“You can’t get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.” ~Ernest Hemingway Most of us think of a vacation as an opportunity to “get away from it all.” We might explore a new city or country, or sip margaritas on a beach. The idea of escaping our problems (or boredom) by leaving home has always held tremendous appeal. Travel is a great distraction. Whether we’re wandering the streets of Paris or touring historic sites in Boston, we secretly hope we’ll return to our routines feeling more worldly or sophisticated. While a change of scenery is good for our mental health, we know that our worries, obligations, and…

“Sometimes the only sane answer to an insane world is insanity.” — Fox Mulder Earlier this spring, I made myself physically ill by consuming a nonstop stream of political news every night on cable TV. My blood pressure fluctuated wildly and my sleep was often disrupted by apocalyptic nightmares. I had to put an end to my nightly news addiction.  That’s why I’m grateful for Comet, the science fiction and fantasy broadcast network that focuses on cult classics such as Grimm and The X-Files. Now, every night before bed, I tune out the politics and catch up with special agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder. I’m happy to report that I have fewer nightmares now.…

“Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living in better conditions.” ~Hafiz There’s nothing like a breast biopsy — or any biopsy — to inspire a bucket-load of anxious thoughts. This week, a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound showed “abnormal” findings, which prompted the scheduling of the biopsy I’ll have at the hospital this afternoon. I’ve been through this in the past. For me, waiting is the hardest part when it comes to medical testing. So I was grateful to be scheduled so quickly for this procedure. Fear keeps me stuck in an endless loop of negative thinking, but positive action keeps me moving…

“I have insecurities and flaws, of course, but I don’t hang out with anyone who points them out to me.” ~Adele I was lucky to grow up with folks who believed in positive reinforcement. They encouraged my interests and were generous with praise and compliments. Their interpretation of the Golden Rule still resonates: “Be kind, respectful, and treat other people the way you want to be treated.” Over the years I’ve learned that not everyone was raised by the same operating instructions. So I had to develop a thicker skin, especially when I was the target of nasty remarks or thoughtless behavior. Sometimes constructive criticism is necessary and useful. And…

“Life seems sometimes like nothing more than a series of losses, from beginning to end. That’s the given. How you respond to those losses, what you make of what’s left, that’s the part you have to make up as you go.” ~Katharine Weber When a mother is the nucleus of a family, her death changes everything. Yesterday, my sister-in-law and I agreed that everything feels different, almost surreal, after our mother-in-law’s death on Saturday. Family life had revolved around her for years — and even more so as she neared the end of her life. Though all of us had expected this, our family will feel a bit unmoored while…