The Coalition to End Social Isolation & Loneliness’ Post

Talking about (and sometimes even thinking about) our preferences regarding the ends of our lives can be difficult. But without those conversations, it’s so much harder to help those we love when they face end-of-life decisions, and it’s hard to get the support we need when the time comes for our own preferences to be acted upon. No matter your age or health status, I encourage you to review some of the resources available at Compassion & Choices’ website, think about the questions and issues presented there, and most importantly, discuss your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs with those close to you. https://lnkd.in/erCaedyp

"The more you give to others, the greater your abundance." This quote by Lau Tzu caught my eye, while reading "The Good Life", by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz. The book is based on the results on the longest running longitudinal study exploring what leads to longevity and flourishing. They boil the answer down to one factor that stands out the most - the quality of our relationships. I heard Dr. Waldinger speak at the Building Connected Communities this past fall, an event that highlighted the disturbing trend toward increased loneliness, and what we can do about it. I'm still reading the book, but the message thus far is definitely hopeful. Regardless of where we are in our life journey and challenges we might face, there are steps we can take to strengthen our relationships. Finding ways to give of ourselves to others is certainly one great way to develop meaningful relationships! More on that conference, including a link to more info on the book and other resources, can be found in this LinkedIn article that I wrote. https://lnkd.in/eQ7DtHeK #giving #cultivatingconnections #relationships #socialisolation #wednesdaywisdom

What would you do if you only had two cents to your name? It's 1937, coming out of the Great Depression, and my great-grandparents were there. I'm having so much fun with this project to publish Emma's journals--almost 10 years of them are online now. #familyhistory #journaling #iowahistory #stories

Book #5 That I read this year was: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman. Have you ever thought of writing a book yourself and then you read something that is so different and interesting that you pretty much chuck that idea out the window? Well, here I am. The world building and storytelling in this book are next level and something that I am not sure I could ever match. The book follows the story of young Elsa who is nearly inseperable from her grandmother. They share a secret language and an entire fantastical world full of stories, heros, and wonder. Elsa, only being 7 years, old assumes that this magical land and everything in it came completely from her grandmother's imagination. When her grandmother dies she realizes that all of the stories are based on real people. We see these people both through her eyes as well as through the eyes of her grandmother and as the story continues we can start to understand how and why they are all connected. We also get to witness the character growth of young Elsa as she processes the loss of her grandmother and learns how to open up to more people and participate in the world around her. The book weaves back and forth between this other world (the Land of Almost Awake) and the very real one that Elsa finds herself in. We are along with her as she delivers her grandmother's apologies and starts to understand better who her grandmother really was. There are certainly sad themes in this book but I love how methodical the storytelling is and the idea that her grandmother loved her so much that she left her a roadmap for how to go forward was just such a heartening concept. What are you reading? What books do you recommend? #2024readingchallenge #whatshouldireadnext #readsomething #bookrecommendations Check out this book on Goodreads: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry https://lnkd.in/ejBsSKKV

Thrive with the tribe! Listen for the hard-core evidence of why your tribe matters. Suffering is greatly reduced in community. Concern and understanding over shared experiences allow you to be emotionally strengthened and carried through painful times. The tribe protects it own. It is when we are in isolation that our suffering becomes an unbearable weight. – If you're looking for a book to read about this topic, I'd recommend Sebastian Junger's book titled "Tribe."

Community and caring underlie the healing work we do at Dimensions. Book now: https://buff.ly/3qwgQta #retreats #transformativetravel #personaltransformation

Discover the keys to a healthier heart in Dr. Bishop's insightful books. A treasure trove of knowledge for anyone seeking a healthier lifestyle. Explore them here https://lnkd.in/gtZy_3cw #HeartHealthReading

I am thrilled to hear that my book 'A Spiritual Awakening In Search of Hidden Jewels' is now looked at as a teaching book. It won the International Impact Book Award this year. After so many years of research on the science of the supernatural -also known as Theology-,it is giving readers a new perspective on life, the universe and our strong connection with others. Please view it on jessicaetaylor.org. By the way, I just turned 86. Namaste.

What can we learn from being alone? Insights shared with CBC's On The Coast about what led to the new book Alone Together: A Curious Exploration of Loneliness. It's available now. #lonelinessepidemic #alonetogether https://lnkd.in/g3b4HHxU

In the final years of our life, what type of life will we have to have lived to look back with joy and satisfaction? It is GREAT QUESTION we should be mindful of often. The great news is that if you are reading this, we still get the opportunity to write more pages in the book of our life. The challenge is are we writing them intentionally and on purpose or merely allowing the pages to be written by life happening to us? Let us DECIDE to define what it means to have a life well lived, then wake up each day engaging in the journey of living that version of life we'd desire to look back upon. This is the path to a satisfying and fulfilled life. After all, we indeed are the authors to have the freedom to choose the next chapter. #PurposefullyPositive #OptimisticOutlook #AngelsAttitude #homehealthcare #caregiverlife #veterancare Passionate. Purposeful. Personal. - The Visiting Angels Experience