship, but it is not happening. Together with you, she locates and removes what is preventing your having that knock-your-socks-off relationship, such as past life commitments to another and fear of being hurt again.
Please join us at BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar in Austin, TX, 7 pm – 8:30 pm. If you can’t make the date, please post your comments and questions here. You’ll get answers.
Feb 7, 6:30-9:30 Remarkable Taboo Night
The Remarkable Women’s Conference is sponsoring an “connectworking” event, Thursday, February 7 from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm, at Resource Connection, 321 W. Ben White Blvd., Ste. 203. The event is a preview of the big conference in May and will be focused on passionate love of self and others. Karen Kreps, author of Intimacies: Secrets of Love, Sex & Romance and columnist for The Good Life maazine, will be joined by Robin Shepperd (PassionateWoman.net) and Gayle Michaels (IntimateWisdom.com) in leading an evening of networking and “naughty” games. Chocolate snacks and wine will be served. $5 in advance; $10 at the door. Call 512-448-2266.
Feb 20, Clearing the way for love
Robin Heart Shepperd, D.C. will be my special guest at the next meeting of the Intimacies Discussion Group at BookPeople. We’ll have a conversation about letting go of past negative experiences and being fully present for a positive current or future relationship. Robin, founder of Passionate Woman, clears men and women of emotional blocks to allow love in.
Feb 15, 2008, Book Reading, Westbank Library
Karen Kreps, author of the book, Intimacies: Secrets of Love, Sex & Romance, and columnist for The Good Life magazine will share her experiences writing about personal relationships. She’ll read excerpts from her book and encourage discussion. Karen has a relaxed way of discussing adult topics in a PG (Parent Guidance suggested) manner. 11:30 am-12:30 pm; Westbank Library, Westbank Libarary, 1309 Westbank Drive, Austin, TX Free.
Feb 10, 10:30 am Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Program
Matters of the Heart
Karen Kreps, columnist for The Good Life magazine and author of the book, Intimacies: Secrets of Love, Sex & Romance, will talk about the value of prioritizing your personal love life in order to find and sustain a fulfilling romantic relationship. She’ll share her experiences writing the “Intimacies” column, read excerpts from her book and encourage questions, comments and personal annecdotes from the congregation. Karen has a relaxed way of discussing adult topics in a PG (Parent Guidance suggested) manner.
About Karen Kreps
For six years, minds have been opened by Karen’s insights about love and lovers shared in monthly columns for The Good Life magazine and public groups she organizes to discuss these personal topics. Karen wrote the bestselling 60-Day Diet Diary (Dell, 1982), and her work has been published by national magazines, newspapers and online services. Karen earned a Master of Arts degree in Cinema Studies from New York University and works as an independent website content developer. She is a certified Yoga teacher (RYT/500) and has been on the spiritual path for four decades. She’s been married fifteen years to Arye Shapiro, the sculptor whose art illustrates her new book, Intimacies: Secrets of Love, Sex & Romance. Learn more at www.TrueIntimacies.com.
My Favorite Quote: Article 1
I got this note from a man who bought the book yesterday:
I like Karen’s writing style. Its to the point, not overly complicated, and its inspirational in the face of cynicism. For example, take article 1, “Love will cool if cupid’s arrow finds the mark but once a year.”
My favorite passage (p.21): “If you as a couple, don’t make time or mental space for expressions of love, you may become less able to express yourselves with each other in general. …Romantic rituals remind us of the private, soft connection we have with someone. If being romantic doesn’t come naturally, practice a little. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is and how much fun. Send a message that you find your mate special and worth spoiling. …But it is important for you to do something special sometime, and frequently.”
My biggest discovery was finding out that my mate didn’t perceive romance when I thought I was being romantic! I thought it was the hugs and money. Later, I found out it was when I cheerfully and quickly did what she asked of me (usually a repair or a household chore.) I found this out in an exercise where each of us listed 10 ways we tried to show love to the other and 10 ways we wanted to have love shown to us. Only in a few items was there agreement. The unmatched items were new opportunities for conversations about desire and gratitude and not being taken for granted.
As you read Karen’s book, I hope you’ll join me in sharing your favorite quote or passage.
Touching someone, and talking about it
On Wednesday, January 23, at BookPeople in Austin, Tx, my special guest at the Intimacies Discussion Group will be Winona Carr an Intimacy consultant certified by the Institute of Intimate Wisdom, who has practiced massage therapy and therapeutic touch for a decade. We’ll be having a candid discussion about how to be comfortable while touching and being touched by another person. What would you like to ask Winona? Post it here.
Sat, Feb 9, 2008 Barnes & Nobel, Sunset Valley
Karen will be signing books at the Barnes & Nobel store in Sunset Valley. Find her at a table near the entrance to the store and please stop by to say hello.
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Karen Kreps
Author of Intimacies: Secrets of Love, Sex & Romance.