Life gets complicated sometimes. Last Sunday, we celebrated my grandson’s birthday. He and his wife invited me for dinner. I asked what I could bring. My designated contributions: cauliflower with cheese sauce and Moose Tracks Ice Cream. I found the recipe for the cheese sauce online and planned to purchase the ice cream. I thought I knew about Moose Tracks ice cream and looked for it at all my usual grocery shops. But no Moose Tracks. What to do? Ask Siri. Turns out that M

I grew up in a country where bicycle riding was hazardous. Getting down the driveway presented a hazard by itself. But the main risk was bicycling along a twisting country road where most drivers did not know there was a speed limit, let alone pay attention to it. When was in my 50’s, my husband, Lee, and I decided to take up cycling. We bought matching Trek bikes and helmets. Lee had ridden bicycles all his life and was anxious to get started. But I needed to learn the basi

God gave me a gift, a portion of His love, a small, brave spark shining against the dark. It is up to me whether to cherish and care for the flame or walk away and let it sit in the corner of my heart. If fed with care, this love will grow steady and bright, warming cold hours, casting light on hidden corners, and teaching hearts to grow. But this love, if ignored, will fade to ash that will blow away in the winds of strife. If fanned by uncontrolled passion, this love wil

When I was in graduate school studying psychology, a phrase that kept coming up was Prosocial Behavior. On its face, this simply means doing things that benefit the society I live in. The formal description: actions people choose to do that help, support, or benefit others. They foster trust, safety, and cooperation among people. For caregivers, it might seem like I am adding an extra burden. Let me rephrase the question: despite the stress of caregiving, what steps can I tak

I shared this memory two years ago. As Lee’s heart failure advanced, he often struggled with feelings of discouragement and questioned his impact on the world. But, during his years of service to our country, this Air Force veteran was decorated for actions that saved lives. During the Vietnam Conflict, Lee served as a boom operator (an in-flight refueling technician). One night, a fighter jet approached for refueling. Unfortunately, Lee’s boom pod light, which had been work

Years ago, during a stressful shift at the hospital where I worked, the charge nurse encouraged her staff with the following: “When you are up to your knees in alligators, it is hard to remember how well you are draining the swamp.” As a caregiver during the last year of my husband’s life, I developed the habit of examining my mistakes, identifying what was lacking, inadequate, and painful. Our palliative care social worker recommended a book by M.J.Ryan: The Power of Gratitu

Our sense of loss intensifies when one area of life (work, caregiving, achievement, crisis, grief, spiritual distress) consistently overwhelms the others. Symptoms vary with the individual, but the suffering associated with the imbalance can lead to physical disease, emotional distress, or relational disturbance. Here are some ways that we can protect ourselves from harm. Physical Well-being : Regular exercise, healthy eating, adequate sleep, and care for your body’s needs.