Tag: family
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Why Not?

It seems to me, sometimes, that the most important phrase we can hold onto is simply “why not?” It rings true in my life all the time, professionally as well as personally. Now, let me say right off the bat, that “why not” has limits, even for me. There is no “why not” with respect…
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Holding It Close

I have often thought the course of our lives is determined by loss. I know that this recognition of pain and acknowledgement of the impact of grief is a reflection of my own life experiences, far too much loss and far too young. I do believe that we have a choice as to how we…
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Working It Out

No matter who you are or what you do, life hands you challenges on a regular basis. We face situations that we cannot imagine will have a solution. We look at options that all seem laced with despair. We walk around with our stomachs in knots, unable to sleep, thoughts swirling around the problem that…
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What Remains

Despite the fact that I have lived more of my life away from my hometown, home is still home and the ties will forever remain. While we visited family this week, we did what has become a custom, the “cemetery tour,” paying brief respects to our loved ones no longer physically with us. Someone commented…
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Precious Gifts

I would be the first to admit that I have no artistic ability. Oh, I know what I like and I have strong opinions about how I think that things should look but when it comes to creating beautiful objects or art, that is well beyond me. The closest I come to a creative pursuit…
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Moments

I remember, as a child, coming to the realization that a moment would never happen again, that each experience in life was unique and non-repeatable. I am sure that followed the first losses I experienced, of my uncle and then my aunt about six months apart, when I was 10. My father was devastated at…
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You and Me

When my brother was alive, there were more than a few times that I called him and said, with great agitation, “Oh my God, I think I am turning into Dad!” This was no compliment to our father, believe me. It was me seeing Dad’s over-anxious, over-worrying, high strung qualities in both my thoughts and…
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What Defines Us

If you were asked to define yourself in a single paragraph, what would you say? How would you distill the essence of who you are into a few sentences? This paragraph needs to be more than the simple declarative sentences that begin with “I am,” rather it is a look deeper at what made you…
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Another Day

It was my birthday this week, although I admit it might be hard to know which day it was exactly. I like to turn my celebration into the entire month, blowing out as many candles as I possibly can! I feel the same way about family birthdays, why confine them to just one day a…
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In Myself I Trust

We read a lot and talk a lot about self care. We all know that paying attention to our minds, bodies and souls is important. We know about the importance of exercise and good nutrition and sleep. Whether we do it or not, we know about mindfulness and meditation, journaling and gratitude practices. But there’s…
