Open To What Is Next
Dad’s Words to Me
In the last year of my father’s life, it was necessary for him to have minor surgeries every few months. He rolled with these and recovered each time, able to enjoy the year with my mother in their new community where she was beginning to receive assisted living support. At this point, she was in the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s and they were able to participate in various social activities ranging from chair yoga to a singing group to dinners with new friends. Read more


I’m not sure how this was possible but upon graduating from college, I embarked on a job hunt without ever having practiced a mock interview with the university’s career department. While my business major pals were scripted and ready, this liberal arts gal was a bit less prepared. When the interviewer posed a detailed situational question that sought to determine how I would handle a problem employee, these are the words that came out of my mouth: I’d fire him! Perhaps some of you are thinking that my response was right on but that wasn’t judged to be case.
In this economy. Listen carefully to what someone says after those three words and you’ll learn something about that person’s belief system. Even optimists can’t help but be affected by the fearful refrain being drilled into us from every quarter. Current economic factors are impacting our livelihoods, our health and overall outlook. It’s challenging us and it’s stressful. Even so, it’s important to recognize the danger of allowing the “in this economy” mindset to skew our decisions and actions. You can ask the question, “What can I do in this economy?” in one of two ways: one implies “why bother?” and the other invites a creative solution.