Posts By: Mary Kate Cranston

An Irish Memory

Posted by & filed under Living Your Life, Working Through Grief.

In the spare words of poetry, I find simple elegance and peace. Poetry helps to bring me back to my center.  To take a deep breath.  To slow down and find my direction. If you are not familiar with William Butler Yeats, he was a distinguished Irish poet who was awarded the Nobel Prize in… Read more »

The Art of Resilience

Posted by & filed under Caring For Yourself, Living Your Life.

Being Proactive Can Strengthen Your Resilience The subject of resilience totally fascinates me. Resilience is being able to bounce back after being tossed around by life.  Trying to figure out why one person bounces back from a life trauma and another person breaks from the pain tells us something about the human condition don’t you think?… Read more »

FullSet — A Hot Irish Band

Posted by & filed under Having Fun.

I just discovered the infectious and energetic sounds of an Irish band called FullSet, recently named “New Group of the Year” for 2012 by the Live Ireland Music Awards. Just listening to their music makes me feel better! Music definitely has healing powers and therapists have found that music’s curative powers can alleviate pain and… Read more »

Top 10 Reasons To Be & (Not To Be) Pope

Posted by & filed under Having Fun.

Cardinals Gather In Sistine Chapel to Vote On A New Pope Black Smoke.  White Smoke. Cardinals.  Conclave. It’s all part of the Vatican lingo surrounding the pagentry and tradition of electing a new pope to shepherd the millions of Catholics around the globe. Behind the closed doors of the infamous Sistine Chapel in Rome, Italy, 115 … Read more »

Here Comes The Sun

Posted by & filed under Living Your Life.

Sunrise By the Washington Monument Here comes the sun (doo doo doo doo) Here comes the sun, and I say It’s all right Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here Here comes the sun Here comes the sun, and I say It’s all… Read more »

Be Careful Out There

Posted by & filed under Caring For Yourself.

On Saturday, I went to visit my parents who are in their eighties and my brother who has Down’s Syndrome. It was a beautiful day, full of sunshine and hints of the coming of Spring.  We had a delicious lunch at a local Irish pub and some good solid conversation and then it was time for… Read more »

28 Cats

Posted by & filed under Having Fun.

Okay.  I admit it.  I have a totally silly side: ridiculous pictures of cats and dogs crack me up. This post may seem random to you but it’s not.  It’s humor therapy!  Smiles and laughter can help us heal.  Scientists report that laughter changes our brain chemistry and boosts our immune system. We have to be able to… Read more »