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Suicide and Aging: What you need to know

Conference Take-Aways, Conferences, Contemplation in Action, Healing Grief & Loss, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

Today at Brooksby Village (a continuing-care retirement community) in Danvers, MA, I attended a four-hour “Suicide and Aging: Gatekeeper Workshop,” presented by the Samaritans of Merrimack Valley (Family Services of the Merrimack Valley). I learned that white men over age 75+ with access to firearms are the greatest risk group; and for every homicide reported, […]

Edith Stands with ADA25Boston March

ADA 25th Anniversary: Boston Commoners are We!

Announcements, Celebration, Conference Take-Aways, Contemplation in Action, Healing Grief & Loss, News, Reflection, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

A person with disabilities of my own, I was grateful to make it down to the Boston Common for the ADA25Boston Celebration yesterday, thanks to Edith, my beloved get-it-done/personal-care assistant and companion, who drove us down from our home in the Topsfield wilderness. Edith helped us get to the start of the march, at the […]

Mary's Private Notes: MAP Conference 2015: Alz.Assoc. MA/NH

Robin Hood Redux: MAP Conference 2015: Mary’s Private Notes

Conference Take-Aways, Conferences, Contemplation in Action, Healing Grief & Loss, News, Reflection, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

This is the second in a series of two posts. 1st post in this series: Robin Hood Redux: MAP Conference 2015: About 80% of long-term-care services in the USA are provided by (often unpaid) family caregivers. Many in this population do not have access to the latest and greatest conference presentations due to barriers financial, […]

Robin Hood Redux: MAP Conference 2015: About

Conference Take-Aways, Conferences, Contemplation in Action, Healing Grief & Loss, News, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

This is the first in a series of two posts. 2nd post in this series: Robin Hood Redux: MAP Conference 2015: Mary’s Private Notes 80% of long-term-care services in the USA are provided by (often unpaid) family caregivers. Many in this population do not have access to the latest and greatest conference presentations due to […]

Breaking to Write: Broke Me Open

Contemplation in Action, Healing Grief & Loss, News, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

As you friends in the Christian tradition begin your trek out to the desert wilderness (don’t forget your backpack snacks and water bottle!), don’t worry ’bout being alone – I’ve been out here for at least the past 90 days peering into my past and examining the who done it, the where, when, what, how, […]

Recovering Personal Files

Harmony at Home, Phase 3: 16 of 18 Sessions: Personal Unraveling… Reconciling

Contemplation in Action, Estate Management, Healing Grief & Loss, News, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

Seven years ago I left everything to care for my mom, a state away, living with dementia. My personal paperwork was packed, not to be seen again for a very long time (I still have several pallets stacked high with boxes from 2007). Since moving to our current home in 2009 with the effects of […]

Yoga Room Reclaimed!

Harmony at Home, Phase 3: 11+ of 18 Sessions: Sweet as Pie

Celebration, Contemplation in Action, Estate Management, Healing Grief & Loss, News, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

Just in time for a Thanksgiving Day celebration with family and friends, we made a final push yesterday to clear the sunny yoga room of estate boxes I had decided were *easy* – or, the easiest emotionally of the three groups we triaged months ago in March/April (the other two groups include The Box Room […]

Register Today for the Take Time Retreat Nov.13 in N. Andover MA

Announcements, Contemplation in Action, News

An early registration discount is available through end-of-day tomorrow, November 6! What: Family Caregivers Take Time! Retreat When: Thursday, Nov. 13, 9:30am – 1:30pm Where: Rolling Ridge Retreat Center in North Andover, MA With heartfelt compassion for those who truly need this retreat at this time, ~ Mary Learn more about this retreat: Family Caregivers […]

Begin Again: Yoga Practice

Tired of Living Like a Refugee

Contemplation in Action, Estate Management, Healing Grief & Loss, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

Or, yet another example of Start Where You Are (Chödrön, P., 1994) Nearly six years after our move to this home in Topsfield, MA (February 17, 2009), and the traumas of losing both parents, now water under the bridge… continually falling ever-so-softly down a rocky edge to a deep pool below… I’m noticing moss and […]

Paper Freedom-Trail

Contemplation in Action, Estate Management, Healing Grief & Loss, Survivor's Mission, Trauma Recovery & Renewal

The spiritual-emotional benefits of getting paperwork in order are real. Papers marching to the tune of determined intentions are forming meaning ne’er before seen, like the beauty of synchronized swimmers… In these new forms, I am beginning to see the patterns of values, service, community feedback, and improvements integrated, which I had known were there […]