Interview with Natasha Alexenko
I am pleased to present Natasha Alexenko, a woman who epitomizes the concept of taking lemons and making lemonade. She has taken her personal trauma and turned it into a most meaningful endeavor of helping others in similar situations. Ms. Alexenko is a survivor of sexual assault. A newcomer to New York, she was just […]
5 Ways To Soothe Your Soul
Ever need that solitary boost – when you’re feeling a bit down or quietly introspective or just need to recharge yourself? How do you soothe your soul? What brings you back to a calmer state, a feeling of well-being, of security and warmth? 5 Ways to soothe your soul: 1. Sit by the ocean watching […]
How To Have A Good Vacation – Luggage-Free
My husband and I just returned from our activity-filled vacation week to New Mexico. When we saw our zebra-like suitcase appear on the baggage carousel we got excited. It brings to mind our luggage-free vacation a couple of years ago. Apparently our suitcase had done some good traveling throughout Italy while we spent our 10 […]
10 Ways to Help Someone Going Through a Tough Time
Let’s reflect on some basic ways of reaching out and providing support to a friend, family member, or even acquaintance who is going through a hard time. We tend to feel alone with our troubles. We feel nobody else knows what we’re going through. This feeling of isolation further adds to the despair of the […]
Interview with Natalie Taylor
“I’ve reached a place where I can say that grief is not about recovery or resolution or being fully healed. It’s about living without someone, but still embracing life.” I am pleased to introduce Natalie Taylor, a young woman who has unfortunately learned about the fragility of life way too early – at the beginning of […]
What Can Laughter Do?
I am pleased to reprint a taste of my guest post, published today on Alex Blackwell’s inspiring blog, The Bridgemaker. “What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.” Yiddish Proverb I attended a laughter workshop recently. I figured it was high time to experience something new, and hopefully take away some tidbits […]
Daughter and Mother Adjust To Being ‘On My Own’
In thinking about transitioning and moving on, as I am about to be doing in my ‘retirement’ now, I think about this past year’s big change in having my daughter move out on her own. Moving on takes many forms. For Nava, my daughter with disabilities, it has meant her moving into a group home. We […]
Retirement – Moving On
I did it – the big R word – Retired. I submitted my retirement papers to the New York City Department of Education. Twenty years as an early childhood social worker. I am actually leaving ‘early’, not waiting to reach maximum benefits. So when my workmates ask me why, my answer is “because I want […]
The Power of Listening: Helping Someone Through a Difficult Time
I am pleased to reprint the beginning of my guest post, published yesterday on Tess Marshall’s wonderful blog, The Bold Life. It’s often hard to know what to say to a friend or loved one during his/her trying times. We don’t know the ‘right’ words. We are uncomfortable with their pain. We feel helpless. And […]
Getting to ‘Thankful’ Can Help Get Through Hard Times
I’m still reeling from the incredibly inspirational interview with Jeni Stepanek last week. I feel drawn to continue a bit longer with this and hone in on one of Mattie’s poignant and wise- beyond- his years, comment. “If you have enough breath to complain about anything, you have more than enough reason to give thanks […]