Military Appreciation Month and Memorial Day

It is fitting that military appreciation month and Memorial Day fall in the same month.  I am so grateful for the people like my son who devoted their lives to keep us safe.  I always knew when my son was in the military that decisions with which he was involved would be of high integrity.

Now we move into Memorial Day weekend:  the time to remember all of the military who gave their lives for our freedom.  The men and women over the centuries who have been willing to serve and put themselves in danger.  Thank you and may you be resting in the arms of God.

Thanks to the Military

I want to take this opportunity to thank all service men and women who have devoted some of their life to keeping us safe and free.  Thank you.  Thank you!

World Peace

Would you join me in a prayer -- or if prayer is not your thing -- in the thought of world peace.  Peace starts with ourselves, so let's take a deep breath or two, relax and wish our world and fellow citizens peace.

Choices

If you are feeling trapped or overwhelmed in your caregiving - or in life in general - it is good to take time to consider -- what are my choices?  For good mental health it is optimal to come up with 3 choices for every situation.  Have fun with it.

Nature

Spending time in nature is an excellent way to be more mindful.  Especially in the spring when new life is popping out all over.  Let's be enthralled, seduced by the beauty of nature.

Seeing the Good

It is so easy when we are busy with caregiving to be overwhelmed by all the things we have to do and - perhaps - all the things that are going wrong.  It is a worthwhile practice to consider often - what is right about our life?  About what am I grateful?

Life Review

Do you periodically take a life review?  I think it is important.  I find that sometimes my time allocation is not optimal for my priorities.  Considering our life, what we want and if our time is allocated appropriately to those priorities can be very valuable.

Wisdom

"I offer what has surprised me in my pain:  that life is not fair, but unending in its capacity to change us; that compassion is fair and feeling is just; and that we are not responsible for all that befalls us, only for how we receive it and for how we hold each other up along the way."
Mark Nepo

Since I have written about being sick the last few weeks, I want to share that I think Mark Nepo is right.  Challenges befall us.  Germs overtake us, a rock thrown cracks our windshield, the job we wanted we did not get.  It is not personal, nor is it a matter of being punished.  Things just happen.  Let us be gentle with ourselves.   

Gratitude

Thank you, blog readers, for your wishes of good health and reminders to take care of myself.  After two trips to the doctor and two antibiotics, I think I am on my way back to health.  I appreciate you and your reminders that we must take care of our own well being.

Offline

I just wanted to explain why I have been offline.  I have been very ill with an upper respiratory illness.  Rough stuff, but isn't the spring in the northern hemisphere great?  Good weather.  Some good news around the world.  Prayers for peace and well being for us all and the world.