helping women connect with their world
by Brent Lindquist, Ph.D. with Link Care Center
Balance is appropriate in any aspect of life, whether under stress or in optimal functioning. However, balance really comes home to roost, if you will, at these crisis-points in time. When I speak of balance I mean a number of different things, and let me highlight each one of them.
by Ajith Fernando, Sri Lanka
Today I want to help you to do one of the most important things that are needed at a time like this: pray for the relief workers. This came to me strongly when I heard that one of my colleagues, taking a van load of things to the North last night fell asleep on the wheel. He was driving the van I use. After some anxious moments, when the van travelled 75 meters outside the road, it ended up on the road 180 degrees from the direction it was originally travelling. Miraculously the only damage was two flat tires. Mayukha Perera and S. Jeyaraj who were travelling East at the time turned and went to their aid.
During times of disaster we tend to push ourselves beyond what is healthy for us. That is inevitable, but there is a limit to what our bodies and minds can tolerate. We need to take care that we don’t neglect the essential basics of life for too long. Let me mention a few: [Read more…]
Elizabeth and her husband, George, intended to spend the next twenty years overseas when they left their home country. They have served overseas for five years. They love their work, and with three small children they have their hands full. After an email and follow-up phone call they are having to re-evaluate their plans. Elizabeth’s father has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. His job is threatened, but for now her mom can continue to support the family.
Sally and Ben are long-timers overseas. They raised their children on the field, and as empty-nesters, they now look forward to some years with fewer family responsibilities. That changed suddenly when Ben’s mother fell and broke her hip. His mother has been a widow living on her on for a few years. What are they to do?
Why talk about aging parents with those who are living and working overseas? Because either now, or in the future, you may have to help care for your own elderly relatives, and that will influence what you can and cannot do overseas.
Is that an earthquake? No, but the dining room table vibrated through each meal with James. He should have been nicknamed “Thumper.” He just had to move something and at dinner it was one leg that constantly made the dishes rattle.
While the rest of the family spent holidays together eating, talking, watching games, playing with new gadgets or tools, James took a drive to find at least one store that was open. He didn’t care what it was, just something different and away from a group gathering. If he couldn’t get away, he drifted to the back of the group and let his mind fly free.
Once again it’s time for a major change. For the last 13 years we have been living in the US and spending four months each year in SE Asia. It has been getting clearer and clearer that we are to switch that pattern. We will live in SE Asia and spend three to four months each year in the US.
This means our selling our house. The hardest part of this change for me was giving up this house. I have enjoyed it so much. It is a nice home, full of great memories. We have lived in it longer than anywhere we have ever lived.
