Posts Tagged: understanding

With A Little Help From My Friends

November 7th, 2013
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Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends,
Mmm, gonna try with a little help from my friends. . .
                                        ~ The Beatles
Whether it’s alcoholism, gambling, overeating, drug addiction or grief, I believe that others who are traveling the same unpredictable path as ourselves can often offer the greatest amount of inspiration.
It may seem slow and incredibly painful but I found that when you sit and share your story with others facing the same issues, there is a sense of relief that you have finally found people who understand the depth of what you are … Read More

Compassionate Action

October 30th, 2013
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Courtesy of Dave Allen Photography Thought For The Day “Tuning in to the needs and feelings of another person is a prerequisite to empathy which in turn can lead to understanding, concern and, if the circumstances are right, compassionate action,” according to Daniel Goleman, an author, psychologist and science journalist. I read this quote recently in a story about empathy in The New York Times and it caught my attention. Compassionate action. It reminds me of the Jesuit concept of social justice, which is acting on something you may see or feel that is happening to another person and then… Read More

Digging Deep

June 6th, 2013
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I have previously written about people I know who are fighting the good fight against cancer.  Three of them at this point are in good health while one is gearing up for the fight of his life. He is getting ready for surgery next week and after that he enters an intense, aggressive program aimed at totally killing this sucker in its tracks.  He has an amazing attitude towards this scary situation and I admire his calm and even demeanor.   Put in the same situation, I know I would not be faring so well and I don’t think I… Read More

85 Year Old Friends

April 1st, 2013
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All of my friends are gifts. Friendships, no matter what your age, are healing and can help you maintain your mental balance.   Friends connect you to the dynamics of life and all it has to give.  Friends keep me going and remind me what life is truly about.  Hashing the ups and down of life cements my friendships, for they help me try to make sense — or least laugh — at what has happed to me or to them. It’s always great to make new friends but there is something about the chemistry of an old friendship that is… Read More

Finding Grief Support

October 24th, 2012
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I recently went back to the beginning of Cry Laugh Heal and read my the first post from 2010 and it brought all the crazy grieving feelings back to me: exhaustion, numbness, raw emotions, the scary future and sometimes even laughter! But it also reminded how great my support group was during that time and how it gave me the priceless gift of hope and helped me feel that life really would get better (somehow?!?!) even though my sweetheart of a husband died.  As I met with my small group twice a month, some sessions were incredibly upsetting and some… Read More

Life 101

March 15th, 2012
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Thank you The Silver Pen (www.thesilverpen.com) for posting the following wisdom  about life its’ own wonderful self:… Read More

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda

February 17th, 2012
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We’ve all played the game of “woulda, shoulda, coulda” and no one ever wins. If you weren’t with your loved one when their death occurred, you might be thinking about all of the things that would be different if you had been there.  You’re thinking about how your present life might be very different if you had been with your loved one at their time of death. You might even think you could have prevented it from happening.  “I could have done more” “If only I had gone for a visit earlier/later in the day,” “I should have stayed with… Read More

Animal Adoration

October 1st, 2011
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This story addresses children and pets but I think it also pertains to adults…Love the pictures! Animal Attraction Why kids adore animals and what they can learn from all creatures, great and small By Gail F. Melson Ph.D From Parent & Child Magazine A whirling 4 year old comes to a screeching halt, transfixed by the fish swimming lazily around an aquarium in the pediatrician’s waiting room. A 6 year old, home from school, showers the family dog with hugs and kisses before saying hi to Mom. A 10 year old chooses her gerbil, Misty, as the subject of her… Read More