One of the advantages of having grandchildren is the joy of looking at the world from their perspective. I did this to some extent with my children, but grandchildren put a whole new spin on a child-eye viewpoint. What we learn through the eyes of little ones, enhances forward motion. Following are some of the […]
The Joy of Christmas
What brings you joy at Christmas? Is it time with family, baking, singing, volunteering your time and talents? Christmas is a time for celebration, rejoicing, and counting blessings, but it’s also a time to brighten the lives of others, and give as your heart prompts. Here are a few of my favorite things at Christmas: […]
Grief at Christmas
Will this be a difficult Christmas for you? Amid all the activities and festivities, is your heart breaking as you miss the presence of a loved one? Loss comes in many different forms and the associated grief manifests differently for each of us. Your grief may be new or surface afresh after many years. I […]
7 Keys to Successful Relationships
My parents have been on my mind this week. If they were still living, they would have celebrated their 74th anniversary March 1. They had the kind of relationship most of us aspire to. Their genuine love and affection for each other were obvious in words and actions. Their relationship was laced with humor and […]
Is Your Life Puzzle Missing a Piece?
Several friends enjoy working jigsaw puzzles. Often, they post pictures of their completed puzzles on social media and mention if the puzzle had an extra piece or a missing piece. When a piece is missing, the satisfaction of completing the puzzle is diminished. Our lives are as intricate and multifaceted as a multi-colored, many-pieced jigsaw […]
Living Life on the Edge of Uncertainty
For the second week in a row, I spent the day in the ER with my husband. His health has been a rollercoaster ride since November and has left us feeling as if we are constantly on the edge of the next emergent situation. We would happily give up our ER frequent flier designation. Much […]
Finding Balance in Life’s Hard Things
Have you noticed that when you face difficult situations they seem to come in multiples? We hardly ever get to do one hard thing at a time. Often, challenges stack atop each other, demanding immediate attention and vying for priority. Following are ways to find balance in life’s hard things: Learn Multi-Level Thinking I was […]
Handling Holiday Grief
The holidays bring joyous festivities, hustle and bustle, and time with family, but for many, grief is also present. Some grieve the loss of loved ones. Others experience the nostalgia of childhood holiday memories or gatherings that no longer happen. Still others grieve ongoing relationship challenges or difficult memories of unpleasant holidays past. This year, […]
6 Keys to Maintaining Joy in the New Year
I remember one Christmas Day, when our children were small, our daughter stood in a sea of ripped wrapping paper, lifted some of the larger pieces, and exclaimed, “Is that all”? We had been to multiple family celebrations over the course of several days. Each included a time of opening presents. Now, after much gift-opening, […]