Once upon a time in a busy metropolitan area, there existed a vinyl siding installation company. Six crews worked for this company, so the owner was always on the hunt for new employees - mostly young people. One day, the owner hired a teenager. The young man was very excited to have a job. On the first day, the new employee trained side-by-side with the disgruntled crew supervisor, who did not feel it was his responsibility to teach trainees. On day two, the young trainee was left to himself to … [Read more...]

Seven years ago, after spending the night sitting at my mother's bedside, I left the hospital at 6 a.m. to catch a train, knowing that my sister would shortly come to take my place. In those few minutes of her being alone, my mum died. There are many stories like this, of devoted families caring for a loved one and then the actual death happening when no one is there. It seems that many people want to be alone when they start their new journey.Once I was in a house in a remote part of Ireland … [Read more...]

Back in 1999, I recall falling asleep standing up at a bar, while talking with friends at night, and playing cards or board games. In fact, I pretty much fell asleep any time after 9:30 p.m. if I wasn't heavily caffeinated, and even that sometimes didn't help. My energy stayed fairly high throughout the day, but come nighttime, I was sluggish. In 2000, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I was rather surprised, at first thinking my only indication was the nighttime fatigue. But I also had a low … [Read more...]

Have you ever noticed how busy the mind can be when you're cooking? Whether you feel cooking is a chore or really enjoy the creativity involved, you might want to consider using cooking time as an opportunity to practice being aware in the moment. Smelling the fragrances of herbs and spices, feeling your arm as you stir or chop, test tasting as you go, voices in the next room. All of what's happening can be taken in and let be. Focusing with the task-at-hand, without getting caught up in … [Read more...]

Michele Blood, Keynote speaker, Edge Life Expo "Become a Powerful Magnet to Money and Success" Room 101BC, 5-7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 11, free CD to Attendees, $17 in Advance, $20 at the Door Michele Blood is a motivational speaker who has worked worldwide and shared the stage with such notables as Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Stuart Wilde, Bob Proctor and others. Her recorded and written works have the power to literally change your life. She discovered MusiVation after a … [Read more...]

What would you do if your best friend had breath so foul that you couldn't share the same air space? What if he or she had brown slimy chunks of tartar and pale-green pus hanging off his or her teeth and gums? And the very act of chewing made their gums bleed? As a veterinarian for many years, I have seen how our beloved pets suffer from the painful symptoms mentioned above, yet they are unable to communicate the pain they are experiencing. Often what most of us translate as fear and … [Read more...]