My Sparkly Brain

November 6th, 2015
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sparkles

 

Hey there my Resilient Friends!

Any project that the multi-talented Amy Poehler gets involved in always catches my interest.

Besides being hysterically funny, she is an authentically original entertainer who isn’t afraid to go against popular trends; especially the trend of superficiality that young girls can sometimes fall into.  I love her dedication to helping and healing young people by encouraging them to “change the world by being yourself.”

Getting involved in your community is one way of giving back, and Poehler says, volunteering for that kind of activism also helps young people get comfortable with their true selves … Read More

Angry Grief Is Not Pretty

May 28th, 2014
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Angry grief is not pretty; especially the white hot, messy anger that Richard Martinez is feeling. Uncomfortable as it is to watch, everything Martinez is feeling is normal and human.  He is expressing the rage and the sorrow he feels right now at the tragic loss 0f his son.  We aren’t used to watching someone freely express their unfiltered, raw anger about the loss of a loved one.  Our culture sends us the message that it’s better to keep a lid on it.  Don’t emote all over the place. Yet Martinez has experienced a shock, a deep loss that is… Read More

A Listening Binge

February 12th, 2014
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For the past several weeks, I have been on a listening binge and it feels healing. There are a number of family members and friends who are going through various kinds of difficult personal situations and, in trying to be helpful, I have been listening to what they tell me they want to talk about, in particular what it feels like to be in their crisis, what they really wish they could do to solve it and how frustrating it is to have the situation go on and on. Listening may seem as though it is a passive activity but… Read More

The 64 Untalked About Ways of Grief

October 10th, 2013
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People love to read lists.  I’m not sure why, but it could be because all of the best ideas relating to a particular subject are organized in one place.  Or maybe it’s because people want to see if what they guessed would be on the list is actually on the list. I think that sometimes lists are over used but not in this case. Today’s list comes from a wonderful website I recently discovered called What’s Your Grief? (www.whatsyourgrief.com) and I bet you a million dollars that you probably have never read a list like this one. Titled “64 Things… Read More

Sentimental Christmas Stockings

December 13th, 2012
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Stockings Belonging to Daddy, Mommy & R ” . . . And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care;  In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. . .”From “Twas The Night Before Christmas” By Clement Clarke Moore These  are our sentimental Christmas stockings, hung on our fireplace every year, in hopes that Santa Claus will think we have been good and fill them with lots of treats. I know they are a bit on the tacky side but they represent a lot of good feelings and great memories. They don’t match each other or the living… Read More

Peace Is The Way

October 23rd, 2012
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PEACE IS THE WAY By Alan Nordstrom “There is no way to peace; peace is the way,” Wise Gandhi said, by which I think he meant We have to be that which we seek, and play The role we would become with clear intent. For as I think and act so shall I be, And so the world around me shall become: If violently, then war shall vanquish me; If lovingly, then peace shall still the drum. It’s in our hands and hearts and minds to choose The manner we live by, day after day: Shall it be marching boots… Read More

I’m Listening

June 13th, 2012
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I have found that when you are talking to children of any age about almost any subject, you should be prepared to hear things that can be so truthful, so honest that it can take your breath away.  Now, I’m not saying that’s a bad thing.  I think it’s wonderful but you have to prepared yourself for the possibility that the unpolished truth could pop out at any moment. That’s the beauty and wonder of children: there usually is no filter on their wise thoughts. In my many talks with my son about his father’s death, I tried to keep… Read More

The Anger of Losing Someone

March 27th, 2012
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Anger is a normal part of grieving.  It is.  I know people would rather not address this part of grief but it’s there and it’s best to find a way to come to grips with it.  When a loved one dies, many people feel anger first rather than sadness because they feel they are being left behind and also feel very helpless.  Everyone says that life must go and it does but what do you do with the anger you feel? Many people try to push the anger down and ignore it because the intensity of it scares them.  That’s… Read More

Tips For The Early Days of Grief

January 16th, 2012
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Photo By Patti Raab A family I know lost their brother right before Christmas and now the same family has suddenly lost their father.  I can’t imagine the waves of shock, pain, anger, despair and confusion they are engulfed in now as they try to work their way through another intense grieving process. Please include them in your thoughts and prayers.  The following article is dedicated to them: The Early Days: Surviving the First Few Days of Bereavement By Greg Wright What are the most important things to know during the first few weeks of bereavement?  Several months ago, my… Read More