MSI Press Blog

  Grandmothering is an art — part patience, part presence, part knowing when to step in and when to let life unfold. I thought I learned that from experience. Turns out, my cat had been tutoring me for years. Cats are natural grandmas: they move at their own pace, they supervise everything, and they believe deeply in the power of a well‑timed snack. Living with one taught me more about grandmothering than any parenting book ever did. Here are the lessons that stuck: Rituals matter. Cats thrive on the sacredness of routine — the morning greeting, the evening check‑in, the predictable place at the table. Grandchildren do too. Rituals become memory anchors. Patience is a form of love. A cat will sit beside you quietly for as long as it takes. No rush, no pressure. Children feel that same safety when you match their tempo instead of hurrying them along. Gentleness doesn’t mean fragility. Cats are soft, but they are not weak. Grandmas are the same. Strength wrapped in warmth is its...

  Yes, they can, in some ways.  🌱 What 12‑step programs are good at They offer several mechanisms that indirectly but meaningfully support anger regulation: 1. A structure for pausing and reflecting Steps like taking inventory (Step 4), admitting harm (Step 5), and making amends (Steps 8–9) encourage people to slow down, examine patterns, and take responsibility. That reflective rhythm alone can soften reactive anger. 2. A community that normalizes emotional struggle Anger often thrives in isolation. Hearing others talk about resentment, frustration, and shame reduces the sense of being uniquely volatile. That reduces pressure and makes anger feel more workable. 3. A language for resentment 12‑step culture treats resentment as a central emotional hazard. People learn to name it, track it, and understand its consequences. That vocabulary helps people catch anger earlier in its arc. 4. A spiritual or values‑based frame Whether someone interprets “Higher Power” lit...

  Recently,  Learning to Feel  (Girrell), reached #214 on the Amazon bestseller list of psychologist biographies. Book Description:  Learning to Feel, Second Edition,  teaches readers how to gain choice and authority over their emotional states. Feelings and emotions are reactions to the deeply held beliefs and experiences of our lives. In order to become fully emotionally intelligent - that is, to be able to know what is yours, what comes from the others, and how best to respond to those others - we must connect first to those core experiences and often re-interpret the meaning they have held for us.  Learning to Feel  is such a journey, intended to be a set of trail blazes for anyone who wishes to up their game in the realm of emotional intelligence. (Edition 1 was selected for the Independent Press Distinguished Favorite Award and a Literary Titan gold award.) First Edition Book Awards Literary Titan Gold Award Independent Press Award Distinguished ...