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The Concept of Acceptance in Grief
About Grief Grief is a natural response to loss. That loss can come from the death of a person, a pet, a relationship, and even such things as a dream. Grief is the anguish experienced in response to that loss, and it can include physiological distress and separation anxiety. Grief happens with the awareness that…
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What Do You Do With Your Grief?
“I nearly tripped over the shards of my broken heart as I pushed my cart through the local Walmart. They were everywhere, threatening to tumble me into an unrecoverable depression. The greatest amount were scattered among the skateboards and bicycles, tempting memories of better days to come flooding forward.” This slice of life is from…
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Love, Interrupted
After twelve lonely months, he came back to me. I held him in my arms—oh, the warmth of his body, the smell of his soft tresses. I buried my face into his strawberry blonde hair and breathed deeply. When I pulled back and looked into his face, he kissed me on the nose, just like…
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Create and Cultivate a Personal Ritual
My last blog post was about the power of ritual and how it differs from routine. Now let’s look at how to create and cultivate a personal ritual—one that is uniquely and intimately yours. To recap its definition, ritual is steeped in meaning. It requires preparation, focus and full awareness. Symbolism is laced throughout, providing…
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Power of Ritual
Mention the word “ritual” and people’s reactions are quite varied. Some conjure up images of evil doings, magic practices and casting spells. Others roll their eyes at religious rites performed without change and declare they’re void of meaning. Many, though cling to the significance of ordered ceremonies, celebrations or individual acts that remain static. What…
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Go Where You Feel Most Alive
My hike around Devil’s Tower National Monument in Wyoming was coming to an end. The 1.3-mile Tower Trail meanders around the massive stone pillar that rises 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River. Orange construction netting lined the trail as it neared a parking area—not a pretty sight compared to the Tower behind me. And…
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Aquatic Bliss: Swim Yourself Healthy, Happy and Holy
With its heat advisories and droughts, summer can sometimes wear us down. Throw in economic issues, fuel prices and life’s troubles and people often become more irritable as the days grow hotter. But those rising temperatures have a positive side as well: lakes and pools become so warm that swimming is possible well into the…
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Celebrating Fragrances, Scents and Aromas: 50 Favorites
The sense of smell is one of the gateways to an abundant life. Every moment is an opportunity to be aware of all the pleasant fragrances, scents and aromas that life has to offer. When this awareness is cultivated throughout one’s life, then memories of our favorites can bring us peace, contentment and joy. Last…
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Value of Endings
A quote attributed to Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher born in 544 B.C., states, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” The effects of wind, water and sediment modify the river; education, maturity and life experiences transform humanity. Everything changes and evolves,…