This time of year, kids going off to their freshman year of college are busy preparing for the big day.  So are their parents. There is a lot  to buy, logistics to work out, and last minute crises. It’s a hectic time. Parents are writing big checks. Teens are saying goodbye to friends. It’s a major transition for everyone—the new college student, parents, and siblings left at home. Read more about Going to college

My friend, Dixie, 99 years old, is coming to the end of her life. She lives with her son and daughter-in-law who are providing hospice care for her. For the last seven years, I had lunch with Dixie and her son every week at a local restaurant. But now, she can’t leave the house or walk unassisted. She sleeps most of the day, slips in and out of awareness, and slowly, but surely her organs are shutting down. She is like a candle flame that is flickering. Read more about Preparing for end of life

Mary feels disconnected from her husband Joe— “I just feel so alone” she says. Married for 20 years with three children, she’s going through a hard time. They love each other, but Joe is a very different person than Mary. She’s more emotional—wanting touch and affection. Joe is more likely to intellectualize his feelings. I can see that Joe feels bad about Mary’s loneliness. Read more about Love is a verb

My wife and I are in our second year as grandparents to two lovely girls, ages 15 and 17 months. Our daughters announced to my wife when they were teenagers that they were both going to have children at the same time and lo and behold they both became pregnant within two months of each other! Read more about Grandparenting 101

In the 1980’s, Kaiser Permanente commissioned a study to investigate the treatment of obesity. A researcher, Dr. Vincent Felitti was asked to consider all possible approaches. Obesity is associated with many serious chronic health problems. If Dr. Felitti could find a solution to this health problem, a great deal of suffering could be avoided. He decided to try a simple approach--fasting under medical supervision. Not surprisingly, many adults lost vast amounts of weight quickly. But something happened that didn't make sense to him. Read more about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and health status

I recently saw a delightful movie, “One Chance”, about a Brit, Paul Potts, who won a talent show in the early 2000’s. It’s a feel-good movie about a real person who loved to sing as a child. Growing up in Wales, he was constantly bullied and harassed by the other kids, but it didn’t deter him from singing. He struggled with misfortune and disappointment. But at the end of the day, he took a big risk and won the big prize. It’s a story about an “everyman” who doesn’t let go of his dream. Watch the movie and see the YouTube videos about him. It’s a heartwarming story. Read more about One chance