November 16, 2015 Crisis Support
The only way to do this is slowly and often painfully, while holding fast to a glimmer of hope for the future. There is no point in ignoring the grief, or putting on a facade of bravery, because later, it…
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November 16, 2015 Crisis Support
How deeply saddening this question is. Suicide is a last resort for many whose lives are meaningless or full of pain. When someone is hurting, it seems utterly callous to label them as cowardly. It must be acknowledged that there…
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It is many years since a “first date” was part of my life experience, but I think, male and female, we remain, so despite the passing of time, some things stay the same. My “dumb things” list is offered from…
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November 4, 2015 Style and Beauty - Other
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, real beauty is on the inside. From life experiences and time after time, I can affirm that I have met many beautiful people, and they have never conformed to the accepted norms of aesthetic…
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Do Anything – But Don’t Step on My Blue Suede Shoes I feel for Elvis, with that cry from the heart, as he tried to protect his pride and joy, those shoes. I expect he knew back then that the…
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Patent leather shoes are always a stylish addition to any wardrobe, and thankfully, they seem to be back in fashion. There is no need to fall for the salesperson’s hype when you are buying your shoes,as they will always try…
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October 30, 2015 Communication
Learning how to say “No” nicely is a skill that is easy to develop. It can be done in such a way as to never give offence or cause bad feeling between the person who is asking and the one…
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October 26, 2015 Marriage and Divorce
When we met, about five years ago, I was so happy to have a man who really cared. He called me to tell me how much he missed me, made me the center of his world, and after about six…
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October 22, 2015 Crisis Support
If we do not mourn for the dead, we do not value the lives of those we have lost. If we do not mourn, we fail to respect the contributions of those who are gone. If we do not mourn,…
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October 15, 2015 Skin and Body
There is a deal of ambiguity in this title; it could be taken as either an insult or as a refuting of the so-called beauty standards with which we are bombarded. The reason it could be deemed insulting comes from…
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October 11, 2015 Communication
From a very early age, I can remember how telling the truth was an important value in my family. I learned that I was more likely to get into trouble for wrong-doing if I lied about it. The punitive measures…
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No matter how mature, how confident, how well-adjusted an individual might be, being stood up is equal to a slap in the face or a punch in the gut. It is demoralizing, belittling and downright painful. Consider what the stood…
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The ability of how to find humor in an embarrassing moment stems from the capacity to laugh at yourself, to stop taking yourself so seriously, just curb your ego. Embarrassment is a feeling of being awkward or ashamed, and why…
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September 17, 2015 Communication
In a so-called civilized society, it comes as a constant surprise that people feel they have the right to insult others. The most common form of insults seems to be the spoken word, though a dismissive shrug or a negative…
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September 13, 2015 Communication
Arguments are a fact of life which often appear to just arise out of nothing. In truth,most of us would admit that the argument itself is when the top blows off some busily-fermenting problem that has been bubbling under the surface…
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First, it has to be stated categorically that not all people cheat. Thankfully, most people are honest, loyal and moral enough to consider cheating to be the last thing they would ever do. But…and it is a very big BUT,…
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Skin is something that many have been guilty of neglecting. Certainly, during the past five decades or so, the desire to get a golden tan has wrought havoc with all skin types, especially sensitive skin. That havoc, as we now know, has become…
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I would much rather deal with an angry, six foot tall, red in the face person, shouting and venting their anger at me, than anyone who employs the underhand methods of behavior involved in passive aggression. It is a slippery,…
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Imagine you have just met a friend in order to share some exciting, vitally important news about yourself. Greetings and pleasantries over, coffee in front of you both, you launch into your tale, eager to share and expecting a reaction. …
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Communication is basically about connecting and sharing with other human beings, by meaningful interaction. Skilled communicators are those people who show that they are really listening and understanding, by various means. One of the best ways to demonstrate listening skills, and…
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By the age of 50, you might be forgiven for heaving a sigh of relief and dusting off the holiday brochures. You have worked hard, your children are grown, with homes of their own, your parents are comfortable. Take off…
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“Welcome to the Hotel Mamapapa…” (apologies to the Eagles).These words could be the boomerang kids’ anthem. For whatever socio-economic reasons, over the past 15 years, 69% of male and 50% of female children aged between 20 and 30, are going…
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It is only human to have different points of view and to wish to express these to other humans. It is also only human to want your point of view to be seen as very important, especially if it is…
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Such unsightly little devils just seem to appear overnight, as if some evil little imp has dropped soot over our sleeping faces. In fact, we know it is a build-up of sebum and grime, from various sources, that clogs pores…
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Family reunions are rather like a Victorian Christmas, an idealized, sparkly, perfect celebration of peace and goodwill to all. The preparations, the picture postcard images and the loving intentions can never surmount the one problematical element in this reunion scenario…
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The sad fact about giving and receiving comfort after a miscarriage is that some well-meaning friends and relativeness either do not know what to say, or have no true understanding of the pain this traumatic event causes. Some individuals consider a miscarriage to be…
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A long time ago, or so it now seems, when I was young and becoming fashion conscious, shaped like an apple with legs, the only advice about dressing to look thinner was “Wear black and NO horizontal stripes!” Thank goodness…
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Sarcasm, is a bitter or wounding use of words, usually delivered with an ironic twist that sometimes allows it to be turned into a joke. But there is no doubt, it can hurt to be on the receiving end of…
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I have two hearing aids, currently residing at the back of a kitchen drawer, and I am a very active listener. I have to be, in order to ‘hear’ (lip read), and to let others know I am receiving them,…
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There is nothing more precious than a letter from your beloved. Unlike texts, emails and phone calls, this letter can be kept for ever, treasured and read and re-read for as long as the love lasts. Knowing that your words…
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