Posts Tagged "loss"
Managing Change and Transition
From Personal to Organizational I thought I was handling the loss of my friend in a very mature and healthy way but as I suffered with stomach pain and loss of sleep I began to rethink my reality. I shared my thoughts with a friend of mine when I told her “I realized I wasn’t managing so well when I came home and immediately ordered pizza for supper,” and all this was happening during my starting the new Weight Watchers program! Good grief, what was I thinking? Maybe managing transition around grief and loss isn’t so easy even if you’re an experienced health care professional and you’ve had lots of personal experience. I know the intellectual steps...
Read MoreMid-Life Aging… Gracefully
I’ve been reading a book called The Age of Miracles by Marianne Williamson and enjoying the conversation about mid-life and the aging process for the baby boomer generation. Having time to think during my rehabilitation the past several months has brought to mind decisions I wanted to put off for a few more years. Like what? Well thinking about giving up a house that has four levels for one thing, having a broken ankle and being restricted to the family room all winter was quite an eye opener. The question arises, how do we age gracefully? What decisions do we make and when do we make them? Somehow we all think we have “time” to make those...
Read MoreI Remember Susie
I’ve been re-reading the book by Thomas Ellis on This Thing Called Grief. I want to be prepared for the Anniversary of my sister Susie’s death, she died unexpectedly last April. During the past few weeks I’ve been thinking of my sister as I go about my daily routine, pictures and memories just seem to pop into my mind. Perhaps it’s because it’s spring and I’ve been outside every day just to feel the sun on my face and arms, it reminds me of childhood memories of spring. I’ve felt renewed as I watch people in the community starting to walk, jog, bike and work in their yards preparing the ground for fresh green...
Read MoreBegin Here “Helping Survivors Manage”
Healing is hard work, it may not seem so but it is. I’ve been home bound as I wait for my broken ankle to heal and for me the hard part is learning to be patient. You’ll understand my disappointment when I say I got a call from my doctor this week to tell me the new x-ray shows the bones are misaligned and she is recommending another surgery, gosh just when I was feeling like I was closing in on the finish line. It’s hard not to feel sorry for myself but when I think of how others manage more serious grief I know there are things worse than sitting at home with my leg up on a pillow. I recall the...
Read MoreHoliday Healing
Taking time to heal these past few weeks has been a gift; I’ve realized how many caring family and friends I have. I’m grateful for all those that have continued to take time these past five weeks (yes it’s been five weeks already) to call, send notes, bring food and gifts or just stop by to visit during this very busy time of year. I’m grateful for the real gift of true compassion, generous and compassionate family and friends. I took time this week to send Christmas cards and I wanted to write a special note to those that are facing a loss for the first time. I remember last year facing the holidays without my father and this year instead of feeling like...
Read MoreQuick Bio
Mary Chapa is a multi-talented woman with a background in nursing leadership, quality management and business development in both health care and private industry; she's also a writer and a passionate holistic health practitioner living in Minnesota.
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