“Quiet! I can’t hear myself think.” That used to be a phrase for people: a teacher with her students; a parent with children gabbing away. But not anymore. In my workbag I carry my laptop, a tablet, and my cellphone – each with their own responsibilities. My cell is not only for calls and texts,…
My life has been a series of hills and valleys where I’ve looked for myself in all the wrong places. I joined the Army when I was younger because my mother said I should. I stayed in abusive relationships because I feared not being loved. I wouldn’t speak up in controversial situations at work because…
It’s a question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately, particularly about my career choice as a nursing assistant. I’ve always believed that I belonged in a helping career. Years ago, in high school, becoming a social worker was my chosen path but then life took me down another path – a couple of them…
What do you do when you’re bored? I tried to answer that question and I couldn’t. I think a better question for me would be, “Are you ever bored?” I used to be. In my teens if I wasn’t out riding my bike or hanging out with a few friends, I’d sit on my parents’…
This morning I needed a quiet space. I was sick of the movies in my Amazon Video list, sick of the movies in my DVD collection, sick of the gospel and R&B music on my Spotify playlist and sick of the same in my CD collection. Not that I won’t ever watch or listen to…
Well, here we are in 2018! If you’re reading this post, you made it to another year; another chance at new opportunities; another opportunity to begin your life again. Whatever was in 2017 is now your past, my past, our past. And to begin my year, I’m expanding on a creative endeavor that I discovered…
I can always find something to giggle about. Like my client’s calm observance that one of her husband’s caregivers had dressed him in a female sweater, complete with gleaming, gold buttons. Or the memory of my father’s face when during a reverse driving lesson, I accelerated too hard backing the car down the driveway, and …
Ever since the #metoo hashtag surfaced, disturbing images have come out of the shadows of my mind, and lingered at the edge of the circle of victims, wondering if my plight was as harrowing as theirs. Situations like: Community doctor – a friend of my parents, an uncle to me who smiled and laughed while…
“I am NOT putting that in your hair,” is the first statement that flew out of my mouth when my 12-year-old granddaughter Angel pointed to the blue-colored extensions she wanted me to crochet into her hair. I relented when she explained that she didn’t want a blue head, just streaked through. Whew! But, as I…
When the bird needs the nest again, does it ever work? Is there ever a time when the parent of an adult individual (I have a hard time saying “adult child”) invites said individual back home to regroup, and they don’t end up needing therapy? I’m asking about any parent-son or parent-daughter relationship, but specifically…
Change Grow SHINE! 