Hope

BY CHRIS CALKINSSEPTEMBER 24, 2023 6:00 AM For many years, my work as a health care administrator and teacher have intersected in meaningful ways. I have had the unique honor of being present at the end of life with several individuals, and stood with families in the moments before and […]

Practicing empathy prepares us for the inevitabilities of life

September 25, 2023 in Death and Dying / Grief / Hope / Transitions by LTLWYS Admin

BY MIKE BERRENAJUNE 25, 2023 7:00 AM Many men describe their grief experiences as feeling devoid of emotion and lacking tears. My father, Lou, was not like other men. He shared his loss and his grief openly, showing tears and savoring memories of when he lost my mother and my […]

Dad provided model of grief and grieving that helped through ...

June 26, 2023 in Death and Dying / Grief / Hope / Remembrance by LTLWYS Admin

BY KEN BAXTERAPRIL 23, 2023 6:00 AM Hanna Arendt, one of my favorite philosophers, said, “We will lose everything, including our lives.” I would add everything and everyone, and in no particular order. In my younger days, I helped people navigate an ever-changing, and increasingly dangerous world. Teaching self-defense to […]

The ‘what-ifs’ are real, but we must live without fear

April 24, 2023 in Belonging / Death and Dying / Depression / Grief / Hope / Remembrance / Storytelling by LTLWYS Admin

BY AL VICERE MARCH 26, 2023 7:00 AM It’s March 30, 1981. My wife Nancy had gone into labor hours earlier that morning with our first child, our daughter Jana. Things progressed slowly. That was the start of a pattern. Jana always was late. The slow pace continued, so I […]

Ghostbusting and the power of living forth

April 24, 2023 in Death and Dying / Depression / Grief / Hope / Remembrance / Storytelling by LTLWYS Admin

BY JACKIE NAGINEY HOOKFEBRUARY 18, 2023 7:00 AM It was a cold, rainy night two weeks ago when ten people arrived at my house and began mingling around the snack table. After 30 minutes of small-talk we moved into our “relaxing room”— what most people call a living room. Some […]

Attend an evening of soul-fed storytelling in State College

February 22, 2023 in Grief / Hope / Storytelling by LTLWYS Admin

BY JACKI HUNT NOVEMBER 27, 2022 7:00 AM My mother was the only one of her six siblings to go to college. Although she didn’t get past the second year, having married my father and then given birth to me 13 months later, she remained curious about the world, and […]

‘In the Garden’ and Mom’s final words

December 19, 2022 in Death and Dying / Grief / Hope by LTLWYS Admin

BY EVELYN WALDOCTOBER 23, 2022 7:00 AM I remember as a child the anxiety I often felt when it was time to play sports. Two children were chosen as captains and picked their teams one person at a time. In the end, there would be a few of us remaining, […]