Blog

You are not alone! Learn more about the topics Co-Create 4 Life specializes in through our educational blog. From arguing with your inner critic to a loving kindness meditation, you can find various resources to help you along your caregiving journey.

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Two Black Women hugging.

Gratitude is a worthy pursuit…

We just enjoyed the national holiday, Thanksgiving. I hope your weekend was pleasant and full of friends and family. However, some of the things you probably weren’t thankful for may have included the traffic you had to battle to get to your celebration, or to get home. The sharp change in weather

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Photo of a small gift box being held by two hands.

And so it begins…

To me, the coming (and going) of Thanksgiving means the official launch of the winter holiday season. Even though it isn’t officially winter yet (that won’t occur until December 21st), it seems the next several weeks will be overrun with shopping, and commercials that urge you to do more shopping, cooking, baking

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Photo of two people paddling in a kayak

Appreciating Top Ten Days…

As I write this, Minneapolis is enjoying a Top Ten Day for weather. The temperatures are in the mid-fifties, the sun is out, the breeze is mild and you’d never suspect that winter is just around the corner! I’m not at all sure what the official criteria might be for proclaiming any

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Photo of a woman looking distressed sitting on a couch

Sometimes, I just can’t keep up…

Maybe you feel that way too? Especially at this time of year, I feel the crush of 4th quarter and think of all the things on my business to-do list that I’m eager to complete. AND with the holidays coming, it seems my personal/family to-do list has grown exponentially in keeping

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A picture of hand weights and resistance bands.

The unhealthy realities all around us. . .

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak at a conference for healthcare workers. The audience was a nicely mixed assortment of folks who, in one way or another, are on the frontlines of professional caregiving. The conference was intended to remind them of strategies to enhance or improve their self-care,

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A woman on her bike in nature

What do you do for fun?

What do you do for fun? I’ve been contemplating this question for the last week or so, noticing that each of us might define “fun” differently and go about answering the question in our own unique ways. I know that for a number of my friends, the answer would have something

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Photo of two women in activewear.

Getting old, or GROWING old?

I’ve been asking myself a question for some time now, “Who do I want to be when I’m OLD?” without precisely specifying when “old” might be. After all, I’m “old” now given that I’m 70 and happily living a life of retirement from my original career (nursing). But the question I pose

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Piles of laundry in front of a washer and dryer.

Finding Your Enough…

In reviewing her experience with our caregiver coaching work together, a client told me one of the most important milestones she reached was finding her own “enough” – that place where, as an individual, you’re satisfied with the reality of the situation. Yes, it could be better, but it will

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Empty toilet paper roll on a stand

Reacting to life’s little irritations. . .

Have you noticed that perhaps now, more than ever, our annoyance sensors are on high alert? The frustrations, inconveniences, isolation, and fears associated with the pandemic messed with our patience levels and honed our triggers – making us prone to an immediate, and sometimes harsh response to almost anything.

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Danger of Overlooking Overwhelm

The danger in overlooking overwhelm…

If you’ve looked at my website, you can tell that most of my clients are family caregivers. Sometimes I also coach healthcare professionals (clearly a caregiving role) and occasionally, my clients fit into both categories – clinicians who also have a family member at home or in a facility, clearly

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Appreciating Nature…

Autumn is probably my very favorite time of year, the colors are changing the whole landscape and the air is crisp, even with an occasional threat of frost. I love fall. This season give us a sense of urgency for what lies ahead. We’re not immersed in the holidays yet, but

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Seeking simple pleasures.

Seeking simple pleasures…

What’s your go-to simple pleasure when you just need a little comfort in your life? Mine is coffee. I find it most comforting when I can drink it alone, in my sunroom, before anyone else in my household is awake. I can savor it with a little cream and steaming hot, brewed in

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Photo of a person looking at themselves in a mirror.

Self-Care: Action or Intention?

Lately, I’ve seen the prompt in several of the online communities where I’m active, “What’s one act of self-care you’ve embraced this week? And, as an advocate for self-care, I’m always glad to be pointed in the direction of taking action, I’m also struck by the “one-and-done” kind of thinking this sort

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Photo of a woman with her hand up.

Reacting to unwelcome information…

How do you react to information you don’t like (or want to hear)? Do you shoot the messenger? Do you take a deep breath and formulate a considered response? Often, our response lands somewhere in between those two.

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An invitation to a fundraising event to help Maui.

Loss can invite healing…

It’s counter-intuitive but, in the midst of loss there is a unique opportunity for healing. I know this because I’ve seen it, time and time again. I’m participating in a Loss & Grief Circle this summer and among the things I’ve learned there, in that trusted, safe and sacred conversation is that loss is an inevitable consequence of being human.

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Photo of the Pioneer Inn in Lahaina, Maui.

Healing 4 Hawaii…

Are you aching like I am over the devastating fires on Maui? Do you want to help, but aren’t sure how to show your support? Here’s an opportunity to be generous and also engage in honoring the current needs & ancient traditions of the islands:https://tinyurl.com/yc33ddm3

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Photo of many types of baked bread.

Sadly, we are what we eat…

I’ve spent a lot of time this summer thinking about how to make food preparation easier, more convenient and healthier – all at once. Lately, I’ve been confronting the sad truth that my lust for convenience will often over-ride my good judgment and lead me to make selections that are anything but healthy.

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Diagram of a collage.

Creating a vision of what might be. . .

Are you someone who’s created a vision-board for your heart’s desires? Have you made a collage of important quotations, key words and images that motivate you toward the goals you’ve set for your life? If so, then, you’ll likely understand the essence of this blog.

Some of the toughest road-blocks to imagining the future you want are the belief systems that limit your thinking and discourage you from imagining that you can have the life you want, or that you deserve to have that life!

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Photo of a gift box.

What a gift!

There is a Facebook page I visit almost every day because it simply warms my heart to go there. You may have a similar page in your neighborhood, it is called: Buy Nothing Eden Prairie. The tag-line for the page (a private group) simply says: Give. Ask. Gratitude.

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Photo of a woman sitting in front of a laptop.

Work it!

I just love my work. I know, that’s not something that everyone might say, but for me, it is simply true. When I had a corporate job I used to worry that I wouldn’t know how to be happy in retirement; work was so very much a part of my identity. Who would I be if I didn’t have a job??

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About Paula

I help other caregivers – both professionals and family caregivers – acknowledge their pain and learn to practice the many small skills of self-care that can sustain them through the challenges of wholeheartedly caring for others.

Popular Posts

Two Black Women hugging.
Coach

Gratitude is a worthy pursuit…

We just enjoyed the national holiday, Thanksgiving. I hope your weekend was pleasant and full of friends and family. However, some of the things you …

Read More →
Photo of a small gift box being held by two hands.
Coach

And so it begins…

To me, the coming (and going) of Thanksgiving means the official launch of the winter holiday season. Even though it isn’t officially winter yet (that won’t ...
Read More →
Photo of two people paddling in a kayak
Coach

Appreciating Top Ten Days…

As I write this, Minneapolis is enjoying a Top Ten Day for weather. The temperatures are in the mid-fifties, the sun is out, the breeze is mild ...
Read More →
Photo of a woman looking distressed sitting on a couch
Coach

Sometimes, I just can’t keep up…

Maybe you feel that way too? Especially at this time of year, I feel the crush of 4th quarter and think of all the things on ...
Read More →
How Can I Help You?

Through Co-Create 4 Life, you will learn a range of well-being strategies from skillfully implementing self-care to holistic approaches to well-being, rebuilding resilience, and battling burnout. Book a free consultation call today to discuss your options.

How Can I Help You?

Through Co-Create 4 Life, you will learn a range of well-being strategies from skillfully implementing self-care to holistic approaches to well-being, rebuilding resilience, and battling burnout. Book a free consultation call today to discuss your options.