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December 23, 2011
Seniors, Religion and the Holidays
Since I entered the senior care field, this time of year has always been extra interesting. When people are around seniors during the holidays, they get to experience more and different traditions like decorating practices, baking habits or gift-giving habits. It is always eye-opening, educational and fun.
More often than not, my experience has been that seniors of differing religions openly want to share their holiday traditions, religious and otherwise.
To see a Jewish senior singing Christmas carols or a Catholic senior experiencing Hanukkah festivities like a menorah lighting...it’s wonderful. The religious aspects of this time of year sometimes seem secondary with all the decorating, shopping and eating. Especially for seniors, this time is when tolerance often abounds.
December 22, 2011
Young Onset Alzheimer's Disease: Love and Family
“Inspire, empower, engage.”
I was contemplating what I would write about this month and I struggled terribly with Maria Shriver's motto. As a caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease, I felt it quite difficult to inspire and empower no matter how hard I tried.
This time of year has always been difficult for me and as my husband’s health has declined, so has my often infectious positivity. The truth of the matter is, when you’re caring for a loved one (no matter what the illness), this time of year is always difficult.
With some help from my daughter and a few re-writes later, I hope I’ve been able to share my thoughts in a positive way and give some advice as I trudge ahead through this holiday season.
December 21, 2011
Young Onset Alzheimer's Disease: A Little Christmas
“Haul out the holly. Put up the tree before my spirit falls again. Fill up the stocking. I may be rushing things but deck the halls again now. For we need a little Christmas right this very minute..."
When I was young, my mother sang Broadway show tunes to us as lullabies. When we were just hanging out on the weekends, cleaning house or just playing, my mom would have her records or 8-tracks blaring from the speakers.
She used to tell the story of my amazement at about six years old when my friends didn’t know the words to the show tunes like I did; in fact, they’d never even heard of “Just You Wait, Henry Higgins.” I couldn’t imagine.
December 21, 2011
Gloria Horsley, Founder and President of Open to Hope Foundation
A single phone call on Easter morning in 1983 changed my life forever. Just 13 words: “Your son and his cousin have been in an automobile accident and neither survived.”
Those words would rock my world and begin an amazing journey from desperation to hope, healing and a life of service.
December 20, 2011
Amazing Gifts of the Holiday Season
Subject: AMAZING GIFTS! MOST FREE!
Imagine seeing this e-mail pop into your inbox one day amid the flurry of last-minute, pre-holiday sales and deals that stores are sending out this season. You’d open it pretty quickly, right? I know I would…even just out of curiosity.
But the irony is we don’t need to wait for an e-mail reminder; there’s stuff just sitting under our proverbial nose this festive month—and all year long—that we so often forget about and never fully appreciate.
December 20, 2011
Winter Solstice: Celebrating the Return of the Light
This, the eve of winter, is the most sacred time of year, although for many of us it has been obliterated by the mall call of black Friday sales and discounts, warrior-style traffic and other holiday encumbrances.
It all seems so contrary to our natural selves and what it is that our bodies and spirits really crave. It certainly isn’t this cacophony of Christmas muzak, abrasive iphone ring tones, or toxic neon lighting.
December 19, 2011
Tips for Celebrating the Holidays Alone
The holidays are here...again!
For some of us, it is a time of family bonding, tradition, great food, and new scarves. For others, it can be a time of high anxiety and stress, awkward family moments, traveling nightmares, and unnecessary financial strain.
Lost amongst the bright lights, goodwill, and indulgence are the millions of us who find ourselves completely alone for the holidays.
I was delighted when asked to write about this topic because I have vast experience flying alone through the holiday skies.
December 18, 2011
Martha Beck - Life Coach, Columnist, Author & Mother
1.What are your three words to live by? Why do these words guide your life?
Funny you should ask that, because I think about this every day. I'm a big fan of an ancient Chinese philosophy called "taoism." The word TAO in Chinese means "way," and it refers to following the way of peace, harmony, life, soul. I think of TAO as an acronym for the three words Transparent, Authentic, and Open. I try to live my life by these three words, because if I am completely myself and have no secrets, I can live without fear of being "exposed" (I already am), receive love that's truly meant for me (not a false self I project), and stay available for feedback through which others can teach me to be a better person.
2. What does being an "architect of change" mean to you?
December 16, 2011
Giving Peace of Mind to Parents and Empowering Young Adults
Photo caption above: Secretary Sebelius’ husband Gary and her two sons
We all want our children to be safe, happy, and protected from harm. We want to see them pursue new opportunities in life without any barriers.
While raising our two sons with my husband in Kansas, we did everything we could to enable them to follow their dreams. When they graduated from college, one decided to go to grad school, while the other took time to develop his interests.
We were so proud of our sons, but there was one thing that was on all of our minds: college graduation ended their health insurance. Thankfully, my husband and I had some resources to help them get coverage. But not everyone in this country has that option.
December 16, 2011
The Top Five Regrets of the Dying
As a new year approaches, we tend to reflect on the decisions we have made and resolve to make changes for the year to come. With that in mind, we rediscovered a well-known article by Bronnie Ware and asked her to share why she believes "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying" made such an impact on people around the world.
Globally, this article has been translated into several languages and seems to have broken cultural barriers with incredible ease. Perhaps it is the simplicity and honesty of the article that has made it resonate with people. Hearing from those who were touched by the article has truly brought home to me just how alike we all are and how, sadly, we can all be influenced and driven by the wrong priorities and by fear.
I think, perhaps, the article’s greatest success is that it gives people the permission to be themselves and makes them aware of their choice and power to be that. It also reminds us that only we can be responsible for our own happiness or unhappiness in the long run.
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Karen Skelton
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