With Thanksgiving approaching here in the States, this seemed appropriate, and I think that it really applies globally as we all realize that we have a great deal to be thankful for each day as long as we are willing to look for our blessings. Growing up, my entire family lived within about 30 miles of my home, so Thanksgiving was a full house until late in the evening. My husband’s family was also,…
It seems that anytime you are facing a difficult life experience, someone always feels the need to remind you to search for the silver lining. Most of the time, this rather philosophical tidbit of information is accompanied by a sympathetic yet understanding smile and a pat on the back. As do most recipients of this rather tired cliché, I normally try to muster a smile of thanks and then move on. The words…
There are times when it is very easy to become livid at another person who has hurt someone whom we care about. But I am beginning to learn that sometimes, the acts which appear to be very cruel are actually some of life’s greatest gifts disguised as life’s hardest blows. It might take some time to discover how to get the extravagant wrapping off of the gift, but in time the true value is…
When I was a young child, I never thought that I shared an especially close relationship with my father. I always respected and loved him very much but we never really talked about anything that I thought was meaningful. He would teach me how to do things like how to throw a ball or how to safely use a saw, but we didn’t have the father-daughter talks about emotional stuff. I thought that was just…
Every summer my brothers, cousins and I would go and stay at my grandparent’s house. These were, without doubt, the best three weeks of the year. My grandfather, a rugged outdoorsman-type, loved taking us out to play. Playing Game Gear and watching TV all day was not an option. He was a giant tree of a man, palms rough from a lifetime of work. What was left of his hair was a…
There always seems to be this burning desire to see the family that you wish you had. We use rose-colored glasses and excuse behavior that we would never tolerate from others. And all too often, we find ways to blame ourselves for the mean or hurtful actions of our family members. We tell ourselves that we deserve to be treated poorly or that we somehow failed to be the loving sibling or child that we…
I would like to take just a few minutes to relate how I learned that love is what really makes a family or makes a person part of a family. Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have an amazing big brother. He brought me surprise gifts for no reason other than to see me smile, he was always willing to play catch or a video game, or anything else that I asked him…
The definition of suffocation, according to Google’s dictionary feature, is the state or process of dying from being deprived of air or unable to breathe. But what is very surprising to most people is that the intense urge you feel to breath when you are holding your breath, or when you are underwater, is not because your body is starving for oxygen. The instinct to breath is actually caused by carbon dioxide receptors in your…
It’s always difficult to face the reality of a parent’s illness. Most children grow and thrive within the warm, protective sphere known as a loving parents care. And even when the relationship has been difficult or dysfunctional, there still seems to be a connection of more than simply genetics. This emotional connection to a parent might simply be a single, thin shred of hope that someday this complicated, or almost nonexistent relationship, will somehow…
We live in a world where technology touches almost every aspect of our lives. We listen to books and can have our trips routed by our vehicle’s GPS. We are even willing to allow an electronic device to secure our most treasured memories for safekeeping. Not to say that making a video of special moments is not a good idea, but there are some memories that should only be committed to pencil and paper or…