My goal this year was to gain better focus. During this beautiful, busy chaotic time of year, I find myself easily distracted by everything happening around me.  My mind moves in every direction not to miss any excitement around the season. Instead of punishing myself for lack of focus, I apply focus to each distraction.  Each time my mind wanders I ask myself why I am thinking about this particular issue.   No matter how small or large the issue, I pray for clarity and opportunity to move forward.  I give thanks to Jesus for a solution before a solution is…

Suffering is difficult and very personal.  For several years now I have been a full-time caregiver.  I have learned some things worth sharing, however, every situation is uniquely different. In The Book of Joy, I remember reading that the Dalai Lama approaches every situation and person with compassion.  Every interaction, whether through the eyes, the voice, the touch, everything from a perspective of joy. Before reading The Book of Joy, I had numerous interactions with Path to Faith, an organization founded by the Nemeh’s with the mission of bringing people closer to God by experiencing His love and…

I was reminded today of the importance of being tactful.  There are so many ways to say or do the same thing and we have a choice on how we address every situation. While living in my current home, I have been approached three times with issues.  Each time the issue was legitimate and each time was handled very differently.  I would like to say that I have never been at the center of an issue, but many times I have been at fault without realizing it.   The first time was shortly after I moved in, my yappy yet incredible…

As we prepare for the holidays I take a deep breath and remember it is a special time to spread love, make memories, and be thankful.  I have already started to prepare myself for the normal stress of the season.  Understanding that things will come up, everything will not be perfect, and yet we can still enjoy the reason for the season.  I have come to realize that our purpose can be overshadowed by the quest to over-schedule our lives.  Looking back, I have learned to ask our family about their favorite moments.  Asking what parts are special and…