Living Your Life

A Young Boy’s Healing Message

July 16th, 2012
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Johnny Karlinchak and his neighbor, Elissa Myers
Photo by Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post
When I want to help myself, I do something for someone else.  So does Johnny Karlinchak.
When I’m busy and totally involved in helping someone else, I forget about what is happening to me. I feel as though I am building good karma for myself and that I am part of something much bigger.  Granted, when you are in the throes of grieving, this might not be one of the first thoughts that enters your head, but in trying to feel better about your life, being selfless … Read More

Keep it Simple — John Wooden

July 13th, 2012
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I have no shame.  I look for inspiration any place I can get it.  This time I found it in a sports book. A guy in my office had this book sitting on his desk titled, “Wooden.”  Hmmm, I thought, this name sounds familiar but I couldn’t place it.  I opened the book and started reading about Coach John Wooden and his historic UCLA basketball dynasty winning 10 NCAA championships in 12 years, including 88 straight games. I sortof remember hearing my Dad talk about John Wooden and as I paged through the book I realized this is a guy … Read More

The Electricity of Personal Power

July 9th, 2012
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One of the many trees that uprooted after Washington, DC storms Over the past several weeks, my neighborhood has lost electrical power several times for varying periods of time. Maybe you’ve read about the very sudden and very strong storms that recently have hit the Washington, DC area.  It’s been very scary and frustrating.  We are still recovering from the last storm that hit over a week ago: some people in Bethesda and Rockville, Maryland are still without power and have been without power for over a week.  Pretty unbelievable right? You should read the news stories and tweets about… Read More

Nuns On The Bus

July 5th, 2012
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Nuns on The Bus Independence of thought and action is what we celebrated yesterday on the Fourth of July and in keeping with that theme, I can’t think of a more unique group of Americans who just finished traveling the country expressing their independent thoughts than the “Nuns on the Bus.” In case you missed this campaign that held its final rally yesterday, the Nuns on the Bus are a group of Catholic nuns who started a  two-week, 2,700 mile tour of the United States on June 18 to speak out against the Republican federal budget proposal put forth by… Read More

Happy 4th of July!

July 4th, 2012
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Happy Birthday America! Today we celebrate Freedom, Democracy and Liberty all wrapped up and delivered in the most patriotic manner possible: parades, dressing up in red, white and blue, cookouts and fireworks!  Isn’t that what makes America great? Hopefully, you don’t have to work today and you can relax and enjoy the company of family and friends on this holiday marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence that formally announced the colonies’ break from British rule. Today we also give our heartfelt thanks to our U.S. armed forces and their families who protect and die for our freedoms.  Thank… Read More

YOLO

July 3rd, 2012
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I recently became familiar with the term YOLO.  My son used it in his graduation speech and I had to sheepishly ask him afterwards what it meant.  “Mom, you know, it means ‘You Only Live Once’!” Of course I know the phrase, “You Only Live Once” and have heard it at least a million times, but I don’t think of it as YOLO. It’s hard to stay on top of the latest in lingo especially when it’s constantly changing!!  Everywhere I turn, I either hear or see someone saying YOLO or it’s stamped on T-shirt’s or painted and written as… Read More

Niall Coti-Sears’ Bravery

July 2nd, 2012
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Niall Coti-Sears Courtesy of Fox 5 News As we prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July by setting off fireworks, grilling hot dogs and hamburgers and mixing the traditional summer potato salad, let us pause and quietly remember the bravery of one young man who heroically fought overseas for his country, making it possible for us to celebrate this patriotic holiday. One young man by the name of Niall Coti-Sears. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Sadly, in pursuit of protecting those ideals, Lance Cpl. Niall Coti-Sears, 23, was killed in Helmand province, Afghanistan, two weeks ago while conducting… Read More

My Paper Chase

June 27th, 2012
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I mentioned in yesterday’s post that I’ve started going through a number of boxes of papers that once belonged to my husband. For those of you who have found yourselves responsible for the belongings of a spouse, friend or relative after they died, you know this is not a straightforward process.  Each of these boxes I have decided to examine is potentially an emotional minefield because I don’t know what’s contained in them.  My husband filled them up and now they are waiting for my attention. You might be thinking, “It’s just old papers.  What’s the big deal?”  Since my… Read More

Dr. Seuss

June 26th, 2012
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Today is twenty fours hours that has never happened before and won’t happen again. Think about it.  We all have daily commitments and responsibilities but maybe today is the day to take that first step towards doing something you’ve had on the back burner. As Dr. Suess says, “You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” Is there a project you’ve been meaning to start? A person you need to call?  A diet or exercise change you want to introduce into your life?  A support group you’ve been meaning to attend? Today we face and embrace the thing we’ve been… Read More