Goodbye to an Old Friend
Some days there are moments that make you stop and ask yourself how you ever got to this time and place. You stare at the clouds, unfocused, remembering, the past…
friendship
Want to be Successful? Spend Time with Your Friends
Are you worried you aren’t successful? Don’t be! The greatest success one can have is found in their social network, and size doesn’t matter. According to a 75-year long study…
Of dictionaries, memories, and friends
When a copy of this selection from Samuel Johnson’s famous dictionary arrived last week, I was delighted, and immediately reminded of my late, and well-loved friend, Bill. He would have…
Holding Hands in the Dark
When my sister and I were young, we used to play constantly with the children of our next-door neighbours at the cottage. Once every summer, we’d be allowed to sleep…
Want to Impress Your Colleagues? Be Honest With Yourself
Many people want to change how their coworkers or their boss views them in the workplace, and no matter the reason for wanting a change there are tons of suggestions…
FRIENDSHIP is in the Heart of Every Caregiver
I’m up at our family cottage on a lake in the mountains of Quebec. Yesterday it rained, so naturally I gravitated to the bookshelf in the corner by the fireplace.…
World AIDS Day 2016
The blank page stares up at me, “World AIDS Day 2016”. That will be Thursday. It’s not like it used to be when life was much more urgent, desperate. I…
Generosity
As heard on CBC Radio’s Metro Morning today Wood Haven Country Lodge in the Kawarthas opens its heart next weekend to women and children from area shelters, offering them a…
No offence to ‘black dogs’ but I got real today
Bright and early this morning, before I could slip into dishonesty, I volunteered to my diabetes specialist that I was depressed. Actually it was more like joining in conversation with…
I’m back, breaking my blogging fast
Facebook, with its at-best superficial ways of linking me to my world, has taken me away from greater reflection possible in this blog so…I’m back – on my journey here.…
GOOD FRIENDS VS BAD FRIENDS
Good Friends vs Bad FriendsTelling the difference between good friends and unhelpful friends is especially important for caregivers. Caregivers simply don't have the dual luxuries of boundless time and energy…
An Awesome Wedding and a Lifetime of Friendship
This past holiday season was particularly wonderful for us on account of Nick's excellent pain management as well as the celebration of love in our family. But the icing on…
ONE SIMPLE, POWERFUL WAY TO SUPPORT CAREGIVERS – My Guest Blog Post on The Mighty
In times of hardship or pain, looking at the people we love can be powerful medicine. Parents and caregivers need to be on the receiving end of the loving gaze…
Thirty years later…
In his book of aphorisms, Human, All Too Human, Friedrich Nietzsche described “marriage as a long conversation” like this: When entering a marriage, one should ask the question: do you…
I’m Thinking, “This is Going to Hurt!”: On ‘How Not to Deal with Grief’
From my friend Betty Ann on her Facebook page: “This article deeply moved me…as I suspect it will for any of you who have been impacted by the kind of…
Meet Sujata, Russian Blue beauty
Sujata, the name given to her by the previous human in her life, Kevin, is Sanskrit meaning “from a good family origin”; “Su” means “good”, “Jatakas” means “of good…
Saturday At The Movies
A love story. Get your hanky ready. * If you want to watch a longer version of this story, check out the video below.
Alert to possibilities
Friendship can come in the most unexpected ways. (So do snacks.) Alltop is one big snack of humor!
Please Look At Me
When I am in any kind of pain, I want people around me to look me in the eye. Here’s what got me thinking about eye contact: a couple of…