Today I’m remembering Maxine Gallagher, my mother. She departed this earth on February 19, 2014, one year ago today. Sometimes remembering is all we can do. If someone you love is old, in fragile health, take some time to remember with them the good things they added to your life, the lessons they taught you, the gifts they gave. Do ... Read More »
Every once in awhile I look around various places on the internet to see what I may be missing. I came upon this video about aging this morning and found it interesting. Check it out for yourself. www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc4yK0zZ-cQ Face it: we live in an anti-aging society. The only actual alternative to aging is death, though, so why fight aging? Why ... 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 »
ecently I came upon an article about grief gambling syndrome, something I hadn’t learned about in my masters programs. It brought to mind one of my hospice patients who wanted to know if it was alright for her and her caregiver to go to Atlantic City to the casino. Since hospice is about living as fully as you can for ... Read More »
Strategy? What strategy?! I don’t know that many people who make a practice of contemplating their own deaths. It’s just not most people’s idea of fun, and some are even superstitious that if they think about death or prepare for it, they’re inviting it. I don’t know if it’s good news or bad news. Maybe it depends on how old ... Read More »
Are you ever amazed at ancient wisdom? Do you ever wonder about the value of new approaches and techniques? Sometimes I believe that progress isn’t progress. Today I was reading http://wapo.st/1lCNAWD about when to stop cancer treatment. One paragraph in the article particularly caught my attention. The author writes that “Patients and families often assume their doctors are trained and ... Read More »
Why me? Oh, no! This is the end. How will I ever make it? Are these the kinds of things that go through your mind when you get unwelcome news about yourself and your life? Have you ever thought things were so bad you might as well end it all? Here’s a video about a man who was so despondent ... Read More »
What happens to you when the seasons change? I’m not talking about getting out the summer clothes, taking down the Christmas lights and things like that. Is there any change inside you? For me, no matter which season is beginning and which is ending, I feel a mixture of hope and nostalgia. I remember the seasons of years past as ... Read More »
I did some old-fashioned things recently. First, I read in the newspaper – yes, an actual paper copy – that Jane Pauley had a new book, Your Life Calling: Reimagining the Rest of Your Life, coming out in 2014. Next, I reserved the book and picked up the physical copy from the public library. Here’s what I learned from reading ... Read More »
With liberty and justice for all.” Is that phrase familiar to you? We used to say it every morning when we pledged allegiance to the flag in school. As I age, however, I wonder how many people truly understood what they were saying, how many people actually believe in the concept of liberty and justice not just for select people, ... Read More »
Todays Gray Matters Valuing the Wisdom & Purpose In Aging Well