A Healing Patch of Green In Richmond

October 28th, 2013
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I took a road trip to Richmond, Virginia this past Saturday to visit my son and his girlfriend and we spent part of the day leisurely strolling the grounds of a breathtaking place called Maymont.
I knew nothing about Maymont but was happy to go along and discover more about this estate and 100 acre park given to the city of Richmond in 1925 by James Henry and Sallie May Dooley.  As we walked through the nature center and then went out its back doors, rolling hills of green and rows of small rose bushes and manicured gardens greeted us.  … Read More

Strangers Become Friends

October 23rd, 2013
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When walking down the street, with a destination in mind, lost in my thoughts about work or something happening in my personal life, I admit that I am not always aware of the people around me. I know that physically there are groups of people or singular people walking towards or past me, but the details of what they are wearing or what they look like are an instantaneous blur. It’s not because I am walking and texting.  If I hear the ping of a text received on my phone and I need to answer it, I move out of… Read More

Your Green Zone

September 18th, 2013
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When I find myself getting close to sensory overload, I seek out quiet places to sit, to refresh and chill out. After Monday’s tragic shooting and killing of 13 people in the Washington Navy Yard, I truly needed a break from being bombarded with images and information.  Sitting in nature helps bring my focus back to what is important to me about the big picture of life. As I notice and enjoy what is around me, I remind myself that I can’t change the fact that highly stressful events happen, but I can change how I interpret and respond to… Read More

Crying & Healing

July 8th, 2013
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This post is for anyone, and in particular someone who is close to me, who is currently going through an anxious time in their life and is unsure how it will turn out. Anxiety may be dogging you and causing sleepless nights, loss of appetite, an increase in appetite, a need to abuse alcohol or drugs (please don’t!!!!), crankiness or sadness and crying.  As in crying constantly.  Like every day.  At any time. This person close to me was talking recently about how crying really does make her feel better but she’s also aware that it doesn’t make others around… Read More

Fast & Sweet

June 18th, 2013
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Down the street from my office, there once was an organic salad carry-out place, sort of similiar to Chop’t but not as inventive.  It went out of business many months ago and I have been watching the empty store to see what kind of business would open up in its place. My office friends and I have been discussing what we would like to see go in there (Panera got my vote) and we all assumed that the next restaurant would be serving something in the same vein as salads, and if not salads, then something healthy for people to… Read More

Baby Angels

October 19th, 2012
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I have written previously about angels and particularly about a book my aunt gave me titled, Angel Letters,” by Sophy Burnham.  From time to time, I read this book because I find it comforting and it puts life into perspective for me. There are a number of stories that I tend to re-read when I am stressed or confused about life and this short story is one in particular that always takes my breath away: In April 1990 Sophy Burnham was being interviewed about her book on WOR-Radio in New York.  She was being interviewed by Gil Gross and as… Read More

Compassion at 12th Street Irish Pub

October 16th, 2012
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A Bar at the Folies Bergere By Edouard Manet Besides their obvious job of making drinks, bartenders also do something even more important: a lot of listening. Many times when people go to a bar, they are looking for someone to talk to, someone who will listen to their troubles and sympathize with what has happened to them. In our fast-paced world, finding someone who will sit and absorb our words is helpful and comforting.  Listening is a powerful thing.  It’s all about the human connection. Someone is pouring out their problems to you and in the telling of the… Read More

Aren’t You Over It Yet?

October 3rd, 2012
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I am Catholic but I often find strength and wisdom in the teachings of other religions.  We’re all here in the same boat and we’re all here to get along, so why not reach out and see what we can learn from each other? With that thought in mind, I am sharing a short insightful piece that a friend gave to me.   It is written by a rabbi and I found his thoughts to be very comforting.  I hope you do too: Getting Over It By Rabbi Earl A. Grollman My wife died fourteen months ago.  Even though I don’t… Read More

A Special Picture

August 17th, 2012
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Snoopy at typewriter sharing his memories A very good friend recently came over to my house to drop off some things.  It was a Saturday and she was out running errands and my house was on her route.  We both were trying to get things done so it was your usual routine drop off and chat for a few minutes to check in and see what’s going on with each other. Hi. How are you? Great.  What’s going on? Not much.  So and so called me.  Listen to this… She has been in my house tons of times and everything… Read More