Anyone who has served as a caregiver for any length of time knows the challenges, one of the greatest being self-care. When your focus is on someone else, you put off seeing your own needs and attending to them. Don’t be fooled into thinking caregiving applies only to the aging. Mothers, spouses, siblings, and friends, […]
Mining Dreams for Insights
For the last few months, I’ve dreamed colorful dreams and remembering those dreams the next morning. Sometimes, those dreams linger all day and pick up again that night. I’m sure abundant research exists about why we dream and what dreams mean, but here is my take on how dreaming affects me. Dreams Change Perspective We’ve […]
On Waiting Well
I am experiencing a time of waiting—for my foot to heal, for the day I can drive again, for the return of writing inspiration, and waiting bedside with a loved one, who is hovering between earth and eternity. I should be able to wait well. After all, I wrote a book on life pauses […]
Post-Surgery Reflections
Last week, I finally had foot surgery after putting it off for years. Now that I’m on the other side of the surgery, I’m thankful it’s over and wish I’d done it sooner. Following are thoughts on why we delay and the benefits of having a hard thing behind us: Causes for delay: Fear of […]
Responding to a Life Pause
Last week, a dear friend encountered a monumental life pause when she found her husband on the floor, unresponsive. Three days later, she released him to heaven. We all experience times when life takes a sudden twist that slams us into a “road closed” sign and halts forward motion. Although perhaps not as unexpected and […]
Navigating Life Pauses
Several years ago, my husband and I experienced one of those life pauses that materialize when least expected. It came with a second job loss in less than a year in a topsy-turvy economy. The first loss felt like a hiccup. The second was more significant. As weeks lengthened into months with minimal prospects and […]
How to Survive When You’re Juggling Too Many Balls
If you’ve ever watched jugglers, you know they are dealing with more balls than they have hands for, and eye-hand coordination and timing are key to their success. The goal, of course, is to keep the balls in motion without dropping any. Sometimes, life feels a whole lot like a juggling act. Just when you […]
6 Ways to Experience Peace and Fulfillment in the New Year
Ready or not, the new year is here. How do you approach it? Many are happy to put the challenges and heartaches of the old year behind and look forward with expectancy to the journey ahead. Others cast a backward glance, clinging to what is behind, hesitant to step onto the road before them. Following […]
5 Life Lessons from Snow
Our city was hit by a December snow event again this year. Although we usually don’t get snow until January, this was the second year snow arrived early. As I watched the “wintry mix” cascade from the sky and accumulate on the ground, I pondered the effect snow has on our lives, even if just […]