Dealing with Grief and Fears

By the time we reach our 60s, we have known loss in many forms. That makes us especially attuned to the pain of others. When we hear about children trafficked into labor, women exploited in brothels, or families torn apart by poverty and migration, something in us aches. We recognize…

I was visiting in the UK, traveling by train between Manchester and Shrewsbury en route to Wales. Seated in one of those foursome seats with a table between, I shared conversation with two women traveling from different locations in England…

Do you feel that you are always expected to be the listener and to show an interest in others’ lives? And do you feel frustrated when others don’t listen to what you want to share? A number of women have told me that those whom they had just listened…

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and it reminds me of the importance of noticing changes in our loved ones’ state of mind and encouraging them to seek help. Prevention is key since suicide is a permanent solution to what can often be a temporary problem…

The news of Charlie Kirk’s tragic death hit me in an unexpected way. I was in shock and disbelief. I didn’t know him. Not really. We never met, never shared a conversation, and yet I felt a wave of sadness I couldn’t quite explain. It almost feels embarrassing to admit…

It all started with one question: “What can I do?” So much wrong and out of whack in the world; so much suffering; too few remedies to solve the ever-increasing problems. But individuals across the globe are responding, one by one, with surprising and heartwarming solutions…

Have you noticed that sometimes people don’t speak to disabled or ill persons because they don’t really know what to say? The same is true about caregivers. If friends don’t know exactly what to say to us, sometimes they say nothing at all…

Grief after 60 is not only about losing people we love. It is also about losing plans, places, routines, and a sense of security. Today’s economy and politics make these losses feel sharper. Prices rise. Neighborhoods change. Health costs climb. Some of us are thinking about moving to another town, another state, or even another […]

Recently, a client was telling me she’d had some bad health news. Thankfully, on further tests and following check-ups the news wasn’t so bad, but, it began a conversation on what she had learned. We discussed the possible situation of having…

When the bowl fell and broke into pieces, I felt shattered into pieces as well. The grief over this little broken object was shocking and completely inadequate. Yet it was real, and it was deep. Looking for answers, here’s what I found: 1. The Bowl Was a Symbol of Loss It was one of three […]