Welcome Abundance

09/07/2024

Grandparents' Day in the United States is a special occasion dedicated to honoring and celebrating grandparents' invaluable role in families and communities. It's a day to express gratitude for their love, wisdom, and unwavering support.

A Brief History
Joyce Hall, the founder of Hallmark Cards, first proposed the idea of a National Grandparents' Day in 1978. She recognized the importance of grandparents in shaping the lives of their grandchildren and wanted to create a day to honor them. After gaining support from various organizations, President Jimmy Carter officially proclaimed the first National Grandparents' Day in 1979.

Why We Celebrate
Grandparents offer a unique blend of love, experience, and guidance that enriches the lives of their grandchildren. They often provide stability, share cherished memories, and impart valuable life lessons.

Grandparents' Day is a time to:
• Express gratitude: Acknowledge and appreciate grandparents' love, care, and support. We hunger to know if we have made a difference in your life. Tell us, please.
• Create memories: Spend quality time with grandparents, engaging in activities they enjoy. Whether it is watching a baseball game on TV or cooking favorite recipes, it is more fun when shared.
• Learn from the past: Listen to their stories, learn from their experiences, and preserve family history. Be sure to record the stories to share them with other family members.
• Say Thank You. Maybe it is just a way of saying thanks for coloring books when you were a kid or helping you buy your first car. As you grow into an adult, you will find that not everyone has close relatives and families. If you don’t, then break the chains and build connections.

How You Can Celebrate Grandparents' Day

• Visit: Spend time with grandparents in person or over the phone. We love sharing your successes and struggles and want to offer our support and encouragement.
• Write a letter: Express your love and appreciation through a heartfelt letter or card. Trust me, the older generation treasures them.
• Cook a meal: Prepare a favorite meal together or order in their favorite food.
• Share memories: Reminisce about old times, share stories, and laugh together.
• Ask about their parents and grandparents. Most people can remember a little about two generations back. Is red hair in your DNA? Did your ancestors have roots in another country? Were there illnesses or behavior traits in a branch of the family?

I encourage you to take this opportunity to honor the special bond between grandparents and their grandchildren. If your grandparents are no longer on earth, perhaps you can take a few minutes to write or record your memories of them. This is personal history, and it will be lost if you don’t assume the role of family historian.

Be sure to claim your FREE book on capturing family stories at https://MemoirLifeStoryWriting.com/free-ebook/ You will be so glad you did.

Happy Grandparent’s Day to anyone who has grandparents, is a grandparent or will become one someday.

Judy Helm Wright—Author/Historian/IntuitiveWiseWoman

01/26/2024

My latest book is almost done. Now to choose the title. Which of these resonates with you?
Capturing Your Family’s History: Interviewing Older Relatives

From Past to Present: A Guide to Capturing Life Stories from Your Elders

From Past to Present: A Guide to Capturing Your Elders’ Life Stories

01/11/2024

Interviewing Those With Dementia
© Judy Helm Wright—Author/Historian/IntuitiveWiseWoman
Interviewing with an elderly relative facing dementia requires a compassionate touch that respects their unique perspective. You can adapt your approach based on your relative's comfort level and cues.

Dementia is not a normal part of aging.

Dementia or Alzheimer’s is a loss of cognitive functioning and behavioral abilities that interferes with a person’s quality of life.

A recent article in the AARP magazine had an excellent article on how music can touch a person with dementia. Neuroscientist Julene Johnson reported: “I shifted to researching cognitive neuroscience and aging after observing an older woman with dementia who suddenly started playing piano in an adult day center. Everyone in the room came to life and started moving, tapping their feet, and dancing. I was struck by how impactful something as simple as someone playing a tune had on the whole room. The National Institutes of Health just launched a five-year research project to accelerate studies about music and dementia.”

This means that soft music or a particular sound may trigger a part of the brain to open and share thoughts and memories.

If a topic causes distress, gently steer the conversation in a different direction

Here are practical tips and strategies to make the experience meaningful for you and your loved one.
• If the subject has short-term memory loss or dementia, bring items from their childhood: toys, plush animals, a teacup, a scented lotion, a music box, and a swatch of fabric. The more you can touch the five senses, the greater the chance of connection.
• Give your relative ample time to respond, as processing information may take longer.
• Avoid rushing the conversation; let it flow naturally and at their pace.
• Use a warm and calm tone to convey a relaxed atmosphere.
• Frame questions straightforwardly for easy understanding.
• Avoid complex language and ask one question at a time.
• Let your relative guide the conversation; let them share what feels natural.
• Be attuned to their cues and adjust your questions accordingly.
• Acknowledge that individuals with dementia may create stories to fill memory gaps.
• Approach these narratives with understanding and use them as opportunities to explore imaginative aspects of their life.
• Check with a caregiver for the optimum time for the interview. There is usually a time in the day when the subject is more open to interaction.
• When allowed, bringing a puppy or therapy animal will help them remember family pets.
Interviewing an elderly relative with dementia is an opportunity to celebrate their life and preserve cherished memories.
You can connect meaningfully by approaching the conversation with patience, empathy, and adaptability.
This connection transcends the challenges of memory loss, even when they may weave imaginative stories into the tapestry of their life's narrative.
Learn More Ways Stories Connect & Heal Us
You are invited to join us at https://www.Facebook.com/MemoirLifeStoryWriting/ or https://www.MemoirLifeStoryWriting.com to claim a free book on Gathering Family Stories.

09/11/2022

Do you need extra money this weekend? How about cleaning out some of the clutter you don't need and that may be just what your neighbor has been searching for. Be sure to price well and perhaps have a table of $1.00 $5.00 and $10+ and include a free glass of lemonade to encourage shoppers to linger longer.

02/05/2020

If you just have a bit of money but would like to learn to invest, please check this out. Recommended by a friend and I am pleased.

There’s a free stock waiting for you. Sign up now to find out what free stock you’ll get. It could be a stock like Apple, Ford, or Sprint.

01/02/2019

Great to start the New Year with a feel good video.

08/20/2018

We all go through slumps, but it's important to stay positive during difficult times!

Be on the look out in the coming months for my Setting Boundaries launch!

Find books, courses and more here: https://www.artichokepress.com/products

08/15/2018

It's been this month, so here's a friendly reminder to drink water!

We're going to be launching some incredible projects in the coming months, so stay tuned!

08/03/2018

Welcome to the 5th and FINAL day of Happy Hosting with Airbnb – 5-Day Challenge! Today we're discussing what checklists are essential to making hosting easier!
Take advantage of our Early Bird Special ($100 off our full-course & a FREE 30 min consultation) only available now through Saturday, August 4!
Learn more or purchase here: https://goo.gl/EkjJoe