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Remember The Good Times

They say it’s the most wonderful time of year.  I suppose it is, but some don’t feel that way every year.  If you don’t feel that way it’s alright.  It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person.  It’s understandable if you’ve had a hard year and the holidays bring back memories of those rougher times.  It’s ok if it brings back memories of happier times that you want again.  It’s ok if you just don’t feel it.  This past year has been a tough one for a lot of us. (more…)

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When Your Holidays Are Neither Merry Or Bright

When Your Holidays Are Neither Merry or Bright – Living with Grief During the Holiday Season

Alas, the holiday season is upon us. And as much as I find myself delighted by light displays as it turns dark at 4:30 pm and holiday movies streaming 24/7; I also find myself struggling with very un-holiday like emotions – sadness, powerlessness, and grief.  Norman Rockwell holiday images of “Dashing Through the Snow” be damned!

2016 has been a tumultuous year.  Geo-political conflicts aside; in my small department at work – between 6 people – we have experienced the death of 11 loved ones in addition to multiple critical illnesses of family and friends.  And while I work with an outstanding group of professionals, I know that inside, grief blankets our hearts like a heavy snowfall.  Maybe this is you too this holiday season? (more…)

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Taking Charge of Your Destiny

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated in a number of different ways across our great nation. In many communities, MLK day is recognized as a National Day of Service where citizens stand shoulder to shoulder and work together to improve their neighborhoods and their lives. I lived for more than a decade in Memphis, the city where Dr. King was killed, and in Memphis MLK day is a day of reverence and reflection on the importance of the Civil Rights movement. In our nation’s capital, MLK day is celebrated in recognition of how far we have come as a country in terms of equal rights for all of our citizens. (more…)

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Why Are You So Afraid of Change?

Change is hard and has the capacity to totally freak people out. It can happen subtly, like the weather changing or the store being out of stock of your favorite item. Change can also happen in some really big disruptive ways – relationships starting or ending, work organizational changes, or the death of a loved one. One constant is that change will happen. Change can be positive or negative and a lot is determined by how you perceive it. So how do we keep change from driving us nutty and pushing us over the edge? How do we keep level headed when we often feel fearful and that events are out of our control? (more…)

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