Relationships

September 7, 2023

Birthdays with older adults

By Bob Sitze

In Arcania, Relationships, Time

September 7, 2023

2 Min Read

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07September

It’s hard to generalize what might constitute a happy birthday celebration for those of us who are older. Some seniors might want to party; others could want a more-subdued observance. Some of us don’t want (or need) any more presents/stuff. Others of us cherish gifts that consist of exceptional experiences that we share with loved ones. Still others like to turn the gift-giving equation on itsMORE...

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August 31, 2023

Can we talk?

By Bob Sitze

In Current Events, Death/Dying, Mind/Body, Relationships, Soul Searchings, Words

August 31, 2023

2 Min Read

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31August

Dementia may be an unspoken matter that nags at our older adult well-being. It may also be one of those conditions I don’t talk about with others, perhaps unsure how to broach the subject. I know that this condition is broader than one specific disease—e.g., Alzheimer’s—and that only a percentage of older adults might have to deal with complete cognitive loss. I am also aware that medicallyMORE...

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July 13, 2023

On reading advice columns

By Bob Sitze

In Arcania, Relationships, Soul Searchings

July 13, 2023

2 Min Read

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13July

In the past, it would have been too easy for me to write this blog from an attitude of snarkiness, schadenfruede or false superiority. The more I read these columns, though, the more I see that they can be instructive, encouraging and even hopeful. See if my observations match some of your thinking…. My daily newspaper reading includes advice columns. The core content of advice-seeking letters:MORE...

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May 29, 2023

In memoriam

By Bob Sitze

In Current Events, Lifestyle, Lifework, Relationships

May 29, 2023

2 Min Read

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29May

  Memorial Day comes once a year, but my thanks for members of the military extends further. With the rest of our country’s citizens, I owe a debt of gratitude to all of you who have served in the military, especially those who have paid the costs of your service in small-yet-significant ways. “Thanks for your service” doesn’t seem to say enough, so let me add these few words to express myMORE...

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May 15, 2023

Stewards of medical miracles

By Bob Sitze

In Arcania, Lifestyle, Personal Power, Relationships

May 15, 2023

2 Min Read

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15May

This is one of those weeks on my calendar where “Doctor visit” shows up more than once. Several of those doctors have given me the gift of added useful years—e.g., cancers in abeyance, limbs and eyes in good working order. Although I thank them at every visit—“Because of you, I’m still alive and doing well”—I don’t think I’ve ever given them an account of what these additional years have meant toMORE...

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May 4, 2023

A brilliant insight

By Bob Sitze

In Current Events, Lifework, Relationships, Soul Searchings

May 4, 2023

2 Min Read

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04May

  (What follows is a summary of the thoughts shared by our pastor this past Sunday. For most congregations this was Good Shepherd Sunday, but Pastor Shelly Satran found something more than that inside the day’s lectionary. Brilliant and inspiring stuff…..) On this Sunday, it’s common—and perhaps expected—that we revisit the familiar analogies embedded in Psalm 23 and Jesus’ musings aboutMORE...

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April 13, 2023

The power of coaxing

By Bob Sitze

In Personal Power, Relationships, Words

April 13, 2023

3 Min Read

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13April

“Can I still persuade or motivate others?” That’s a personal question I think about regularly. This matter is related to my ongoing sense of purpose, or at least my continuing hopes to make a difference. Somewhere, somehow. When I was employed, the answers to that question could be framed by my roles as worker, leader, producer, boss, principal or teacher. In those vocations, I had some relatedMORE...

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March 2, 2023

A good day

By Bob Sitze

In Arcania, Personal Power, Relationships

March 2, 2023

2 Min Read

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02March

Over the past several weeks I’ve been trying out a method for bringing small moments of grace into the lives of service personnel and random strangers. My short, appreciative interchanges start with “Hi!—(pause)—You having a good day?” This approach might be enjoyable for you, too. Here’s how it has worked for me…. Some response sequences “If “YES!”, I continue with “What’s been goodMORE...

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February 13, 2023

Redeeming love

By Bob Sitze

In Current Events, Lifestyle, Relationships, Words

February 13, 2023

2 Min Read

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13February

Tomorrow’s reminder: God’s love redeems us. We’re saved not only from eternal punishment, but also made useful for God’s purposes. We experience that love in our love for each other. Lives bent toward loneliness, despair or self-doubt are turned around by the tangible evidence that someone else cherishes us. When love finds us, we’re rescued, retrofitted with hope and reinforced for purposedMORE...

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February 9, 2023

Playing in the dirt

By Bob Sitze

In Arcania, Lifestyle, Personal Power, Relationships

February 9, 2023

2 Min Read

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09February

A couple of weeks ago, my ESL student and I discovered that as young boys we both spent a good share of our summer days playing in the dirt. He grew up in rural India and I spent my early years in a Los Angeles suburb. We both remembered how enjoyable it was to dig and build things—roads, dams, structures. How we added water to transform dirt into mud, streams or ponds. How sticks, rocks andMORE...

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