Snapshots of Caregiving

April 2nd, 2014
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Helping to care for someone, whether they are young or old, is a time to step up to the plate and show how much that person means to you and many times it also turns out to be a time of personal growth.
I have taken care of lots of babies and toddlers and I have also taken care of elderly relatives.  Until you do it, you really don’t realize how much time and energy it takes to properly care for another person.
For me it is instinctive.  I see the need and I want to help.  There are few … Read More

The Great Possession Debate

October 4th, 2013
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Sometimes you find help in the most unpredictable places. Yesterday morning I was reading a column in The Washington Post called Home Front and came across a question from a reader that I thought was timely, on point and more importantly, one that we all probably will have to face at some point or another in our lives. The questioner wanted to know what to do with the possessions that once belonged to a loved one.  Specifically, the things that belonged to her father, who had recently died.  Inheriting a lifetime of someone else’s possessions can be overwhelming and increase… 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

A Generous Heart

August 13th, 2013
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I saw this letter yesterday and it reminded me that a new school year will be starting soon.  With the beginning of a new school year, perhaps teachers and student will be dealing with conflicting emotions about losses or illnesses that happened over the summer. When a friend or an acquaintance is grieving from the loss of a loved one, it is natural to want to reach out and make them feel better.  One of the greatest gifts we can give is listening.  Even if you don’t know what to say, we can always listen; listen as the person talks… Read More

The Selling of The Washington Post

August 9th, 2013
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There are some stories that I never expected to read in my lifetime. The selling of The Washington Post is one of them.  When I saw the first tweet about this surprising event, I thought I had read it too fast and read the words completely wrong.  I had to go back and read it again a few times before I understood that it was a real story. I just never in a million years thought the Graham family would sell the newspaper that they have owned for decades and generations.  To those of us who live here in Washington,… Read More

Moon Landing

July 20th, 2013
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Today marks the 44th anniversary of man walking on the moon. It is a historic date and a landmark event that people today still use as a standard or a call for national action on an issue as in “if we put a man on the moon then why we can’t we…….” I think most people remember where they were when the moon walk happened. With all the lights off in the living room of my parents beach cottage, my siblings, our parents and I watched the incredible, once-in-a-lifetime event live on television with the rest of the world.  We… Read More

Movement As Medicine

July 5th, 2013
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When I spend too much time in front of the computer or television I don’t feel right. I don’t feel as if my body and mind are working together as they were designed to do, and when this happens I know it’s a signal for me to get up off my inactive butt and do something physical. As in get the heart pumping and break a sweat. It doesn’t matter what you do, just get up and move.  Exercise anywhere and everywhere. Exercise is a gift you give yourself because it can reduce anxiety, clear toxins from your system and… Read More

A Positive Attitude In Cancerland

April 10th, 2013
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I don’t always feel positive about all of the situations that life throws my way but I do feel very positive about life. Would I continue to feel positive if I were diagnosed with cancer? I would hope so!  I would hope that my love of living, my love for my family and friends and my love of life in general would kick my fighting spirit into high gear and that I would become determined not to let cancer win. But that’s easy for me to say because I have not been diagnosed with cancer.  I know a handful of… Read More

Cooking for Children With Cancer

January 11th, 2013
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Danielle Cook Navidi (in apron) Photo Courtesy of Georgetown University Hospital If you ever doubted that one person can make a difference, then please meet Danielle Cook Navidi. Navidi is a loving mother totally committed to the idea that she could cook healthy food for her then 11-year-old son, Fabien Navidi-Kasmai, diagnosed and receiving treatment for Stage III Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  His taste buds were shot, he couldn’t digest his favorite foods and sadly, he would go for days without eating. Navidi reminds me of many mothers I know who are steadfast in their beliefs about what can help their children… Read More