Opinion

The Family Dinner Matters
By Carole Townsend

It’s been said for years, by psychologists, pastors, and even by just us laypeople:  family dinnertime matters. In a whirlwind world that gets more blustery by the year, what with sports and academic activities, work and other commitments, the family dinner table is, in a sense, the eye of the storm. It’s that calm, peaceful time when a family can sit down, unplug, share and forge stronger bonds. Such time is critical to healthy families.

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To Resolve, or Not to Resolve?
By Carole Townsend

Quick, when someone mentions the New Year to you, what does that bring to mind? For some, it’s a melancholy time, packed with nostalgia, “what-ifs” and such. For some, a New Year is brimming with hope and promise, change and excitement. For many of us, the New Year is a symbolic chance to make positive changes, set goals and achieve them. It’s a time of resolve, a time of convicted resolution.

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Ah, it’s over.  My favorite time of the year: Christmas. I believe that I can say, finally, I am maxed out on the festivities. Oh, I don’t mean that I am tired of the actual reason that we celebrate Christmas; that is a year-long, life-long celebration. Rather, I am maxed out on the trappings of the season.

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When you’ve lost someone you love, it’s funny how thoughts of that person pop into your head, no matter how long ago you lost him. My dad died in March of last year, at the admirable old age of 93.  Even now, I’ll go to pick up the phone to call him, to share some news with him, and it hits me. I can’t do that anymore. He’s gone.

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