Category Archives: seniors

The Resurrection of a Memory

Growing up in the Children’s Hospital you really have little control over your day to day life. You learn quickly two things, routine is very structured and your activities are very planned. I knew everyday that a nurse would be there at 8am, noon, 4:30pm and again around 9pm to check temperatures, blood pressure, heart […]
Read More »

Activist or Advocate?

Advocacy is often seen as working “within the system” whereas activism is seen as working “outside the system” to generate change. I think this is really useful, as clearly the role or issue can shift from one to the other. – Author unknown I have fifty years experience as an activist with another 25 years of advocacy experience […]
Read More »

Writing From Frustration

(A variant quote) – “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission” – Grace Hopper With the writ finally coming down for the next federal election it is time to start writing again. I have ignore my writing all summer while I took on other challenges only to realize my absence of expression only […]
Read More »

Return to Sender

“A lesson learnt and not shared is destined to become a lesson lost on wasted time” – Terry Wiens (2019) I stopped writing about six weeks ago thinking my publishing days were over. In part because one just gets tired of writing the same thing over and over by finding different words but also in […]
Read More »

Syphoning Hope

“When I was young my ambition was to be one of the people who made a difference in this world.  My hope is to leave the world a little better for having been there” – Jim Henson I think most people are born with a certain amount of hope. I believe I was born with […]
Read More »

It’s the Not the Attention We Receive That Counts, it’s the Attention We Pay

“When you pay attention to boredom it gets unbelievably interesting” – Jon Kabat-Zinn I became a fan and follower of Jon Kabat-Zinn early in my career as a mental health therapist.  His teachings not only contributed to my job performance but blended well into my every day life.  Living with a disability while maximizing ones […]
Read More »

The Building Blocks of Youth

“To take children seriously is to value them for who they are right now rather than adults-in-the-making.” ~ Alfie Kohn We all like to see our kids enjoying themselves.  We all want to protect our kids however there is a big difference between “protecting” and “hiding” them from the realities of the world.  Too many […]
Read More »

The Road Forward, The Path Behind

“One can talk good and shower down roses, but it’s the receiver who has to walk through the thorns, and all its false expectations” – Anthony Liccione  I just read an article by a Chris Lenart describing the involvement of fathers in the lives of their disabled child.  I don’t know Chris personally and there is […]
Read More »

The Precipice of Aging

The Precipice For sixty years they had been wed, In thirteen seconds they would be dead, She is frail and oh so ill, But to live without her he has no will. Perching on the precipice high, Holding her close with a smile they will die. The love they have shared for all of these […]
Read More »

Hodge-Podge and Little Things

“Eclectic yet classic with a playful bohemian twist is how I would describe my style” – Alice Temperley    I will borrow Alice’s quote posted above to kick off this little write up.  It’s five o’clock in the morning and I’ve been awake since 4:30.  It is not uncommon for me to wake up once […]
Read More »