When I was fourteen years old, I was thrilled to receive my cap at the Candystriper Induction Ceremony at The Barnert Memorial Hospital in Paterson, New Jersey. Although my friends and I fussed and giggled as we tried to keep our caps from slipping or tilting, at the time we were far more focused on … Read more
In honor of Nurse Appreciation Week, Soaringwords celebrates the nurses who show up every day with skill, compassion, and unwavering commitment—especially the thousands of nurse partners in skilled nursing communities who bring the SOARING Into Positive Wellbeing Workshop Initiative to life and serve residents with dignity and empathy. Our gratitude is rooted in a long … Read more
High Quality Connections (HQCs) serve as an anchor, making our lives more meaningful in a tumultuous world. These connections create upward spirals of positivity, where people communicate and receive mutual recognition, respect, and trust. When we prioritize relationships with family, friends, and ourselves—and nurture these connections—we actually rewire our brains for greater positivity. This Valentine’s … Read more
Pop quiz: What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of old age? Hmmm…. it’s fascinating when we look at what comes up for us because our thoughts shape our life experience in dramatic ways. Stereotype Embodiment Theory proposes that negative age beliefs bring about detrimental health effects, misleadingly characterized as inevitable … Read more
When a project launch timeline starts to be measured in days instead of months or weeks, it’s thrilling and daunting at the same time. It’s the moment when everyone on the entire launch team puts on their running shoes to get out of the starting gate and actually make it happen in order to transform … Read more
Have you recently noticed a spring in your step? Are you mildly confused about when you need to turn the clocks ahead—or if you need to turn the clocks at all for that matter? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then surely spring is upon us. This Sunday, just hours after I’ll … Read more
There’s a palpable energy surging through the team on production days when we’re filming Soaringwords workshops. Hair and makeup and the film crew arrive at 8 o’ clock on the dot. Cameras and tripods are assembled. Light bulbs are swapped out for light boxes. Flowers, props, and different outfits are laid out. The place is … Read more
Chocolate-covered strawberries somehow tasted sweeter sharing them with my mother in the coziness of her apartment just days after she was released from the hospital. Watching my four-and-three-quarters granddaughter intently focused on making special Valentine’s cards for her mommy and daddy and of course beloved “GG” (aka great-grandmother) reminded me of the start of … Read more
This morning, I am sitting in the hospital waiting room while my mother undergoes spinal surgery in a pristine, state-of-the-art operating room two floors away. In the weeks and months leading up to this moment, both of us have experienced all of our emotions, although not necessarily the same ones at the same time. Working … Read more
READ THE NEWSLETTER HERE For the past 13 months, the Soaringwords team and I have been creating, filming, polishing, and promoting a SOARING Into Positive Wellbeing workshop initiative to enhance the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of seniors. This initiative also supports the families of seniors and the health care professionals and teams who care … Read more