Growing with gratitude for life's challenges
It is literally days from departure, and the preparations have been, as they say, mighty. Yesterday, we finished off some business with the bank, picked up something for my Mom and had a farewell dinner with my sister. We were not able to complete all the tasks we’d set for ourselves, because a) I am […]
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Originally posted on One Woman's Quest:
“There are several steps to this meditation,” Dora Kunz began, “and with each one, if you hit an obstacle, just set it aside.” I had come, as had those around me, to learn more from this enlightened soul. Having experienced the sense of renewal that meditation could bring,…
“I’m in trouble!” My sister’s voice was weak but charged with panic. “Help me!” “What have you done?” She’d locked us all out of her apartment that weekend; said she was tired of being sick, tired of people hovering over her. She wanted to be independent. Reluctantly, we gave her space. I’d held my breath […]
Read MoreMaking sense of chaos is difficult for young minds, and yet, often necessary for survival. I could not have recited the list of causes for my family’s particular brand of dysfunction, I just knew from an early age that I needed to be on guard. So I developed what I called ‘body radar’. My parents […]
Read More“I had lunch with some of your old colleagues yesterday and we were talking about you.” Never a good start to a conversation when your relationship to the mentioned parties ended the day you stopped working. “Oh, who?” The people mentioned are acquaintances, only one actually worked with me and it was before ME/CFS struck. […]
Read MoreI put down the cellphone and glanced to see my husband seething across the table. “I can’t believe you answered that during dinner!” “I thought it was important,” I pleaded for forgiveness. It hadn’t been important, a social call from my sister. “Sorry.” We were dining out; I don’t know what overcame me. I’m usually […]
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“Grandma, you are just like my mom!” We are snuggled in against the cold night air, having a sleep over. “Well, I am your mom’s Mom.” “Yeah,” she says hugging me tighter, “she’s your kid!” At five, Sloane likes to explore connections, turning things over, understanding things from different angles. The next day, she finds […]
Read MoreMy living room has beautiful big picture windows facing two directions, allotting me a full view of the neighbour’s front gardens to the north, and the constant comings and goings on the street in front of the house. Lying on the couch with my morning cup of tea is how I like to greet the […]
Read MoreLet’s spend the night in a Walmart parking lot, are not words I’d ever thought I’d hear in my lifetime, but here my husband was suggesting it with all the enthusiasm of a twelve-year-old boy. “Really?” But why? We were en route from our last RV park and had a reservation at the next stop. […]
Read MoreI had hope for the new doctor. His assistant said he is persistent, will get to the bottom of what is going on. After two visits, he has dismissed me. Maybe it’s my fault. I have been noncompliant. I didn’t take the pills prescribed. I refused a CT scan with dye. In fairness, the doctor […]
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One Woman's Quest II 