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Letting Go
Continue Reading: Letting GoNature Restores What Grief Touches There is something about autumn that makes change impossible to ignore. The light shifts. The air cools. Gardens begin to quiet. Leaves that only weeks ago offered shade begin their descent, and chrysanthemums appear on porches for the harvest season, offering one final burst of color before winter arrives. Nature seems to understand something we often struggle to accept, that letting go is part of living. For those navigating grief,…
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Reflections from the Iris Respite House Healing Gardens – May 2023
Morning glory flowers shine in the morning, bloom vibrantly through the day and then stagger toward their end in the evening. Life, death and rebirth, all in 24 hours, and all on the vine of a plant many people regard as a weed! The ebb and flow of life is our focus for May. At… Continue Reading
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Anticipation
What does anticipation do to our psyche? Anticipation can have both positive and negative effects on our psyche, depending on the situation and our individual personality traits and experiences. On the positive side, anticipation can create a sense of excitement and motivation. When we are looking forward to something that we expect to be enjoyable… Continue Reading
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Reflections from the Iris Respite House Healing Gardens April 2023
I don’t think there is any time during the year when I’m not anticipating one or more of Mother Nature’s hat tricks. Forsythias in bloom, sometimes referred to as the “Easter Tree,” bear the hope and good news of early spring. Continue Reading
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Reflections from the Iris Respite House Healing Gardens March 2023
If you’re a caregiver, I’m sure there are times when you find yourself neglecting your own nutritional needs for the good of your care receiver. The great thing about nutrition, though, is that if you take the time to prepare healthier meals, even just once a day, benefiting from the built-in healing mechanisms within the… Continue Reading
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Vitality
One metaphor for this journey of vitality is that of a tree. Like a tree, we need strong roots to withstand the challenges of life. These roots can include social support systems, healthy coping mechanisms, and self-care practices. Just as a tree requires sunlight and water to grow, we also need to nourish ourselves with… Continue Reading
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Loneliness
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Reflections from the Iris Respite House Healing Gardens – February 2023
“When it’s inhospitable outside, what other forms can nature therapy take?” Continue Reading
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Reflections from the Iris Respite House Healing Gardens – January 2023
The past month at Hope Grows has been one of new beginnings. The December ribbon cuttingmarked a new era as the Iris Respite House is finally poised to welcome its first guests. HopeGrows now has a brand new (big!) sign that is actually readable from the road. And, the wintersolstice heralded the return of the… Continue Reading
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Rest, Relax, Restore
The impact of providing care takes a toll on the mind, body, and spiritual wellness of the caregiver. The Hope Grows Care Model is about helping the caregiver to find ways to take time for self, which is the main reason the #ThinkCaregiver™ program and the Simple ‘Self-Care’ Suggestions, which are popular among those reaching… Continue Reading
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Feel Trapped Caring for Elderly Parent? Here’s How to Get Help
Adult children take care of elderly parents out of love and loyalty, but they must stay aware of signs of burnout and feeling trapped. Continue Reading
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Be The Season of Giving With Kindness and Cordiality
Be the cordial change you wish to see in the world by setting healthy boundaries and understanding where your energy is being spent. Continue Reading
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The Connection Between Faith, Acceptance and Giving Up Control
Acceptance can be interpreted in many ways. Avoiding a negative connotation & learning how to embrace the positivity is what we’ll explore together now. Continue Reading