Author Archives: Ardella

Seriously, can good really come out of tragedy? Am I really supposed to look at a serious problem and find some ray of sunshine? The answer to both questions is actually, yes. Trouble is, the vision you need to see the good is called hindsight. It’s not easy to see anything good at the timeContinue reading “Watching for the Good”

Parents proudly record a child’s height as growth takes place. Children themselves become excited about how much taller they are from one year to the next. But what about our mental, spiritual, or emotional health as adults? How have we changed from year to year? How do we know? Where or how have we recordedContinue reading “Record and Reminisce”

My best friend and colleague sat in my office and gave me an animated review of her morning presentation. But I was distracted by her top which looked like it was on backward. When I asked her if it was; she pulled down the neckline and looked inside. Shrugging her shoulders, she said, “Oh well,Continue reading “Let Your Soul Be Well”

Thanks to the contacts app on my phone, I know very few phone numbers. But not everyone enjoys the convenience of a contact list with the caller’s photo attached. My husband remembers everyone’s phone number, so he answers calls based on number recognition. Granted, that doesn’t always work, but he refuses to use an appContinue reading “Singing with Sinatra”

Whenever they had a substitute teacher, my students proved that behavior change needs to be intrinsic rather than extrinsic. My practice of hanging onto a checklist of behaviors and attempting to monitor nearly 30 students all day, every weekday, was tiresome. So, I changed tactics. Rather than trying to put a check by little Johnny’sContinue reading “Check Yourself”

Caregivers sometimes go it alone, thinking that no one else understands or that no one else cares. No two situations are alike, but there are similarities in caregiving that can bring people together. Try Googling ‘support groups for caregivers,’ and you will find many options to sort through. Find the group that best meets yourContinue reading “Are You a Groupie?”

Life has a way of ignoring your plans. Your agenda for the day sits there, nicely completed, and maybe even color-coded. At the very least, it’s in your head. You know what time you are picking up whom, what time you need to leave the house, and even when you expect to be back. ButContinue reading “Agenda Busters”

A recent conversation with a friend whose husband now has Alzheimer’s reminded me that caring for someone with this disease is like trying to navigate unchartered waters.   Since June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, I encourage you to visit the Alzheimer’s Association website at https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/stages (or send a friend there) for information on the stages of Alzheimer’s.Continue reading “Awareness”

When my son was young, I would periodically take him to an ice cream shop whose specialty was its 21 flavors. After he had spent a lengthy amount of time looking at all the options, he would select vanilla. It drove me crazy! But come to think of it, I always selected the one flavorContinue reading “Limit Options to Lessen Frustration”