Marriage Support

Let's meet up at Starbucks at Northpoint Shopping Center. Sometimes the best thing is to have someone to listen to. Let's dish it all out and just be humans for a minute.

This is an amazing support group and charity advocating for ostomates. I have learned a great deal from this group over the years. I wish I had known of them and connected before my surgery as well. Primary info hub: https://www.marylandostomy.org Email: [info@MarylandOstomy.org](mailto:info@marylandostomy.org) * Hybrid in-person and Zoom meeting. * Second Monday at noon every month except May and August. * Ignore any Meetup attendee limits - that's a Meetup account restriction, not an MMOA attendance limit. If Meetup says we are "full", feel free to email us or just show up. * Don't worry if Meetup doesn't show many attendees either. We usually have a dozen in person and more on Zoom with none actually using Meetup. We are experimenting with Meetup for community outreach. You won't be alone (<: **Typical Agenda** * Check-in * Welcome & new attendee introductions * Announcements * Featured speaker, if we have one * Medical experts, ostomy product updates, others * General discussion with members, nurses, guests, MMOA board * Occasional special focus topics * With enough present can split into Ostomy category subgroups * Most often open discussion with topics raised by attendees **Virtual info** See our website https://www.marylandostomy.org/copy-of-events for Zoom connection information. **In-person info** Bottom floor of hospital in meeting rooms toward the right after check-in. They will want your ID - just tell them that you are attending a meeting. Paid parking in hospital garage, free weekend parking in neighborhood a block towards Georgia Ave (not on street adjacent to hospital). Or park at Forest Glen Metro, also free on weekends, and walk 1/2 mile.

Hey everyone, we have all been snowed in and could all benefit with some socialization. Come on out to Barnes and Nobles Potomac Yards and sit in the cafe and meet some locals. I will get there early and be wearing my crocheted Thanksgiving Turkey hat. Come on out and make a new friend. Socializing is healthy and there is no better time to make a friend then now. Hope to see you there

**Join us in Falls Church for conversations that go beyond small talk.** Higher Grounds – Falls Church is where this growing network of gatherings began: a space for thoughtful, authentic dialogue about what matters most. Whether we’re exploring the nature of happiness, the challenges and possibilities of midlife, spirituality, culture, capitalism, parenting, or the role of art and travel in a meaningful life, every conversation is shaped by the people in the room. There’s no set leader or rigid agenda—just a shared commitment to listen as much as we speak. We start with brief introductions focused on what makes you *you* (not your LinkedIn bio), then dive straight into whatever is on people’s minds. The direction of each meetup emerges organically, making every event unique. MANDATORY: PLEASE REVIEW OUR COMMUNITY GUIDELINES IN THE GROUP DESCRIPTION. Everyone is expected to engage in respectful conversations and listen deeply as well as share. We have a zero tolerance policy of sexual harassment and hate speech. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others in Falls Church who are also seeking deeper conversations. **Suggested Questions: Life Stages & Transitions** 1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging? 2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists? 3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about? **Suggested Questions: Identity After the Roles** 1. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you? 2. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed? 3. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted? **Suggested Questions: AI & Being Human** 1. What human experiences will AI never truly understand? 2. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do? 3. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated? **Suggested Questions: Belief & Meaning** 1. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space? 2. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live? 3. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self? **Suggested Questions: The Modern Psyche** 1. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have? 2. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire? 3. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept? **Suggested Questions: Work & Purpose** 1. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you? 2. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors? 3. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years? **Suggested Questions: Relationships & Connection** 1. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why? 2. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best? 3. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others? **Suggested Questions: Time & Mortality** 1. What are you running out of time to say or do? 2. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite? 3. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail? **Suggested Questions: Society & Culture** 1. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense? 2. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing? 3. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years? **Suggested Questions: Personal Philosophy** 1. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way? 2. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out 3. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

Get together to watch the Super Bowl! Or more importantly - Green Day, Brandi Carlisle, and Bad Bunny! The game kicks off at 6:30pm. We'll be there by 6pm to see the opening act. The hosts will stay through at least half time. :) See you there!

Do you love Indian food but aren't sure how to begin making it yourself? Or do you need a refresher in Indian cooking ingredients and techniques? Then be sure to join the Mystic Kitchen's "Indian Cuisine 101" class to unravel the mysteries of Indian cooking. We'll start with a tutorial to guide you through five essential ingredients sure to put new spice into your life. Next we'll master a classic Indian meal through step-by-step instructions for making chicken tikka massala, aromatic basmati rice, and saag paneer and a hearty chickpea/lentil dish. The class includes all the recipes and instruction you will need to create your own Indian feast at home.

Is it possible to grow spiritually in isolation? It’s quite natural to think about our personal spiritual growth and development in terms of improving our own life, but how does that relate to the real world around us? What if our own personal growth is closely connected to the growth and progress of others? And what if turning our gaze beyond just ourselves to also focus on the progress of others and of our communities not only helps make the world a better place but is actually what helps us grow? Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the underlying truths that unite us all – as we discuss the spiritual perspectives offered by the Bahá’í Teachings on how practicing selflessness and incorporating service to others can actually further our own growth. Join us for a lively discussion as we explore the ways in which self-development is connected with that of those around us. *"Whosoever has lost himself has found the universe and the inhabitants thereof. Whosoever is occupied with himself is wandering in the desert of heedlessness and regret. The "master-key" to self-mastery is self-forgetting."* – Bahá'í Teachings \*\*\* This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.

**A Family Constellations workshop addressing individual inquiries, healing inherited traumas, and accessing inherited resources.** The Family Constellations approach offers an opportunity to witness and experience how previous generations can influence our lives today. It also provides pathways to untangle from these negative impacts, allowing us to live our own lives more fully. You can participate as a focus client to address a specific issue, or as a representative and observer, to hold the space and support the client's constellation process. Family Constellations are a good option if you: * Find yourself encountering a blind spot in something you would like to change. * Have not seen significant progress despite analytical efforts to address issues. * Experience recurring relationship (or other kind of\*) challenges and seek their root cause. * Feel stuck in repetitive patterns. * Feel disconnected from others, etc. **MUST register online** General Participant-$40 Focus Client-$195 Learn more and sign up here!: https://www.tealcenter.com/classes-and-events/

Join us to discuss Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. We will be meeting in the food court, look for the table top sign with our group name. The book discussion will begin promptly at 3. If you’d like to purchase food/beverage, please plan on arriving early to do so.

Please Join Us For The Winter Session Of Family-to-Family Winter session of F2F dates are Feb 12 – Apr 3 [https://namifranklincounty.org/family-to-family/](https://namifranklincounty.org/family-to-family/).

Join us for a vibrant gathering that honors the heart and hustle of local entrepreneurs. It Takes a Village is more than an event it’s a movement to uplift and spotlight small business owners who pour passion into their craft and creativity into our community. From authors and bakers to jewelry makers, t-shirt designers, candle crafters, and beyond. This is your chance to meet the makers, support their work and celebrate the spirit of collaboration. **_Expect_** * Local vendors showcasing handmade goods * Live demos and storytelling from featured creators * Food, music, and community vibes * Opportunities to shop, connect and be inspired * Celebrate the power of small businesses and we all rise

Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow electronics makers for a night of creativity and collaboration! This session is open forum to share your current projects—whether complete or in progress, it’s all interesting! Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, exploring new ideas, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired. This session will be at the Karl Road Library in Conference Room 1

Bring your business cards and network in person with other business professionals! Gold Star Referral Clubs is one of the most established professional networking organizations in the country, with multiple groups in central Ohio. Join us!