Caring For Yourself

You Can’t Sit Back & Wait

December 16th, 2013
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Did you ever complain about something you thought was going to be a great experience but then it turned out to be terribly disappointing? If you happened to complain to my mother about such a thing, then she would probably tell you that you have no one to blame but yourself because everyone knows that you have to emotionally invest to get a joyous return.  Or put another way, you get out of it what you put into it. Which is also another way of saying that you can’t sit on your butt and wait for stuff to come to… Read More

The Quiet Gift

December 11th, 2013
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“Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention […] a loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than most well-intentioned words.”             ~ Rachel Naomi Remen… Read More

Davina’s Holiday Help

December 10th, 2013
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Hershey’s chocolate kisses.  Creamy party dips.  Fried finger foods. Temptation seems to be everywhere during the holidays, especially food that is unhealthy yet oh-so- delicious.  And precisely because it’s the holidays, I always start out with good intentions but then end up giving myself permission to eat those sweet, creamy and fatty foods, don’t you?                             Basically, I need all the help I can get to keep my willpower strong while hanging out during the holidays.  Trust me when I tell you that I will find my… Read More

I’m In Today

December 4th, 2013
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A friend from a support group sent me a wonderful short poem (which I am sharing below) reminding me about the priority of today. On one level, I suppose you could say it’s about managing your time but on another level, I think it’s about figuring out what’s important to you and staying focused on the things you want to pursue or accomplish and the people in your life that you really want to hang out with. That can be a tall order when you have lots of responsibilities from daily life vying for your attention but I find that… Read More

Kris Carr’s Golden Ticket

November 19th, 2013
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I recently wrote about some of the good things I learned about surviving a personal trauma in the ten years after my husband’s death (No Lifeguard On Duty http://crylaughheal.com/no-lifeguard-on-duty/).  After that post was published, many people told me they found it helpful to know how things feel ten years after a loss. No matter how crazy and afraid you feel after a loss, it’s essential to keep trying to find the support you need until you discover a different way to live.  Even though change is the last thing you want to do, change is possible.  It feels as though… Read More

With A Little Help From My Friends

November 7th, 2013
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Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends, Mmm, gonna try with a little help from my friends. . .                                         ~ The Beatles Whether it’s alcoholism, gambling, overeating, drug addiction or grief, I believe that others who are traveling the same unpredictable path as ourselves can often offer the greatest amount of inspiration. It may seem slow and incredibly painful but I found that when you sit and share your story with others facing the same issues, there is a sense of relief that you have finally found people who understand the depth of what you are… Read More

Changing It Up

November 4th, 2013
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It is never too late to make changes in your life. You can be 22, 42, 62 or even 92 and suddenly decide it’s time for a change.  But you have to want it.  You can’t do it just because others want you to.  You need to make changes and take care of yourself for yourself. I was thinking about this because a wonderful friend of mine was discharged from the hospital this past Saturday after having her gall bladder removed on Friday.  It all happened very quickly and it was scary for a short time because we weren’t sure… Read More

Talking on All Souls Day

November 2nd, 2013
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Just because someone isn’t with you doesn’t mean you can’t talk to them…….right? People have imaginary conversations all the time.  In the shower.  While shaving or putting on your make-up.  In the kitchen.  Taking a walk.  Jogging. It’s not weird.  At least, I don’t think it’s weird.  I think of it as collecting or organizing your thoughts to make sure you explain yourself exactly the way you want.  Or sometimes it’s venting your emotions to the only person who might really get what you’re feeling. So what if the person is no longer here on Earth? It doesn’t matter to… Read More