26/11/2025
Hello, Pep Talkers…
Last week was a rough one. My 89-year-old father-in-law is having some serious health issues and that meant a lot of time in the caregiving vortex of ERs, hospital rooms, arranging for care and the like. As many (all?) of you know, caregiving is stressful and fatiguing in a way that’s hard to describe.
Amid all this, I popped into the grocery store for supplies and coffee. At the coffee bar, I ran into a colleague and friend that I’m always happy to see.
“How are you? What’s going on?” she asked.
I thought for a split second about telling her the details of my last few days in Eldercarelandia. But decided against it. Instead, I shared some good news. In turn, I heard everything about her son’s wedding in a few days, her mother of the groom dress and her concern about the impending rain. We laughed and chatted and I could feel my spirit lift. “I’ll pray to the weather gods for fair skies,” I said, as I waved goodbye.
I left with two pounds of my favorite seasonal coffee blend but somehow felt lighter. I guess I needed the positive energy more than I needed to unload, I thought.
I’m glad I started with the good stuff.
This holiday season, consider starting your conversations with the good stuff. You may be the lift in someone’s day they really needed. 🦃
Happy Thanksgiving. Grateful for you all.
Lian Dolan
Pasadena, California
