Thoughts of the Day

In part one of this weekly series, I discussed some myths and facts about Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. I stressed the most alarming memory problems have less to do with names and events, and more...

Alzheimer's: it's becoming a less distant illness and something directly touching us. If a friend or relative doesn't have it or had it, it's just a matter of time before someone you know will. Unfortunately,...

In Part I of Family Conflict, I presented the idea conflicts often involve looking at the present through our history. In Part II I wrote that “universal” or “enduring” truths are myths-especially when...

In Part I of Family Conflict I presented the idea conflicts often involve looking at the present through our history. There is an amazing similarity in the type of conflicts created by a health crisis and...

Passover was a dreaded holiday for me as a teenager growing up in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It was a time when my uncle, who thought of himself as a "lay Rabbi," rose at the head of the table and straightened...

In Part 1 of Grief Hierarchy, I presented the idea grief shouldn't be evaluated in terms of whose is greater. In Part 2, I introduced the notion (controversial based on the feedback I received) we don't grieve...

THOUGHT OF THE DAY. In the first installment of this series, I presented the idea grief shouldn't be placed on a hierarchy of importance. I maintained the grief of someone who lost a dog can be as substantial...

Everyone has lost a partner, friend, parent, job, ability, pet, or object that created joy. It is something viewed as irreplaceable by the person experiencing the loss, but often thought trivial by...

THOUGHT OF THE DAY. Each day’s new violence makes people want to retreat into a 1950’s bomb shelter, or buy a home in a gated and guarded community, or hide in a shack in a remote part of the woods. Of...

Thought of the Day. A number of years ago I witnessed elder abuse as I walked behind a twenty-something-year-old couple in downtown San Francisco. My hearing then--as opposed to now--was acute enough to hear...

Thought of the Day. Maybe it's the senseless violence of the last few days. Maybe it's realizing my dance with cancer will end. Maybe it's becoming tired of dealing with so many unimportant things. Regardless...

THOUGHT OF THE DAY. I wrote an article on January 6, 2015 how thoughts are theoretical unless there is a conviction to act (Selma: Why I Write About the Sharp Points of Life). As an example, I cited the civil...

Thought of the Day- I love coffee, but amazed when I read descriptions of their flavors and aromas, "buttery, bitter sweet, raspberry, vanilla, etc." At best I can tell if it's chocolaty, earthy, spicy, hot or...

For the past few days trailers about the movie, Selma and criticisms about its historical accuracy flooded the airways. I'll see the movie regardless of the commentaries because I was there. In 1965, I was...

THOUGHT OF THE DAY.  "Whatever Gets You Through the Night," is the title of John Lennon's 1970's hit single. The phrase, credited to Reverend Ike, a famous black radio evangelist in the 1970's, should be the...

THOUGHT OF THE DAY. For two years, the first thing I experienced when I woke and the last thing I felt before falling asleep was pain in my thigh from a less than successful hip replacement. I began a life of...

THOUGHT OF THE DAY. A few years ago I was the keynote speaker at Calgary Hospice and also conducted a workshop where I presented a unique model for seamlessly integrating hospice into culture. Hospice...

I received a wonderful LinkedIn invitation to connect this morning from the CEO of After A Loss. It is a Canadian service organization I wish exists here in the States--especially for those who are grieving...

Someone living with a chronic illness often can't think past today's pain or discomfort. If they can, their focus may be on wondering when the momentary relief will end or how soon the pain will...

Most people want to be compassionate, especially if it involves a loved one or friend coping with cancer. We would like to think that having a love-filled heart is all that’s necessary to do the “right...