The ‘D’ Word

Everywhere in the news there are stories about the rising incident of the dreaded “D” disease. It seems there is more mass panic over developing Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia than developing cancer. When someone is diagnosed with cancer, the doctor will usually have a plan for the patient. There is treatment, hope for remission, and guidelines on what to do. But being diagnosed with dementia is different. When we left the doctor’s office 5 years ago after my husband,... 

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A Story with a Beautiful Message

This morning I was reading my email and I came across a story that I’ve read several times and each time it settles deep into my heart. It has a beautiful message. Here is an excerpt from the book, The Dash by Linda Ellis and Mac Anderson from Simpletruths.com… In the faint light of the attic, an old man, tall and stooped, bent his great frame and made his way to a stack of boxes that sat near one of the little half-windows. Brushing aside a wisp of cobwebs, he tilted the top box toward... 

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Food for Thought–SELF-LOVE

There is a saying…’you teach what you need to learn’. This is what I’m doing by writing and sharing what I’m learning about self-love. These past few years have been a time of massive personal growth and uncovering the ‘real’ Holly. It isn’t an easy process but definitely worth the sweat and tears that come along with it. Living with a husband with dementia has taught me about unconditional love, patience, surrendering to what is, and living in the present moment. In addition,... 

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Insightful Living from the Wild Side

If you are a subscriber to my newsletter–Tips for Insightful Living–you may have already read my  ’bear story’ but it is worth repeating in a blog. I gained so much from this incident that I wanted to share it with more readers. When someone is upset or having an angry moment, my sister says, “there’s a pony in there somewhere” (ie. A golden lesson). This past week I phoned her because I needed to ‘vent’ about a persistent bear hanging around our bird feeders. She... 

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Turning Down the Effort Knob

I am taking a year-long intuitive coaching course and one of my biggest lessons has been turning down the Effort knob. I had no idea that I have a tendency to make life more difficult than it really is. For example…before I travel to courses I used to fret about the list of things I had to do for Dave, the house, preparing meals, our pets etc. Last month I was speaking with a fellow colleague and telling her about my list and she simply said…”it  doesn’t have to be hard”.... 

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The Dance

There is a beautiful song written by Garth Brooks titled the Dance. The first time I read part of the lyrics was in an obituary in 1988. A young friend of my son was in a tragic horse accident and her father wrote…”how could I have known you’d ever say goodbye. And now I’m glad I didn’t know the way it all would end the way it all would go. Our lives are better left to chance. I could have missed the pain But I’d of had to miss the dance Holding you”. Every time I experience pain or... 

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My Husband with Dementia Teaches Me About Simple Pleasures

Dave loves to go on adventures. Whenever he is travelling in a car, riding his bike, or sitting on a bus, he is a ‘happy camper’. He constantly scans the fields and lampposts for birds, animals in the fields, and generally enjoying the changing scenery. Earlier this week Dave wanted to go into town and do a couple of errands. The roads are a bit icy so I drove him to the nearest city bus stop—10 km. away. When we are pulling up to the bus stop, Dave sees a young man waiting for the next bus.... 

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Pollyanna?

Last week I had an interesting interview with a National magazine reporter, Janet, about caregiving. She wanted to find a baby boomer caregiver who loves what they do. After answering questions on how my life (and our family) has changed and what’s so good about it, she made a comment that I have wondered a few times myself. She said she has heard these type of comments before and wondered whether people will think I am being a Pollyanna. I told her that I have questioned myself when friends ask... 

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Words of wisdom from a 20-something about her Dad with Dementia

This week I was finishing up my 5-week teleseminar series, Dementia Hope Formula, and for a special treat I had my daughter, Amy, speak honestly about how her life is changing with her Dad having dementia (frontotemporal) Amy : what has affected you the most about having a Dad who is different than the one you grew up with? I realize all of the great memories growing up–the teaching about the wilderness, and the patience he had. I am grateful for all that my Dad has given me in the past. I... 

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Cranky Thursday

This morning I was reading my journal and I came across an entry for September 23, 2010. It read… Yesterday I woke up after 6 hours and I was cranky. Usually I like to stretch for a few seconds and think about one thing I am grateful for. But not yesterday. I made coffee and then I got crankier because Dave woke up at 5 am to get ready to go to the gym with his buddy, Doug. I was upset because this is my quiet time of the day and Dave was interfering with it. Then I became even madder because I... 

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