disabilities
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Celebrating Lisa
I’m proud of my sister, Lisa. She lives every day to help others, despite her own challenges. Life with our mom, Sue, was often difficult but remembering her legacy of service matters and I can see Sue’s positive traits in Lisa. A lovely example? Lisa was recognized this week at an event celebrating the volunteers Continue reading
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Santa Sue
(I shared a portion of this post a couple of years ago and couldn’t resist a ‘take two’ moment today…a smile about my complicated mother and her love of Christmas.) My mom, Sue, was a party girl at heart and Christmas was her favorite holiday. Even when money was tight, she’d find ways to rally people Continue reading
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Extra Scoop of Grace
I’ve taken my own advice over the past day or so, limiting my overall media consumption from a self-care standpoint. My professional life has taken the forefront as I’ve offered care and resources to colleagues, clients, former students, friends and family members regarding the outcome of the Presidential election here in the U.S. If I Continue reading
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When You Crack Yourself Up: Hubba Hubba Style
My sweet sister Lisa, despite her many disabilities is a walking, talking encyclopedia-like source of pop culture trivia. Especially if the vibe and music…and beefcake…appeal to her. (Sorry for the sexism…but come along anyhow. For Lisa’s sake. I promise there’s a smile coming thanks to a recent phone call.) In the mid-eighties, Lisa and our Continue reading
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Loving Lisa: “I’m Like the Others”
“We meet ourselves time and again in a thousand disguises on the path of life.” – Carl Jung Learning from others helps me see past the inadvertent disguises I wear. Most often, a comforting mask of certainty. Knowingness. Surprises come when I can recognize a growth opportunity. An opening to embrace what I might overlook. Continue reading
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Podcast Friday! Remembering Matters
“The world is shaped by two things – stories told and the memories they leave behind.” -Vera Nazarian My dad, Sonny, was a joyful man. At times. When I rewind and attempt to find photos where he’s smiling, though, I’m at a loss. When life was good, he was typically behind the camera capturing the Continue reading
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Loving Lisa: Easter Candy Absolution
I love, love, love my sister Lisa. (For any new reader friends, Lisa is my beloved older sister who is developmentally disabled.) Functionally, Lisa has a few physical disabilities, too, but they don’t slow her down much. She’s hilarious and quirky, with a savant memory for vintage TV trivia and music. If not for loving Continue reading
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Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Heartfelt Feedback
I think one of the reasons I wrote about my mom, Sue, was to receive support and recognition for the effort and triumph of literally surviving Sue. If you’d asked me as I was wrote, I would’ve shrugged off that thought because I wanted to believe I was writing for posterity. To bring clarity for Continue reading
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Lisa Gets the Last Word
When people ask me to describe my sister Lisa’s personality, I share that she is sweet beyond belief and fragile, but I also acknowledge her ever-growing capacity to advocate for herself and assert her point of view. Lisa is simultaneously delightful and determined with a sense of humor like a steam roller. Coming in. Make Continue reading
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Super Lisa!
When my sister Lisa was born, we didn’t know the extent of her vision issues. Over time we learned and thanks to many doctors along the way, Lisa’s vision was corrected as much as possible, but she’s still legally blind in one eye. As a tot, Lisa loved looking at picture books but had little Continue reading
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Loving Lisa: “They’re All Together Now”
The eighth anniversary of our mom Sue’s passing was this past Monday. I knew it might be a tricky day for Lisa, my disabled sister, so I was prepared with extra energy and love to help her over any rough patches. Our beloved cousin, Dan, passed away just a few months ago and Lisa’s still struggling Continue reading
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When You Crack Yourself Up: Lisa and Dollar Store Delight
Every now and then I need to be an interpreter for my sweet sister, Lisa. When she’s overcome with laughter, the fine line between despair and delight can be hard to detect. Tears and torment might ride along with giggles and smiles. Mercurial and rapid, Lisa’s capacity for displaying the full range of human emotions Continue reading
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Loving Lisa – Elvis Style
Little-known facts…courtesy of sweet sister Lisa. Continue reading
“Surviving Sue”, a special story about resiliency and love: Eckhartz Press (paperback) and eBook on Amazon.
Peek Inside “Surviving Sue“
Visit Resources on Atkinson Group Solutions for more.
Podcasts
Listen to the “Sharing the Heart of the Matter” podcast.
You can find our podcast on Apple, Amazon, Spotify and Pocket Casts. Please subscribe!
Workshops
Chicago Writers Association Speakers Bureau – Writing for Wellness; Navigating Elder Care with Grace & Humor; How to Create a Writing Platform; AI for Caregivers
About Me
Learn about five books that inspired and supported my writing journey by visiting my personalized book review page on Shepherd.
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