The following is a true story — tearfully shared by a friend.  Seems Eileen has loved Paul for a very long time and has shared travel and work with him for many years. However, time and circumstances have kept them apart and this last week afforded an opportunity to see each other.  Eileen was uncertain [...]

We often get involved —- way too involved —- in taking care of everything and everyone, controlling situations so they unfold exactly as we think they should play out, or fixing not only our lives, but the lives of everyone around us.  There are times when giving and caring is the right thing to do. [...]

The phrase, “TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE” is often heard. People talk about wanting to in some way make life better, help or improve the way we live. For many people this is an everyday habit that they don’t even think about.  It is a way of life.

It is Spring – time for washing windows, cleaning the hidey holes in the house of their secret treasures as well as clearing the yard of dried up foliage. Emptying means stripping away what we don’t need or want any more. It means de-cluttering as we do in spring cleaning or when we gather articles [...]

Have you ever found yourself running in opposite directions – toward someone and at the same time away from them?   Many people want real, honest, loving, committed relationships, but are terrified of really having them. They feel that they have opened their heart and it was broken. They never want to hurt that bad again, [...]

The word FAMILY has many meetings. I’ve heard people define it as just those with whom they share a blood line.  For others it is expanded to include people in their church, community and work, who are not blood kin.  Others define family as a select group of people, not related by blood, that form [...]

Mary Jo nurtures everyone.  Whenever a member of the family has a problem, they call Mary Jo.  The family includes children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews and even members of the church family.  With each call, she gives wise and sage advice and solves or fixes the problem.  People wander in and out [...]

It is February 15, the day after Valentines Day. Did you make your Valentines Day resolutions for the coming year? If not, I.M. Heart has a few suggestions.  Since Valentines Day is all about celebrating loving relationships, let’s base our resolutions on building relationships.  Then everyone who this year had a lonely Valentines Day can [...]

“You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.” This quote is from Henry Drummond.  Since this is February, the month of Valentines Day, it is a time to reflect on the spirit [...]

I think we often overlook the significance of simple, loving support in times of family crisis, or any of any other kind of stressful situations. Many of us consider ourselves strong, self-sufficient and resilient.  We can handle whatever comes our way – alone. Yet the toll emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually is great. Until you [...]

We’ve all heard the expression, “We are all more alike than different.” There are many ways in which we are alike.  Physically, our bodies function much the same. Mentally, we process information and manage our lives. We all have emotions that impact our choices and decisions.  Yet, we often think that we are the only [...]

In 2010, I.M. presents you with a challenge.  Let’s be brave enough to reach out and care about other people.  Let’s get out of the “it’s all about me and everyone wants to hear how important I am” mode of operation.  Instead, let’s ask about others and really listen to what they might have to [...]

Songs tell us that this is the most wonderful time of the year. However, the holidays are often a time of great joys, sorrows and anxiety. There are so many expectations of love and joy in this season.  The expectations are often marred by strained relationships, losses or loneliness that are magnified as media, culture [...]

I recently attended a brunch at the local community volunteer organization. It is called RSVP.  The event was heart- warming as the room filled with seniors who had worked thousands of hours volunteering in various capacities in the city. In the RSVP organization, four hundred people had worked a total of 67,000 hours volunteering in [...]

This is the first morning we have seen sunshine for several days. I looked for Miss Molly and found her stretched out full-cat length on the bed in the sunshine. As I rubbed her back she rolled and purred as she stretched more.  This was one happy cat enjoying the warmth and light of the [...]

“Maybe some people don’t realize the impact they are making or have made on other people’s lives.  We are just being us, but it has special meanings that the giver doesn’t even know.  We are filling an empty space and making a change or a difference in someone else’s life.  It may be small or [...]

Each day, there are three actions we can practice that will contribute to our lives and the lives of those around us. They are simple, yet set in motion,  a whole new level of relationship with others and self- respect for yourself. These three daily steps are: show up, pay attention, and respond in love.