The Spooky Side of the Season

As a holiday, Christmas has been around for centuries. But if you go back more than a hundred years you’ll find that the day used to be observed with a much more somber tone.
Finding Gratitude in the Hard Times

Studies have shown that taking even just a few minutes out of the day for mindfulness focused on gratitude has measurable positive effects on a person’s mental health. Whether you spend that time meditating, writing in a gratitude journal, or with someone else, sharing thoughts about what you are each grateful for, there is a very high statistical likelihood that your gratitude moments will help you to have a more positive outlook, a calmer general demeanor, and an easier time handling challenges that come your way.
Caring for the Caretakers

We all know the importance of self care. Part of client care is making sure that the people who are caring for their loved ones have the time and the opportunity to care for themselves as well, whether that means getting away for an afternoon to do some shopping or just a couple of hours to get a decent meal and a nap.
Self Care When There’s No Time For Self Care

Autumn is just around the corner. Vacations are winding down and kids are getting ready to go back to school. Classes are even starting up again at IDLM! It’s a good time for a lot of people to take on new projects and new responsibilities, before the holidays come around again and everybody gets really […]
My Love Affair With Forest Lawn

Forest Lawn is a company with several cemetery properties; by coincidence I happened to grow up just a few miles away from their main site in Glendale, California. It was a lovely place to meditate on life, death, or in my case, Poli Sci homework.
Library or Hospital?

In a former life I had a job as a library page. It was a wonderful job: the people were nice, the work was pleasant; I was allowed to wear whatever I wanted (within reason) and I had access to soooo many books. It was the first job I ever stayed at for more than […]
Music for End of Life

A couple weeks back, I was having a pretty rough day. One of those days where nothing seems to go right, and nothing seems to help, and the only thing you can do is give up, lie in a dark room, and listen to Simon and Garfunkel on repeat. You might have a different preference […]
No Matter How You Celebrate, Make Sure to Remember Self Care

It’s no secret that the end of the year is a tough time for a lot of people. The holiday season is stressful! It can be stressful to worry about putting together a special enough celebration. It can be stressful to be a person who doesn’t celebrate. Some people deal with difficult memories during the […]