Peace is accepting today releasing yesterday and giving up control of tomorrow.~Lori Deschene The Grief Support groups I’ve led were always open to anyone who had lost a loved one—whether through a sudden unexpected death or after a long gradual decline. While all in the group were grieving, I noticed that those who had lost…
Look at the Birds of the Air. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your Supreme Creator feeds them.~Jesus of Nazareth A nurse practitioner friend recently confided that she was battling a case of the blahs, unable to find much joy in anything. When I pressed for a possible cause, she…
People are like stained-glass windows.They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in,their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.~Elizabeth Kubler-Ross The cliché, “Don’t be so hard on yourself,” is irritating because of its overuse, but nonetheless, I think it’s a good piece of…
If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” ~Paulo Coehlo Last Saturday I attended a graveside service memorial for two family members. At the service, which had been delayed due to Covid, I recognized Maria who was a caregiver in the nursing home where my family members had…
“Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” ~Eleanor Brownn According to a recent “Stress in America” survey by The American Psychological Association, many of us suffer from unhealthy habits developed during COVID. The…
“Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding…” ~Proverbs 3:5 * A degree of mystery always accompanies our care for others. For example, it’s tough, if not impossible, to understand the timing of death, and the rationale—if there is any—for pain and suffering. We may question why it’s…
Fears keep us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices…
We bless this year for all we learned, for all we loved and lost. ~John O’Donohue We’re nearly one month into 2022 and we’re still dealing with “the virus” and all that goes with it, including controversies related to vaccines and masks, a shortage of staff, angry clients, frustrated caregivers, and tele-health appointments in place…
When you can’t control what’s happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what’s happening. That’s where your power is. ~Unknown Front-line health care workers are increasingly becoming the targets of animosity from patients and families, often related to COVID treatment protocols.* Caregivers who take the brunt of patient or family hostility are…
“Self-care is never a selfish act – it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. Anytime we can listen to true self and give the care it requires, we do it not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives…
