Listen to my BlogTalk Radio interview on Tuesday, April 30

I'll be interviewed by Chris MacLellan on his radio show, Be a Healthy Caregiver, on Tuesday, April 30.

We talk about my workbook and issues related to having "the conversation" about end-of-life planning.

Click here at 10am PT (1pm ET) on Tuesday to listen in...how prepared are you and yours are for dealing with a crisis?

You never know...

My son and grandson

We have all experienced a terrible week. We are all saddened by the events in Boston, Mass. and the events in West, Texas. We mourn the deaths of so many innocents and the traumas of so many others. We feel great empathy for those who survived these atrocities and know that their lives are now forever changed. We know that the families of those gone and those broken will never be the same. And at the same time, we realize that it could have been any one of us in their stead.

Death and injury have no reason. Young and old alike are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is, quite simply, chance. We must now continue to live our lives and be ever more vigilant. We must befriend those who may need a helping hand and reach out to those who seek a hand to hold.

Remember to make sure all of your pertinent information is in place, filled out and ready in the time of need. We can help you do this with our Caring Is Not Enough workbook. Please do this for yourself and your family.

Because, you never know.

Team sports can prepare your child for the game of life

Today my husband and I got to watch our granddaughter's first soccer game of the season. Proudly, I tell you that she is on the State A Team. We have watched her play soccer since she was 7 years old.

When she was little, she and her teammates held hands and danced in circles around the field. Now it's a much more serious game. These A-level players are tough! And I mean tough! They show no hesitancy in aggressively running into the girls on the other team. They twist and turn and take head shots and elbow jabs like the pros. It's amazing how effectively they use footwork and how powerfully they pass the ball to each other.

It's truly a great idea to have youth in team sports. They learn that there's no "I" in team. They put their faith in each other. They play with all different kids from all different backgrounds and nobody even notices any differences. They cheer each other on and console each other. They are preparing for the game of life, where being an active participant is the important thing....not standing on the sidelines. Exploring, experiencing and enjoying the great exercise and team spirit.

I only wish that we'd had those opportunities when we were kids, but there were no organized team sports back then. Perhaps if there had been, our world would be a more compassionate place.

Did you play team sports when you were a kid? Did you like it? Do you feel it gave you the ability to work better as a team player in your chosen field? Let us know.

Living to be 101 years old...do you have a spring in your step?

Peppermint Stick Amaryllis

When I begin to see the return of the beautiful amaryllis that we planted years ago, I know that spring has really arrived. The air is rich with pollen and fresh new green leaves are on the trees. The daffodils have come and are now withering on their stalks. They still have that pretty yellowish glow about them, though. Squirrels are busy and the birds are everywhere. And that's when I begin to think about families.

This week, I had a 1982 video put onto a DVD. It was from my grandfather's 101st birthday party. He is there in all his glory, smiling and joking with his great-grandchildren. He was in a wheelchair, but he did stand up for about half a minute. Grandpa was a kick. He had a full head of white hair. He was bright and well-read...he said he stayed that way by memorizing long epic poems, like Beowolf...that impressed me! He also wrote dirty limericks for Playboy well into his 90s! Grandpa always had a little limerick ready when someone asked him a question. He was like a real leprechaun. It's so great that I was able to preserve the video tape on DVD. How far we have come!

Think about what you are doing for your family on a daily basis...but not just by working, earning money and cooking meals. Do you do jigsaw puzzles or read a lot?  Do you go to your local library for classes and lectures? We do crossword puzzles, read loads of books, play gin rummy and Scrabble. We are hoping that these types of challenge will train our brains enough to make sure we are cogent when we get into our 90s. We are trying hard to keep in good physical shape  by swimming and going to the gym, so we'll be here longer for our family.

How about you? What do you do on a daily basis to help get you to the age of 101?