My problems don’t involve a lack of a home, food, water, or healthcare, but that doesn’t keep me from wishing for Santa or the Easter Bunny. Average life makes this growing-up stuff more complex than my parents admitted or modeled. It’s called frustration. Webster defines it as a deep chronic sense or state of insecurity and dissatisfaction arising from unresolved problems … [Read more...]
Death comes to me and you—it’s built into life
April 29th, two days from today, 2022, is the first anniversary of my husband’s (Cal) death. It seems a grieving update is in order. Please remember everyone’s experience and healing after loss is individual. My process is no more correct or messed-up than yours—every path of grief has a story, and this is mine. May it help yours. As minute details of Cal’s cancer and death … [Read more...]
Bless them on their way
The Priest started with a riddle: "What does everybody need to do, nobody wants to do, and most people don’t know how to do it?" I guessed, death. Wrong. The answer was FORGIVENESS. Forgiveness is a topic addressed in many counseling sessions, and the message in the homily was pertinent to many. First, yes, everybody does NEED to forgive. If we hold anger and angst in our … [Read more...]
When there is loss there is grieving
When there is loss there is grieving Loss is a hurtful condition that occurs when we lose someone or something. Grief is the emotional response to loss. Loss can be personal, such as losing a job, income, or freedom. Loss may also have to do with significant life events such as death of a loved one, divorce, chronic illness, drug addiction, infertility, disasters, or … [Read more...]
Behavior, not anger, needs management
Behavior, not anger, needs management We’ve all heard of “Anger management.” Anger does not need to be managed; it is the behavior attached to the anger that needs to be managed. Anger is an emotion just like worry, love, or excitement. There are dozens of definable emotions and anger is just one of them. We all feel anger, and it is the behavior accompanying anger that … [Read more...]