Author: bholmesjr

  • Living Alone During the Holiday Season

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    bholmesjr
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    As the decades have passed and life transitions have occurred, the late 70’s have proven to be a time of reflection and, in many ways, the attainment of clarity about the effects brought about  by life’s adventures. Living alone for most of us is a series of peaks and valleys. The Christmas season is a…

  • Memories that Create Auras

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    bholmesjr
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    As I age, some memories throughout my life create a feeling within me that elevates my spirit. These memories not only permit me to recall the events that created the memory, but also the context of the events. Where was I? What was I experiencing for which the events registered in a different way than…

  • Scribbling about the Thread of our Lives

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    bholmesjr
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    The trees outside my window are an amazing spectacle of color, ranging from dark green to burnt orange, gold, red and amber. Another season is upon us as we approach the excitement of the holidays. As we age, we look forward to another chapter in the parade of seasons. What will it bring? In my…

  • Retirement…Thinking about my strategy

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    bholmesjr
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    When I retired, I rrealized that my life had changed dramatically from the work-a-day world that I had experienced for the years since I left the cockpit and joined the world of high reliability electronics for the aerospace industry. Retirement was a life transition with which I had no experience. I was fortunate because I…

  • Boxes in the Attic

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    bholmesjr
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    I have learned that having a “safe harbor” sounding board person within your trusted circle is a resource that provides safety and aids in developing clarity for almost every life transition, issue resolution and important decision that we make in our life trip. My daughter-in-law, Sarah Masat, is a valuable safe harbor resource for me.…

  • “Bill, write about the life transition of loss”

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    bholmesjr
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    What can I say about loss that has not been said by others in a thousand books? Healing from loss? Is that even possible? Doesn’t healing from loss just mean, in some way, to start over? How do we replace the pieces of our heart that is a void left by the missing part? Every…

  • Navigating Risk in Life Transitions

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    bholmesjr
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    Risk is inherent in almost every life transition. Our fears and self-doubt contribute to the chaos that is roiling within us as we enter a new branch of our life pathway. I experienced the specters of doubt as I entered college. Was I smart enough? Disciplined enough? Persistent enough? When I entered pilot training, was…

  • Human Connection Pathways- The Black and White

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    bholmesjr
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    This may be the most difficult time in history to connect with other humans. The level of divisiveness within America is at a peak. Of course, we can point to social media as a major contributor to human disconnection. Opposing political, spiritual and societal viewpoints contribute significantly to our disconnection. The 24/7 news cycle, in…

  • When Does Old Age Begin?

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    bholmesjr
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    Joel Pinsker addresses the words used to describe “old age” in the Atlantic Magazine in his article “When Does Someone Become Old?”. The article reviews the many words that define those who are “aging”, such as elder, elderly, senior, retired, old, older, geriatric, and mature. In considering the topic of aging, I have always tended…

  • Assistance for Living with a Disability

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    bholmesjr
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    Incurring a disability creates a wide range of adjustments that must be resolved in order to maintain physical, mental, and emotional equilibrium. There are resources that will provide support for most of life’s necessities. Living with a disability is an ongoing learning experience. Exploring the services that are available will be a very important aspect…