VALENTINE’S  DAY  AFTER  LOSS 

When we are in love on Valentine's Day, then all is right with the world.  I have had some incredible Valentine's Days.  There were many cards and flowers and, they were always left on the table…

INJUSTICE 

A black woman challenged me today that I was not doing enough to get justice for George Floyd because I did not march in Abilene's protest. 

I didn't march because it didn't occur to me. To my nonwhite brothers…

The best way to get someone to trust you is to listen. By listening sincerely and patiently, you tell them with your actions that you are safe. You have proven that you won't be jumping to conclusions or judging them…

When Does Self-Care Turn into Self Indulgence?

I am a huge fan of self-care!

I lead a weekly group keeping first responders accountable for their self-care. I also lead a workshop on self-care to prevent depression, isolation, addiction, and burnout…

Why do we mistreat the ones we love the most? 

Why can we suck it up at work and give excellent customer service,  we smile at the patient that cussed us out, encourage the student that asks the same question…

Mediation is not just for divorce. 

Wouldn’t it be great if we learned mediation techniques in premarital counseling?  Wouldn’t it be great if we taught our children how to self mediate?

Conflicts will happen in the best families and the…

We went to Post to celebrate Randy's Aunt Norma’s 90th birthday.  I have been going to the little town of Post, Texas since Randy and I were engaged in 1985. That was the year he first brought me home for…

Honestly, after Randy Polk died, my precious husband, if I was going to have to remain on this planet without him I wanted to at least make a difference.  My world suddenly changed in late 2013 and I saw everything…

The biggest misconception that the Western world has about communicating with the bereaved is that they don’t bring up the loved one for fear it will upset them, so they say nothing.  Hear me and trust me they are already…

The most important communication tool you have is listening. There are several actions you can take to engage in better listening skills.

First, the best way to listen is not to respond immediately.

Actually count in your head for…

I do not know if cats go to heaven, but I know one that came from heaven.  Two days after Randy’s funeral I was sitting in my family room, which was no longer a family room, because the head of…

Love Is (almost) Enough

Care and feeding of a Healthy Marriage 

       For hundreds of years, poets and songwriters have devoted themselves to defining, glorifying, and praising the virtues of Love.  A certain Princess Factory in Florida (whose name rhymes with…