FootprintsintheWind.com

Are you fresh eyes?

:- Doug.

See how these fresh eyes are lighting a new path?!

:- Doug.

Answer the questioner, not the question.

:- Doug.

I see people who can head off a likely disaster by naming an “in case person.” Or now’s the time, and they need a paper to let them talk to doctors, hospitals, banks. I see people at their wits end caring for their husband or mother, wondering when they can sleep, where the money will come from. That’s why I do what I do.

:- Doug.

People need someone to be their “in case person:” in case I get sick, who will make good decisions for me? Others need some legal authority to make decisions for Mom or Dad or Spouse. Some people are overwhelmed by a loved one’s long-term needs: they are worn out; they need help; they are running out of money.

:- Doug.

Speak in terms of caring, and meeting needs, rather than in terms of the work or work product.

:- Doug.

A goal is just a gaol turned.

:- Doug.

Have no goals, just whys.

:- Doug.

Have an anti-to do list.

:- Doug.

What are your opinions and wishes for what to do now?

:- Doug.

What are the resources of your family? What strengths does each bring to this challenging time? Who is adding friction? What weaknesses do we need to shore up?

:- Doug.

We demonstrate compassion: feeling and suffering with.

:- Doug.

Compassion is suffering with, and this makes us human.

:- Doug.

An expert says suffering is the loss of the intactness of the person. Now I ask if this is not the work, rather than suffering.

What is the difference between work and suffering? Suffering suggests pain, while work suggests sweat. What is the end of the work, it’s purpose and effect? Possibly just the work itself.

:- Doug.

Feeling inadequate, overwhelmed, anxious, and the like are some of the harder parts of having a close one whose needs we cannot alleviate.

:- Doug.

I imagine that pretty much everybody mourns their loss of a specific future. I am not sure that is suffering: it might be work being done.

Perhaps you either suffer or you work. Perhaps you do both. Try to remember work is not suffering.

:- Doug.

I do this not for a living but for living.

:- Doug.

Let us empower ourselves in the face of suffering.

:- Doug.

Suffering is for sharing.

:- Doug.

We acknowledge and validate.

:- Doug.

We are improving the felt quality of clients’ lives—and of their families.

:- Doug.

Tell a story of a tragedy or bad happening in your life: this is the door to profound thinking and conversing.

:- Doug.

Start with something familiar—an ambassador to take you to an unfamiliar land.

:- Doug.