Quote for the Week

Wintston Churchill

More About Survival

Just finished reading this book. While it's mostly about surviving physical trauma, it applies to emotional trauma as well. In fact, the author says we're all survivors. No one gets through life without a few tragedies.


I've managed to survive both physical and emotional trauma--I suffered third degree burns when I was 19 and spent three months in the hospital--so I was especially interested in the qualities that survivors share. Here are the ten listed:

Adaptibility
Resilience
Faith
Hope
Purpose
Tenacity
Love
Empathy
Intelligence
Ingenuity
Flow
Instinct


My top three were:
Purpose
Tenacity
Hope

Here's my question. What do you think your top three survivor qualities are? I'd love to read your comments.

Quote for the Week

Unable are the loved to die
For love is immortality.

Emily Dickinson

Stereotypes

Don't you hate widow stereotypes? Months before my husband died, I pictured myself as a widow, and the image certainly wasn't flattering. A dried up, sad old lady with lips turned down and shoulders hunched. But isn't that the connotation of a lot of widow synonyms? Dowager, beldam, crone, hag. Even matron doesn't sound too cool.

Then there are the other words for widow, words that imply she's a woman on the make. Words like vamp, vixen, flirt, siren. And of course there's the evil black widow.

Personally, I prefer the word survivor. The basic definition is "one who survives." That doesn't tell you much. The legal definition is "one who outlives a spouse."

But the definition I like best is "a person who continues to function in spite of opposition, hardships or setbacks." Folks, that's us!

See you in seven.

New Publication

My article "A Tale of Two Doctors: The Patient's Point of View" is now on http://www.survivorsreview.org/ an online publication. Hope you'll take a look.

Quote for the Week

In the end these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you learn to let go?" — Siddhārtha Gautama (Buddha)

Tips for a Healthy New Year

When I was a little girl and I was unhappy or disappointed, my mother would say, "At least you have your health." Tell that to a kid who didn't make the drill squad. But now those words suddenly make sense. As life goes on, health becomes more important. So here's my tip for a healthy year.

Go to www.realage.com and start by taking the Real Age test. After answering a few questions, you'll learn if your real age is younger or older than your chronological age. What makes you younger? Health history and healthy habits. You even get to subtract months if you floss your teeth--it helps prevent infections. My real age is 8 years below my chronological age, which always makes me feel great. And if yours isn't, well the website gives you tips for becoming a younger, healthier you . No, it doesn't get rid of wrinkles,though I believe it does recommend some moisturizers, etc. And no, it doesn't get rid of sags and bags, but it does recommend some great at-home exercise programs.

If you sign up, the website will send you weekly suggestions of healthy foods, vitamins, other ways to stay healthy. Realage was established by the famous You Docs, authors of such books as You on a Diet, You Staying Young, etc. I love the You Docs and highly recommend their books. Whoever "you" are, there's probably a book that will fit your needs.

Wishing you a healthy 2010