Life, love, learning
This poem is dedicated to two people I love, and who have been struggling with significant changes in their lives…
Grief: a deadening blanket of unbearable and invisible pain
The loneliness of my grief is sometimes like my private torment, only visible to my heart and soul… I try desperately to hide my tears, to live inside my ‘denial bubble’, but every now and then the pain escapes. It is then that I realise that my eyes are filled with tears, and the indescribable sadness,…
Love, Lunacy, and a Life Fully Lived: Oliver Sacks, the Science of Seeing, and the Art of Being Seen by Maria Popova at BrainPickings
After publishing town blogs posts last week, five here, and five for Dementia Alliance International as part of our contribution to Dementia Awareness Week UK 2015, not surprisingly, I have been too tired to blog at all over the weekend! And then, when I had decided to have another day off, this wonderful post, by…
Dementia and dignity
Relationships Based on Obligation Lack dignity Dementia care Provided by people Low in respect For people with dementia Lacks dignity Love Without respect Lacks dignity
Love
As it is Sunday, and I had a late night attending the wedding of two very special young friends, I thought I’d add one of the readings from their wedding, which I found deeply moving and personally very meaningful. It is from Captain Correllis Mandolin, by Louis Bernieres. “Love is a temporary madness. It erupts…
Love
Love so that you will never regret Love so that everyone wins Love so that you are free to grieve Love so that you don’t hurt yourself Love without conditions Love like there is no tomorrow Love so that you don’t hurt others Love with all your heart Love for as long as you live…
Reflecting on 2013
The last twelve months have been full of some exciting adventures, a few major challenges, the birth of a couple of ‘babies’ of mine, some significant losses and quite a lot of grief. It has also been a time spent with family, and trips overseas and interstate for friends, family and advocacy work. We cannot go back to it…
A broken heart
Love … the focus of our hearts the reason forour being the joy in our day a look or a gentle touch Or the pain in our heart so broken when love is lost Philosophy and reason neither can heal the pain only time slows the hurt but that small place in our heart will always…
The joy of first times…
The first time man walked on the moon, the whole world stopped. In fact, most of us can remember exactly where we were when it happened. Virtually the whole world walked beside him, and the excitement and exhilaration that must have been felt by the astronauts and NASA team I am sure will live(d) with…
Love, Loss & Laughter – Living with Dementia
Also posted by Alzheimer’s Australia on Dementia Awareness Day, 21 September… I give up. You will have to open the link below to view the film!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUT3qQFWDvw Published on Sep 19, 2013 http://www.firefilms.com.au A filmmaker’s devotion to her grandmother, who has been living with dementia for 15 years, has been the inspiration behind a film…
Happy (Australian) Fathers Day
To all the great dads out there, we love you xoxox
Love, memory and dementia
It is on the ‘bad’ days that feeling the love of others makes all the difference, even though on the ‘good’ days it feels great too! On the bad days, when all seems doom and gloom, the open love of others, and the memories of that love can turn things around. I was lucky enough to…
Home from the UK
It seems like I’ve been away for weeks, rather than just six days. We have covered some ground, both physically and emotionally, from meeting imaginary friends to old ones. The range of emotions has been a roller coaster of highs and lows, as the joy of friendship, overshadowed at times by the sadness of grief…
Saturday poem: Friendship
Friendship Weekends full of friends Friendship filling the hallways With laughter love and kinship That outweighs forgetfulness Photographs of days gone by Of children all grown up Nappies teething rings and toddlers Transformed by the years Into brilliant young men and women Fulfilling their own dreams and spaces Reminding us we are getting old Laughter transforming…
Saturday poem: Facing fear
Fear hiding inside our heart Facing us to look within To search for new ways of being Fear instilled its ugly self Right back alongside our soul Taunting us to give in to it Fear put back in its place Rising above the negativity With love and laughter A new day born without fear
