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“The Sentimentalists”
A novel following a woman coming to grips with her father’s impending death“The Sentimentalists” is the debut novel by Canadian author Johanna Skibsrud, and the winner of the 2010 Giller Prize, Canada’s annual top award for literature. Although a work of fiction,”The Sentimentalists” draws heavily from the author’s own life and that of her Vietnam veteran father. The book details the struggles of the narrator — unnamed…
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Service Workers Becoming First Responders in the Opioid Crisis
Opiate overdoses in public restrooms put workers in the business of saving livesMany people who use opioids illegally use public restrooms to get high. Despite locks and other safeguards installed by cautious owners, public restrooms in many restaurants, coffee shops, libraries and retail stores are easily accessible to opioid users who are motivated to find a way in. The restrooms are quiet and private, and provide a…
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Our Monthly Tip: Organizing a Meal Train for Those in Grief
Meal Trains are a great (and practical!) way to support loved ones who are in mourningOur Tip of the Month When a loved one dies, grief is a heavy burden to bear. We often find ourselves overcome by grief and overwhelmed by the responsibilities of arranging funeral services, and even receiving condolences from family and friends can be exhausting. During this time of profound grief, everyday activities can often take…
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France Is on the Forefront of Dementia Care as it Builds an Alzheimer’s Village
Following the Netherlands’ model, residents with dementia will live in familiar surroundings among staffThe land of the Eiffel Tower, the Lourve, and the Cathedral of Notre Dame is about to add another landmark. Construction of Village Landais Alzheimer in Dax, France began in June. When completed in 2019, it will be the world’s second Alzheimer’s village, inspired by a similar site, The Hogeweyk, in Weesp, Netherlands. The First…
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What Can Awareness of Death Teach Us About Life? (Interview)
An interview with teacher, author and spiritual guide Frank Ostaseski, Part OneToday SevenPonds speaks with Frank Ostaseski, an internationally respected Buddhist teacher, cofounder of the Zen Hospice Project, and founder of the Metta Institute. Frank has lectured at Harvard Medical School, the Mayo Clinic, and Wisdom.2.0, and teaches at major spiritual centers around the globe. He is also the 2018 recipient of the prestigious Humanities Award from…
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MDMA Shown to Be a Potential Treatment for PTSD
New research promises a major breakthrough in the treatment of post-traumatic stressWe’ve known it by many names throughout our history (soldier’s heart, combat fatigue, shell shock), but relatively little research has been done on the effects of PTSD on our veterans. This is changing, however, as the effects of psychological trauma are becoming better understood by mental health professionals and the general public alike. This has…
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“Michael Rosen’s Sad Book” by Micheal Rosen
An illustrated adult book about the tragic loss of a child“Michael Rosen’s Sad Book” is one of my all time favorite books on loss. It brings a whole lot of unique attributes to the topic of loss that few other books do. Written through the lens of Michael Rosen’s personal heartbreaking experience, “Sad Book” succinctly let’s us in on the extreme pain the author suffered…
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“The Plains/Bitter Dancer”
The mellifluous song contemplates mortality“The Plains/Bitter Dancer” by Fleet Foxes is a beautifully composed song, consisting of an instrumental intro and a lyrical second half. It’s about mortality and how death is a natural part of life. The first stanza touches on the aspect of death as an inherent occurrence throughout the natural world: Just as the sand made…
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