The holidays can be a time of joy as we all gather around our family table and reunite with loved ones. It can also be a time of incredible sadness for those who maybe had a rough year or lost someone special. For me, the joy and sadness seem very tightly intertwined. I love seeing my mom and sister
The holidays are right around the corner, and I must admit I’ve already started picking up a few Christmas gifts for my daughter. But when it comes to me, please, don’t get me anything. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I love the festive elegance of my family’s Christmas Eve
This is the greatest risk that any of us will take. To be seen as we truly are. - Fairy Godmother (Cinderella, movie) I recently learned of the passing of my Aunt Judee. My father’s sister, she was also my Godmother, and a second mother to me when I was a young girl. I spent countless hours with her
Following the sudden death of my Dad, it’s been a whirlwind of emotions. Incredible sadness, mixed with anxiety, concern for my children, concern for my mom, fear, lackluster attitude, no energy, and this feeling that maybe I should just disappear into the wilderness and never return. I’ve always
It has taken me a long time to decide whether I actually wanted to talk about this on the blog. However, many people have told me that while grief and grieving are often personal journeys, there is also a sense of camaraderie felt by those who have known grief… so here goes. G is for Grief In
I recently had lunch with a colleague who works within Beebe’s Palliative Care department. We were discussing palliative care and end of life planning and she said, “I refer to it as Advanced Illness Planning.” This really struck me. We spend so much of our life “planning” for big events. We plan
As a mom with two small children, August means preparing for “back to school.” This means back-to-school shopping, determining after-school care for both kids, finalizing extra-curricular activities, trying to get everyone back on a schedule of going to bed early and waking up early…. All while
You’ve likely heard the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” While that may be cliché, as with most clichés, its roots ring true. As we age, we often get stuck in our routine. We go to the same restaurants, visit the same friends, and take the same vacations. There’s nothing like an
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all the things we are thankful for, but also a time to make positive changes in our life. As the leaves begin to fall and weather turns cooler, many of us will become consumed with the all of the hustle and bustle that goes along with the holiday season
"I believe that being positive and keeping a smile on your face will help push you through the bad. At the age of 35, I received the devastating news that I now had breast cancer. I continued to move forward with my life, even after nine long months, and kept a strong, positive attitude in my life
