This I Believe — Book Excerpt

April 10th, 2014
Posted By:

“This I Believe” is a fantastic book that keeps on giving inspiration to me.
I recently discovered this book quite by accident.  I was in Richmond, Virginia with my son and his girlfriend and we came upon a local non-profit that was giving away books for free.  I couldn’t believe it.  Free. Books.
Free books are irresistible to me.  This would be similar to offering the editor of Vogue free clothes and accessories.  A room of tables full of all kinds of books just waiting for someone to come along and adopt them and take them home.  Where do I … Read More

Seeing Clearly

April 8th, 2014
Posted By:

“Give yourself the gift of time in coming to answers for your life. . . . It takes time, and a lot of introspection and soul-searching, to get clear about what you really want to manifest in your life.”                                        ~Author David Emerald… Read More

Farmer In The Dell

April 7th, 2014
Posted By:

I love farmer’s markets. Everything about them fascinates me.  I slow down and totally lose track of time as I enjoy walking from vendor to vendor and talking to each one of them about the unique products they are selling whether it’s veggies, fruits, honey, cheeses, breads, soaps or food being cooked to order. Yesterday it truly felt as if the weather had turned a corner and while it was a bit chilly the sun was bright and increasingly warm as the day progressed.  People with their children and dogs and friends and neighbors strolled and chatted each other up… Read More

Family Time

March 31st, 2014
Posted By:

It’s that time of year in my family. Time to celebrate the birthdays of my parents who are in their 80’s.  My Mom and Dad’s birthdays land on the calendar exactly a week apart so in the last few years my siblings and I have started celebrating their birthdays together in the interest of harmony, world peace and all that is holy. We know we are blessed to have our parents still with us and we definitely don’t take it for granted.  Not for one minute.  But sometimes it can be tricky in making sure that each birthday receives the… Read More

A Younger Point of View

March 28th, 2014
Posted By:

Just to briefly, and I do mean briefly, follow up on yesterday’s post about the ever changing dynamics of going online to share grief and loss experiences, a friend sent me the below link to a fantastic New York Times story addressing this very topic. I loved this story about Millennials and hope you do too because it introduced to me some new websites I enjoyed discovering plus it highlighted the thoughts and feelings of a younger generation in the midst of trying to figure out the best way to deal with their grief their own individual way while helping… Read More

In Honor Of The Oscars

March 3rd, 2014
Posted By:

In honor of the Oscars last night, I’d like to give out a personal award.Last night’s Academy Awards speeches seemed to me to be particularly emotional, expressing the gratitude of recognition, the fulfillment of dreams and deep thanks for the years of incredible support that people received while working on their ground breaking film projects.It brought to mind for me the role that others play in our lives during difficult times and reminded me that support groups around the country are on the front lines of our communities, doing the nitty gritty, down and dirty and painful work of helping… Read More

Ew! It’s Funny Friday

February 28th, 2014
Posted By:

What a whirl of a week this had been.  Deadlines. Pressure.  Meltdowns.  Not me.  Others. You’re familiar with this kind of dynamic aren’t you?  I know you must be because there is no way that this kind of stuff only happens to me. How do I deal?  (Did I hear someone say booze?) No my friends I don’t drink but I do make a lot of jokes about being in really awful situations because humor helps me cope.  I constantly make jokes about myself — and believe me there’s a lot of material there — and I also make jokes… Read More

A Navajo Prayer

February 19th, 2014
Posted By:

As we embrace a new day. . . Contra Costa County, California Photo Courtesy of Flickr A Navajo Prayer In beauty may I walk. All day long may I walk. Through the returning seasons may I walk. On the trail marked with pollen may I walk. With grasshoppers about my feet may I walk. With dew about my feet may I walk. Planting Fields Arboretum  Long Island New York With beauty may I walk. With beauty before me may I walk. With beauty behind me may I walk. With beauty above me may I walk. With beauty below me may… Read More

Say Yes to Empowerment

February 18th, 2014
Posted By:

The essence of resilience is bouncing back to a healthy place after you have been counted out. Emotionally resilient people recognize that some good can come from even the most traumatic events.  Not only are people resilient but cities can be too.  Look at New York City.  In the 1970’s, New York City was a dangerous place.  It’s economy was on the verge of collapse and its streets and subways were full of crime and gangs and homeless people.  People could not find jobs.  Traveling to New York City today, there is hardly any evidence of its darker and grittier… Read More