Memoir: When Breath Becomes Air

August 15th, 2016
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Lucy Paul Kalanithi

Dr. Lucy Kalanithi and Dr. Paul Kalanithi with their daughter, Elizabeth Acadia. 

Photo Courtesy of Lucy Kalanithi

 

When friends find something special, they want to share it with others.

I recently found a book that is beyond special and today my friends, I would like to share it with you.

“When Breath Becomes Air” is a beautiful and touching book about giving yourself up to the unexpected joys of life but also fighting with every ounce of energy that you have within your being when you find your ability to experience those simple and spectacular moments in life is … Read More

Pat Conroy

March 11th, 2016
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Photo Courtesy of CNN The most powerful words in English are ‘Tell me a story’  ~ Pat Conroy In the midst of all the hurly burly reporting of election politics that’s boldly been crowding our daily headlines,  there was a sad piece of human news last weekend that I felt got lost in the shuffle: Pat Conroy, a courageous man and super talented writer, lost his battle to cancer and died at the age of 70. I say courageous because that’s the first word that comes to my mind when I think of him and his unusual ability to intimately… Read More

A Renewing Morning Intention

November 2nd, 2015
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Every day I choose to begin the day with a healing intention. I promise it doesn’t take much time. Often before we even open our eyes after a night’s sleep, our minds are taking in conflicting thoughts. Maybe we have an early morning appointment.  Maybe we don’t feel well.  Maybe we need to get the kids off to school.  Maybe we need to get to work.  Maybe we have all of these things going on and the morning has already slipped into an crazy example of life in the fast lane. Instead of trying to keep up with the snowballing… Read More

Testing One Two Three

January 29th, 2015
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If you never take the opportunity to challenge yourself, then you might not really be sure of what you are capable of accomplishing in your precious life. Yesterday I was reading through some materials about resilience and I found the inspiring quote below. It blew me away when I first read it.  What a powerful thought!! I am going to tuck this wonderful thought into my brain and bring it out the next time I find myself facing a daunting task (probably today!!). More importantly, this thought is also for anyone who is facing a trying time.  Please let this… Read More

A Lady From Spokane

October 8th, 2014
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She was a rabid Washington Redskins fan, she took pride in her well-kept hairdo and manicured fingernails, and she loved to have a good stiff drink with a cigarette. She was also a cancer patient and a kind soul who would help you in any way she could. Sadly, yesterday morning, I received a phone call telling me I had lost my good friend to cancer. I had known this lady from Spokane for almost four decades.  I first got to know her and her husband when they lived and worked in Washington, DC.  Then they retired, bought a home… Read More

A Neighborly Comfort Zone

August 13th, 2014
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I am blessed with great neighbors.  We wave and chat when we see each other, we bring our newspapers in for each other when we know someone is away and we all get along in, well, I must say, a neighborly way.  We don’t really socialize with each other that much but we are aware of how most of us are doing and the general goings on in our busy lives. An older couple who lives nearby has a great porch that has a beautiful navy blue and white striped awning and we all hang out there from time to… Read More

Musical Strength

July 7th, 2014
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Music can be an unexpected source of strength. Athletes use songs and soundtracks to help them focus prior to competition.  It’s pretty common to see athletes staring straight ahead in the locker room with their ear buds in place or warming up with ear buds and you know that whatever they are listening to is helping them get into some kind of a performance zone, taking them to a place where they can block out unnecessary thoughts and noise. I know that when I go for a walk or a run or a combination of the two, that listening to… 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

News That Inspires

August 22nd, 2013
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I don’t know about you, but when I read newspapers, magazine or books, I am always looking for stories about people who have overcome a tragedy or some other kind of obstacle in their lives. I am always amazed when I read about how someone who has experienced the death of a loved one or another kind of personal crisis then manages in the midst of this personal pain to find reserves of inner strength to work through their conflicting feelings and move forward to pursue something positive.  The same is true of someone whose life seems full of things … Read More