The ball has dropped, the fireworks burst, the confetti tossed. The New Year has begun! If you have not already done so, it is time to flip open the new calendar, open that new planner and begin penciling in appointments and commitments for 2021. Or maybe scroll to a new year on your digital c…Read More
What comes to mind when you hear the familiar melody and the song that begins, “On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me—a partridge in a pear tree”? Do you anticipate a nice long Christmas carol carefully walking through all the gifts the true lover has given and received—ma…Read More
When the people we refer to now as Pilgrims, left the shores of England in September of 1620, they had no idea what the next 12-15 months would hold for them. They knew that their religious liberties were at stake, their children’s futures were being shaped by a culture they did not condone, and…Read More
When I was five years old I received a black and yellow Tonka bulldozer as a Christmas gift. On my hands and knees, I pushed that thing everywhere pretending to be a one man road crew! One day I noticed an actual work crew in our neighborhood installing a new sidewalk. Eager to get in on the a…Read More
After months of changes in typical procedures, we are all beginning to acclimate to changes and cancellations. This lighter post serves to remind us that everything is not cancelled. Sometimes we just need to change our lens to look for the things we can appreciate this summer. So what isn’t can…Read More
Pass the Potato Salad, but Hold the Opinions This weekend people will gather, in state-approved group numbers, to celebrate our nation’s Independence. Some community events may still happen as usual while others may be cancelled this year. But one celebration likely to happen regardless is the…Read More
Soul. What is it? Though we see it in Facebook memes, sing songs about it, and know we have one, what exactly is it? Merriam-Webster gives this as the first definition of “soul”: the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life In a word, it’s the part of y…Read More
Cave Considerations Across the last few blog posts we have addressed the pandemic caused by coronavirus and the impact COVID-19 has had on our society and the global community. We discussed ways you could choose to respond and ways you can take care of your physical body during this time. Today, gue…Read More
“How are you doing?” Have you asked that question to family or friends lately via phone, text or Zoom? Several weeks into a “stay-at-home” or “shelter-in-place” situation have you asked that question of yourself? How are you doing? In the previous post we discussed ways in which you can …Read More
How are you choosing to respond to COVID-19? What a difference a week makes! This time last week people were still gathering in restaurants and public spaces. This week we have all learned the impact of our new vocabulary: work-from-home, shelter-in-place, social distancing and homeschooling. Most o…Read More
The brain is a very complex organ that even scientists and medical professionals don’t fully understand. So it’s reasonable that there are misunderstandings when it comes to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. Even people who are struggling with symptoms have a hard time understanding what …Read More
The holidays can be challenging under normal circumstances, but when adding a mental illness like PTSD to the mix, the time between early November and the beginning of a new year can feel like hell. Depending on the trauma that was experienced, there can be a wide range of triggers that can cause fl…Read More