To protect the herd, nurse urges all to immunize
My daughter lives two states away. We have a hard time talking to each other. She is close to her father.
I feel as if I have been a good wife and mother. I don't know what went wrong. I have a group of friends I enjoy, but the loss of my family is consuming me.
Any advice on how to get through this?
-- Sad Mom
Dear Sad: Aside from providing the lyrics for countless country western ballads, these challenging periods offer us opportunities for growth and change. It's hard to see it that way when you've just been pummeled, but in life, we either adjust or we remain stuck in our sadness.
You could start by doing some soul-searching, to see what you should take responsibility for and what you should let go. Give yourself the fresh start that each of us deserves.
Let your healthy relationships sustain and propel you. Seek opportunities to work or volunteer, helping other people. Your nursing skills would be welcomed by any number of organizations. Being useful to others will help you to feel better about yourself. (May, 2009)
Dear Readers: Are you curious about my background and life outside of the confines of this space? Read my two memoirs: "The Mighty Queens of Freeville" and "Strangers Tend to Tell Me Things," available wherever books are sold or borrowed.
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(You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: ASKAMY@amydickinson.com. Readers may send postal mail to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or "like" her on Facebook.)
