In early March, the pandemic felt like something far away, affecting mostly Europe, and Italy, in particular, where my husband’s family lives and two of his schoolmates succumbed to the disease. I was living at the time in Saudi Arabia and expecting to return to the US at the end of March, after 5 years. […]
Geoff Grant and I both share a passion for caregivers as we both have had to assume that role with loved ones in our families. We discuss how often the family caregiver is not valued as an integral part of the healing team and how well-meaning care providers may not include them in the conversation.
My granddaughter attended daycare, which she called “school”, from 4 until 21 months old. She learned to exist and to blossom, there. She enjoyed being the apple of her parents’ eyes at home and of grandparents’ eyes through FaceTime (neither my husband nor I were there except virtually as we were living abroad.) In the
Necessary separation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has meant many changes in many lives. Some are experiencing increased loneliness by not being able to see loved ones. Others are having trouble creating a balanceas work and life begin bleeding into one activity. Many have had to increasingly rely on technology (smartphones, computers, tablets,
In March 2020, Covid-19 officially caught fire in the United States of America. Panic set in as people realized they were vulnerable to what had up until then really been a worldwide problem, in spite of a few cases on the west coast. Ten weeks of virtual isolation made people feel the toll on their
The United States of America and I share birthdays. This Saturday, we will each become a year older. Will we also be a year wiser? I hope so, but sometimes I wonder. I have spent my adult life working on inclusivity particularly of the most vulnerable: those with special needs and disability. I spent the
Are we all deserving of compassion and forgiveness? It would be nice if the world were a peaceful place, ruled by justice and equality. Unfortunately, since the beginning of the world, history tells us a different story. Periods of great advances, political and social, alternate with periods of obscurantism and regression. Western societies are the
Today we are moving rapidly towards virtual everything: psychological support, schooling, work and meetings, exercise classes, cooking instructions, entertainment, webinars, gardening tips, and many more. Covid 19 has pummeled us in this direction even if we did not want to go there. Here are tips to remain productive and caring without falling victim to feelings
Whether you’re building a relationship within your personal life, at your workplace, or anywhere in between, it’s important to consider the role that effective communication plays in determining the strength of the connection. Clear and open communication provides the solid foundation for a healthy relationship. It helps quell a culture of toxicity before any unhealthy
When we say we’ve achieved diversity in the workplace and/or healthcare system, what does this actually look like? Are we simply ticking off check boxes, or ensuring that people are included and valued for who they are? When there is a disconnect between an organization’s diversity values and that of its employees and patients, this
How many people do you know seem caught in a cycle of getting up, going to work, putting in eight hours, coming home, and then starting from the beginning again? Depending on where we are in our careers and personal life journeys, it can be easy to find yourself “going through the motions” when dealing
Have you ever found yourself in a situation in which you’re pouring your heart out to someone, only to have them completely turn the focus of the conversation onto themself and making you realize they were not practicing attentive listening? Or perhaps you’ve been talking to a friend, and then they pull out their smartphone
