Stories Matching 'Relationships' Tag (41 matches)



Thank You For Doing The Most Important Job

I was heading to my writing group yesterday. Standing at the bus stop I decided to run back for a book to read on the journey. (Something I don't normally do.) While waiting for the bus, I flicked through the pages and found my place. Because it was an old book I didn't want to "dog-ear" the pages, so I searched in my pockets for something to use as a bookmark. All I had was a couple of ten pound notes, so I carefully folded one of them and slipped it between the pages. Sitting on the bus I took the book out and was about to read but and I was distracted a young woman behind me who was speaking on her cell phone. She was talking to her brother. She wanted to know where he was, why he wasn't where he was supposed to be, why he had lied to their mother again and ... Read Full Story >>

19.7K Reads

An Extra Special Candlelight Christmas Eve

I am a geriatric care manager and many of my clients families live out of state. This year, a sweet old lady that I care for, Alice, had gone through a particularly rough time. She had been in the hospital twice and then to a rehab nursing facility. In November I was finally able to get her back to her "home" in to an 'assisted living facility'. Alice has dementia and thought her daughter was coming to visit on Christmas day and that they were going to have the whole family together like the old days. When she finally realized that was not going to happen she was so sad and tearful. Knowing that her daughter was coming after Christmas was not enough to cheer her. I hated the idea of her being alone on the holiday! On Christmas Eve, I surprised her by asking if she would like to go to a candlelight service at church that night. Instead ... Read Full Story >>

4092 Reads

Helping A Friend Dance With The Stars

I wrote an earlier story about  a friend who was put on hospice care. I would visit her on Tuesday nights and we would talk and have some "girl time". I would do her hair on those visits. I couldn't heal her but for a night she felt beautiful! We would talk and laugh.  And after her hair was done on one of my last visits I put lipstick on her lips and some color on her cheeks. When I held up the mirror for her  to see how she looked she smiled at me and told me she was going to go dancing. I told her to be home before her family got up in the morning! How nice to be at the end of your life and have a sweet dream of getting out of your wheel chair to dance!   When I went for my visit this week the ... Read Full Story >>

5587 Reads

Jamie's Story

For years I was a reporter, with five of those years covering an affluent community.  Month after month of little girl beauty contests, conservative politics and people calling for the extermination of prairie dogs wore on my soul. Then I wrote "Becoming Jamie" the story of a seven year old girl, born a boy, but aware of her own transgender status. I veiled the family, for their safety.  The photographer created an image that illustrated the girl's journey thus far to herself. We ran the story. I went back to the grind of the daily story, the details of government and sustainable business, and the thousand other stories swirling through a community. Then I got an email that I had won a prize with the press association. I had enetered only one story. I knew it was "Becoming Jamie." I called the family, to tell them the story was up for an ... Read Full Story >>

4415 Reads

When Kindness Comes Back Around

Perhaps forty years ago Sadie left her drunk and violent husband. Needing shelter for herself and her young son she took a job as a warden in a housing project for elderly people. It meant she could live "on site" in one of the flats. Eventually, she got to know the residents. One resident, Archie, didn't have a family of his own but his nephew's wife and her kids would pop in from time to time. The nephew's wife was there to help the old guy but the kids were probably more of a nuisance than anything else. Still, they would visit and Archie would give them a few pennies for sweets whenever he could. Sadie helped care for Archie as he battled illness and it was she who called the doctor who diagnosed his terminal cancer. She remembers him fondly as a sweet old man. Time passed. Sadie's son grew up, got ... Read Full Story >>

7646 Reads

A New Family I Never Expected

18 years ago I discovered I was unexpectedly pregnant, I was on my own and in an extremely limited financial situation. I worked at a pet shop, a job I loved, but cleaning cages with unrelenting nausea was pretty awful to deal with. Having little money, and unable to keep anything down, I started losing weight instead of gaining it. There was a neighbor woman I had visited with a couple of times, and to my surprise, she started working at the pet shop too. Everyday, for lunch, she would produce large, organic salads and other very healthy meals. To my surprise she insisted that I have some of her lunch. I tried to refuse, but she was determined. Puzzled, I managed to eat, and when I admitted to everyone at work that I was pregnant, she was very excited, and kept on feeding me, despite the fact that I couldn't hold it ... Read Full Story >>

5624 Reads

Four Special Sentences For My Grandson

My now 7 year old grandson, who lives 100 miles away, has had my mobile phone number memorized since he was 4.  Since then, he has called me every night before he goes to bed to tell me about his day or just to say "Good Night Gramma".  He also frequently calls me at other times during the day just to share a happy or sad moment.  Many times he's dribbling a basketball with one hand, or laughing with a friend about something that I never quite catch on about, or crying about something he may or may not want to talk about while I'm on the other end of the phone.  I just listen and empathize or laugh with him - just share his current emotion.  I always let him be in charge of the subject, the emotion, and  the amount of time he's on the phone with me.  Many ... Read Full Story >>

8335 Reads

My First Hug

  I consider myself one of the luckiest people I know.    I lost my biological mother when I was nine years old and when she was alive she was not much of a mother to me.    I met my step-mom for the first time when I moved to America to be reunited with my father. From the beginning she made sure to let me know that I was safe and welcome.    I remember when I first saw her at the airport. It was different but not uncomfortable. Over the past several years there is nothing I needed that she did not provide. I am the young woman I am today because she made sure to raise me properly.    Yesterday I went to see her for Mother’s Day. When I gave her my gifts she held my face in both of her hands and kissed me straight on the mouth - even though I had the ... Read Full Story >>

14.4K Reads

A Train Delayed And A Life Saved

I had been spending some time in my home town and was about to return to my workplace. Arriving at the railway station I found my train was two hours late thanks to monsoon weather. I had arrived half an hour early, which meant I now had two and a half hours to wait in the bus station. I was more than a little worried about that! I took my luggage to a bench where only one other lady was sitting.    Even sitting at the opposite end of the bench I couldn't help but notice how sad she looked. Her pretty face seemed very worried. Rather than sit in silence I asked her if she was waiting for the next train. She didn't respond. I asked her again. She replied, "Uhuh. Yes." Then she wiped her eyes.    I moved closer and said, "Hey dear, what is wrong with you? Why are you weeping? ... Read Full Story >>

7453 Reads

Top 10 Stories of 2012, Story #7 - Lessons from a Mother's Love

About eight years ago, I was a new teacher in the local women's minimum security jail, where most of the inmates are incarcerated for drug offenses. During one of my classes, a woman was crying and in a lot of pain. Her 17-year-old daughter had been recently assaulted. She wanted to see her,  but had no way to get to the hospital 30 miles away which cares for children with no health insurance. Having a daughter the same age, I asked the superintendent if it would be possible for me to drive the woman to the hospital. I was granted permission to escort her for three hours on the following Saturday.  I found some nice clothes for the mother to wear and I borrowed my friend's blue convertible. On the 30 minute drive to the hospital, we rode with the top down and sang to the songs from the disks I brought. ... Read Full Story >>

14.7K Reads

Top 10 Stories of 2012 - Story #8- Turning Grief Into Giving

Twenty years ago I lost my son.  My friends decided that I needed to get out at least once a week and so we started going for coffee. Those friends helped me get through that terrible first year and still continue to help me.     We decided that we would try and help people when we could. So, we take a collection each week and then decide what to do with it. We have paid for breakfasts, helped an elderly man fill his oil tank, bought Christmas gifts for needy families , helped fire victims, and sometimes just sent flowers to someone who was feeling blue.     We usually do this in a way that no one knows and that makes it even better.     We also have a yearly tea at my house the first Saturday in December to start the Christmas season. We have been Secret Santa to three people and each ... Read Full Story >>

11.7K Reads
  • Posted by gmatorie
  • Dec 24, 2012
  • 27 Comments
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Young Souls Old Bodies

The woman who lives across the street is in her late 80's and 2 years ago I was gifted with the chance to help her a few days a week.   I learned that she is a kindred spirit and so we became great friends.  Lately she has been down in the dumps and has expressed that she is just tired of being alive. She feels very lonely and frustrated with her inability to 'do' much of anything anymore. We have begun talking about the stages of life, especially the final stage where our bodies become less able and we learn to focus on our spirits. Following the prompt yesterday, I passed on a book to her that describe how caterpillars just know that there is more to life than crawling and eating.   Eventually they take a chance and become butterflies! It seemed fit for where she is in her life right now. ... Read Full Story >>

2524 Reads

Family Harvesting

Today was a harvesting day as  coolness is in the air and the garden and wood needed to be tended. So as a family we worked together, my son and his wifely one, myself and my husband.

We laid the garden to rest, thanking the soil, the sun, the rain, the seeds for growing into these amazing plants. We cut and split wood and filled our wood shed full - all working together and it felt so good.

Now we have tomatoes to ripen and can, apples and plums to process, and in the end we will give some away to people who will appreciate a fresh jar of jam or some fruit leather or....

This is one of my favorite kindnesses - to work together with my family - being warm, kind, and helpful.

1153 Reads

Never too late to say I love you!

I could not make it home for my Father's 80th birthday, because of  some health challenges I'm having. Instead, I completed, using a template on Word, and highlighters, a "fun"ky art project, listing 80 things I appreciated and loved about my father.

We were never really close...and this act was healing for both of us. Miraculously, it has shifted how we see each other and our relationship.

3872 Reads
  • Posted by dianasmith77
  • Feb 28, 2015
  • 3 Comments
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Perspectives

I opened up a series of e-mails this morning telling me that I had been tagged in a photo on Facebook by my brother, there were numerous comments. When I opened up the photo, it was breathtaking. The caption read: "Trailer Park Tuesdays" and the photo was a snapshot of my mom and dad sitting on lawn chairs, each holding a boy on their laps, one is me circa 4 years old, the other my brother, 1 or 2. We're captured au naturale in front of our mobile home. My father, in cut-off shorts and a t-shirt, holds a cigarette in one hand as I lay sprawling, my face so dirty it looks like I'd been in a rumble. My mom and brother are much more presentable, but in the backdrop you can clearly make out an old oil barrel that had haphazardly been converted into a BBQ pit.  I couldn't stop ... Read Full Story >>

2896 Reads
  • Posted by ericgalatas
  • Feb 19, 2015
  • 8 Comments
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Solving Puzzles

Almost every day, during our breaks, an older man who is my colleague closes himself off from the noise in the break room by focusing on a cryptogram puzzle in the newspaper instead.  One day I decided to help him solve the puzzle and he told me he has tinnitus. Imagine working in a busy school when you are so sensitive to noisy surroundings! I also still have a problem with busy, loud environments, so I decided to join him in solving those puzzles. Every day we sit at the crowded table, fixing today's puzzle. We are still there, in the moment and talking to the people around us, but at times we tune out and puzzle for a bit. Occasionally other colleagues start helping us with the puzzle as well. I am very grateful that my colleague, who is really struggling with his hearing, has taught me how to zone yourself out when the ... Read Full Story >>

3755 Reads

Smile

I was actually having a not so great day today. I've been having some pain issues with my neck and shoulder. Just some weird thing that pops up now and then.(I hadn't mentioned the pain/discomfort to my husband.)

But today I was aggravated with my spouse. Feeling ignored etc. (I'm thinking it could be due to being off of work for two months now.) I was weepy and just not having a very good day.

My spouse went to the grocery store this afternoon. I went into the kitchen and put away the items from the store. Still weepy and defensive.

I walk into the living room and there, on the spot where I usually sit, was a neck pillow with heat and vibration for neck pain. This made me smile.

It's so funny how perception is reality. Sometimes its the wrong reality. This made me remember all of the times my spouse has been giving and thoughtful. I need to remind myself that there are times when my POV can be so lopsided that I cant get out of my own way. :)

1817 Reads

Romance

I was sitting in a coffee shop sipping on my decaf and simply watching the world go by. My eyes caught sight of a very mature couple. I knew this as their hair was very white and they were slightly hunched over. They stopped and seemed to be looking around, perhaps lost? Who knows? But what made me smile was.....they were holding hands. Was it the many years they were together or was this a fairly new romance. I wondered, as the smile on my face lingered and together they walked away.

2631 Reads
  • Posted by fmesh
  • Mar 27, 2015
  • 2 Comments
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A Chain of Gifts

I was on my way to teach my yoga class at a shelter one day, when I saw a homeless youth on the street. I felt an impulse to give all my one dollar bills. Shortly thereafter, I noticed another youth, also homeless. At that time all I could give was a smile and a connection.

When I reached the shelter there none who wanted to partake

in the yoga class.  However, I did bring with me some baked goods like donuts, cinnamon rolls etc, which I was able to give away. One the way back  to my car from the shelter, I noticed I had time left on my parking ticket. I also felts inspired to  give that away to a person I connected with a person on the street who needed it. 

All that little giving made me more aware of the abundance and the opportunity to connect and give. 

1170 Reads

The Perfect Circle of Give and Receive

I learned a valuable lesson a couple years ago. I met Denise, who was totally paralyzed. She could not speak, and the only movement she could make was to nod or move her head from left to right very slightly. She had very advanced progressive MS. I visited her often and soon learned that in my time with her, I wanted to help her connect with the outer world as much as possible. It would seem that she was the receiver of what I had to give.

 Maybe so, yet it came to me that she, too, would want to escape her immobilized world as much as possible and give also. Then it further dawned on me that she was already giving by receiving what I had to give.  By her receiving, she was giving me the gift of providing me the opportunity to give. I told her that receivers are as necessary and worthy as the givers. If there were no receivers, there could be no givers. Her role in the chain of giving and receiving was vitally important. She couldn’t move, but her eyes could shine. She gave me a great gift when they shined back at me at that time.


1273 Reads

The Elderly Can Be Proud But Lonely

My niece is in her first year teaching in Liverpool. She lives in a block of flats and was telling us about a 94 year old woman who lives in the flats. This frail lady is called Valerie and Linsey got to know her. Linsey and her flatmate called to see Valerie and Valerie had even made them dinner. The sad thing though is perhaps the loneliness of Valerie. My niece has said Valerie sends her letters and cards even though they live in the same building. Makes you think doesn't it? We really need to tune in more to the elderly who need social interaction above and beyond sending mail to those who live in the same building as them. It made me think of Charlotte, I've mentioned her before in posts. Last time I met Charlotte I dropped her off at her supported living facility. She brought me in ... Read Full Story >>

3216 Reads




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