Yearly Archives:: 2013

Preventing Burnout

July 3rd, 2013
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Holidays are the best!  They always seem to arrive at the right time, just when we need a break from our daily routines.  Just when we need time out to relax and recharge.
Holidays help us take a break, both mentally and physically, from the responsibilities we carry out every day. I intend to sleep in, exercise more, hang out with friends, and read.  I do all of these things on a regular basis but holidays allow me to do them for longer, uninterrupted periods of time.  And I can do them spontaneously which adds to the fun.
Holidays also … Read More

Monkey Bars

July 2nd, 2013
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Yesterday I wrote about one small aspect of holding on to a deceased loved one’s material things for a long time.  It’s a rather large emotional minefield of an issue but if you ride along with me for a bit more today maybe we can make some progress together and get on with it. Let’s be real:  nobody wants to hurt and nobody wants to feel pain.  It’s in our DNA to try and protect ourselves and so we naturally want to run away from pain and suffering; even sometimes to deny its existence.  I think this is one of… Read More

Tossing Emotional Baggage

July 1st, 2013
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A spilled box of cereal this weekend took me through an unexpected, yet healthy exercise. While trying to do too many things at the same time in the kitchen, I spilled a box of cereal inside one of my kitchen cabinets.  Don’t you hate it when that happens? It was such a klutzy move and right away I was annoyed with myself.  I looked at the shelf with the cereal spilled everywhere inside the cabinet and knew I was going to have to take everything out and vacuum the shelf.  Damn! What a pain! I knew the sooner I started… Read More

Parents Are Human Too

June 28th, 2013
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While celebrating my son’s birthday recently, he asked me once again what it was like the day he was born. I think every child likes to reminisce about the day of their birth and what everyone was doing as they were arriving into the world.  His questions about how long I was in labor, what was happening in the hospital and what Daddy was doing were expected. But that conversation evolved into a bittersweet conversation about his Dad and some of the frustrating health issues he had before his death.  His Dad (my husband) was diabetic and injected insulin.  He… Read More

Road Trip — Traveling Alone

June 27th, 2013
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I was chatting with one of my friends recently and catching up with the happenings in her life.  We hadn’t spoken for a few months so there was a lot to talk about.  Her husband died about three years ago and she was telling me about the adjustments and bumps in the road that her new life was presenting for her. One big issue was vacation. Sounds great, right?  Easy, right? Just do it, right? Welllllll, it’s not as easy as it sounds if you are still getting used to the idea that you are doing things by yourself.  She… Read More

A Dancing Spirit

June 26th, 2013
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In a former life, many many years ago, my life’s ambition was to be a dancer. I just loved it and could think of doing nothing else.  So much so that I would take my younger sister and go to the record department in our local five and ten and dance in front of anyone who was there no matter what music was playing.  Hours and hours were spent studying ballet, modern dance, character dancing and just dancing for fun! I attended the Boston Conservatory for a short period of time before I had to drop out to have two… Read More

Special Birthday Wishes

June 25th, 2013
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Twenty three years ago today, my magical son was born! From the bottom of my heart I couldn’t love you more!!  You are a joy and a wonder and watching you grow into a young man is and always will be exciting. I know this past year has been a challenge for you but you have never been one to run away from difficult situations and I know that this coming year holds some good, solid, life-changing news for you!!  I don’t know what the good news will be, but I sense it will be delivered to you this year… Read More

KissyFace

June 21st, 2013
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The picture posted on the Facebook page shows a CD leaning against a car dashboard with the following handwritten message written with a Sharpie:  “To KissyFace – From Your Number #1 Fan.” On a different Facebook page, a male friend enthusiastically writes about a recent Washington Nationals baseball game, what the score was and the important plays of the game.  He then ends his post by saying how much he misses his friend.  On the same page, a different friend posts a story that was in that day’s newspaper and says, “I know you would like this story.  It’s your… Read More

Over You — Miranda Lambert

June 20th, 2013
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Miranda Lambert We like to think that the people we love will remain with us forever. No one wants to think of a time or be faced with a time when a loved one gets sick, is in an accident or worse and will no longer be here. But unfortunately, sadly and even tragically, life does not work the way we want, as hard as we always try to will it to work our way. The reason why I am drawn to the haunting song, “Over You,” sung here by award-winning country music singer Miranda Lambert, who also co-wrote this… Read More