Blog
Do-Gooders, Part II
“If you could get all the people in an organization rowing in the same direction, you could dominate any industry, in any market, against any competition, at any time” Patrick Lencioni, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. In “Do-Gooders, Part I,” we discussed leadership...
DO-GOODERS, PART I
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum the men up to gather wood, divide the labor, and shout out orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless seas.” ...
Be Nice First
Be Nice First “War is an absolute failure of imagination.” -Adrienne Rich, American poet In December 1914, Europe was five months into the “War to End All Wars” when something extraordinary happened. During a brief lull, British troops...
Sometimes, It’s Too Late
Sometimes, It’s Too Late We live our lives in the shadow of time. Everything we do is regulated by it. “What time shall we meet?” “What is my deadline?” “Do I have enough time to work out before lunch?” “How long will it take us to get there?” “What time...
ILYBATWWW
ILYBATWWW I recently got married. Her name is Heather, and as I have told my friends, I may have out-kicked my coverage (if you don’t get the reference, it means that I DEFINITELY married up). When you marry into a family, you learn an entirely new set of...
Empathy or Compassion?
Empathy or Compassion? If you haven’t read any of Matthieu Ricard’s work, I encourage you to do so. He is a Buddhist monk who left a career in cellular genetics to study Buddhism over forty-five years ago. I discovered his book, Altruism: The Power of...
Sawubona and the Practice of Truly Seeing
Sawubona and the Practice of Truly Seeing I recently experienced a “drop-to-your-knees” crisis. It was the kind of experience that leaves you breathless, raw, and – initially anyway – quite alone. As time slows down and the space around you seems to close...
The Burdens We Carry
The Burdens We Carry Have you heard the one about the psychology professor who held up a glass of water in front of the class and asked this question: “How heavy is this glass of water?” After some guesses, she revealed the true nature of her inquiry. “The...
Eleanor…Memorial Day
Eleanor...Memorial Day Back to blog Our visit began as it had for many months before. In my experience, terminal illnesses move at their own speed, with little or no control exercised by its host. With Eleanor, her illness has been merciful, and she has...
Mary Lou
Mary Lou Back to blog Name and photo used with permission. “Have you been eating okay?” "Have you been getting your sleep?” “Are you in any pain?” These are the standard questions I ask of any hospice client Buckley and I serve, and the questions usually...
Mary
Mary Back to blog With over three years of hospice volunteering under my belt, I have been somewhat conditioned to immediately feel a twinge of sadness when the phone rings - with a number I don't recognize. "Stuart? This is Val - Mary's daughter. Are you...
Buckley and the Little Girl
Buckley and the Little Girl Back to blog It's the routine days that sneak up and grab you. This was going to be a regular Monday morning; we stop first to visit Nancy - who is not under hospice care, but we stopped in to see her a year and a half ago on...