Thanksgiving. It’s almost here. This year especially, people have asked me what I’m doing for Thanksgiving. For the longest time I didn’t have an answer other than that I would be thankful and would eat something somewhere. Simply being alive, having the opportunity eat, having choices about what to do for the day are things to be thankful for. This ... Read More »
Only a few of those born into this world survive the vicissitudes of infancy, childhood and maturity. And this, by the way, is most fortunate; for otherwise if all lived to be old and the burden of caring for them in their increasing helplessness were thus added to the burden of caring for the helpless young, this would be a ... Read More »
What kind of day are you having today? I’ve decided I’m going to have a great day! In order to live well, we have to choose a good life. When you get up in the morning, what do you say to yourself? This morning I looked at the clock, noted that it was about 4:30 a.m., and decided to get ... Read More »
Have you ever gone crazy with a new hobby? Did you go out and buy way more stuff than you needed to support this hobby. You didn’t call it stuff. You called it equipment or supplies, something that made it sound not only important but also necessary. I’m guilty of this. Over the past 38 years I’ve accumulated clown ... Read More »
What kind of legacy do you want to leave? Is it important to you that people remember who you are, that they have an accurate picture of the person that’s YOU? If so, it’s time to record our life story. Your parents probably began this when you were born. Most do. They go crazy with the camera and record ... Read More »
esterday I found the Readers Digest at my place at the breakfast table. My husband had left it conspicuously open to an article about how doctors die. The gist of the article was that doctors rarely choose CPR, being placed indefinitely on a respirator, having surgery that most likely won’t improve their quality of life. The doctors have been in ... Read More »
We’ve just reached the 6 month anniversary of my mother’s death. Of course that got me thinking, reflecting on life in general and my mother’s final months in particular. I think if I’d had to be her full time caregiver I’d have gone stark raving mad. I’ve seen daughters and sons lovingly take care of their parents’ every need. I’ve ... Read More »
My sister recently brought me a box of newspaper clippings from my mother’s estate. Among the old, yellowed newspaper I found something dated 1938. I can’t tell what paper it came from, only that the author is Edgar A. Guest. His words ring as true today as they did when they were written. As we age we experience more and ... Read More »
There you are, just going along and living your life, when one day things seem a little off. Maybe you can’t put your finger on exactly what seems awry, but there’s a little nagging feeling. You visited your parents and their home seemed dirtier than normal. As you helped prepare dinner you noticed that your mom seemed befuddled by things ... Read More »
Are you a risk taker, or do you play it safe? What does it take to do something a little out of your comfort zone, and how do you feel afterward? These two women show completely different approaches to life and adventure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD2NtzEPBcA Some risk avoidance makes sense. Some doesn’t. For example, I never applied to dental school because I ... Read More »
Todays Gray Matters Valuing the Wisdom & Purpose In Aging Well