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During times of despair, many of us draw comfort from remembering and daydreaming about happy times. These memories and daydreams nourish our mind, body, and soul and make our present reality more bearable as a form of temporary escapism. I can relate because I’ve been using this...

As I read my emails, listen to the radio and watch television, I’m inundated with messages about the public mental health crisis during this global pandemic that will worsen during the winter months. The prediction is doom and gloom. Many experts are offering courses, blog posts,...

A post in Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper makes me rethink a phrase I sometimes use wishing people to “have a great day.” As she explains, some people have difficulty with this phrase and rightfully so, especially now during the pandemic. They may out of work, have experienced the...

Every morning I head for a nearby park. I love walking around the park mindfully, immersing myself in the sights, sounds, smells and sensations around me: robins chirping  and flitting from tree to tree; the wildflowers swaying in the breeze; and sunshine on my face,...

We must keep in mind that in general, people are highly resilient. Psychologists define resilience  as “the process of adapting well in the face of significant sources of stress.” Resilience-based research tells us that how we deal with adversity is more important than the...

This is a stressful time for all of us, filled with fear, anxiety, uncertainty and worry as our world turns upside down. As I write this article, I am in self-isolation. This is good practice if we are to “flatten the curve” and slow down the spread COVID-19. Acting on the advice...

Photo: Flickr/Creative Commons, Peter Miller. Holocaust survivors overcame the most severe form of persecution and went on to become productive members of the communities in which they settled. They have exhibited an extraordinary resilience and love of family and community....

In the 1980s the phrase, “Practice random acts of kindness,” was popping up everywhere – bumper stickers, billboards, decals on mailboxes, and elsewhere. I remember the first time I saw it. I was in my car and read it on the bumper sticker of the vehicle in front of me. This...

Myra presented a teleconference hosted by the Claims Conference, in collaboration with the Jewish Federations of North American (JFNA) for service providers around the world who work with Holocaust Survivors. Her topic focused on “The Principles and Practice Components of...

My father spent the last years of his life in a long-term care residence, suffering from dementia. My brother was his primary caregiver, which means he took greater responsibility for our father’s day-to-day care. I was involved more as a manager of social support. I communicated...