Make a holiday playlist before starting any Christmas activities. Play the songs in the background as you decorate your home, bake cookies, or look at your neighborhood’s lights.
Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…
Be pretty if you can, be witty if you must but be gracious if it kills you. – Elise de Wolfe
Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…
I just can’t come to grips with the new style phone etiquette where you send a direct question or comment to someone (texts mainly, or emails, messenger, etc.) and it seems now optional to answer or respond, or at best get a “liked…” or a smiley face wearing sunglasses in reply.
My communications are important, take thoughtful effort to compose and like in the old days, you’re supposed to call the person back. I’m not talking about silly status posts on Instagram; this is two-way conversation and so many people interpret a texting response as optional!
Is it just me or is this an epidemic that is killing courtesy and good manners in modern society? What should I do, fire my friends and family? It’s tempting.– Text Back
Dear Text Back: Well, I wouldn’t go so far as to label it an epidemic. But it’s true that texting etiquette – and texting practices in general – can lead to miscommunication and frustration. Because it’s relatively new, at least in comparison to the telephone or, say, writing letters, we’re still iterating on it as a culture.
All that to say, don’t fire your friends and family. If you want a text back about sometime specific, include that request in the text. Or consider having a broader conversation with friends and family about how you’d like to communicate. It’s good to ask for what we want. They may not always be willing or able to comply, but they won’t know this is something you’d like unless you tell them.
And, when all else fails, just don’t text. If you have something to say, you can initiate the phone call, thereby sidestepping any emojis.
For Dr. Amani, the holidays mean gathering in the kitchen, each family member preparing a dish passed down from their elders. As they cook, stories flow about old family gatherings, lessons learned around the table, the people who came before.
“The smells and sounds bring me back to my roots and remind me that I’m part of something bigger than myself,” she shares. “No matter how chaotic life feels, these moments of shared laughter, memory, and gratitude help me slow down, stay present, and feel deeply anchored in my family’s legacy.”
It’s a beautiful illustration of how traditions don’t just connect us to the past. They anchor us in the present and guide us into the future.
The holidays are a time for connection and gratitude, but they can also bring surprises. For families who haven’t seen each other in months, spending time together may reveal changes in a loved one’s memory, mood, or behavior that weren’t obvious before.
You might notice a loved one repeating stories, forgetting familiar names, struggling to follow conversations, or seeming more withdrawn. These moments may be early clues that something might be changing in their cognition or health.
If you spot concerning signs, stay calm and observant. Avoid calling attention to mistakes or confronting your loved one during a busy family gathering. Instead, make a plan to talk privately after the event.
There are several kinds of cognitive tests that clinicians may use to assess memory and thinking skills, ranging from short screening tools to more comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations.
Three common tests (not a comprehensive list):
Real Life of an MSW 