Story-telling | Sheila Collins

Celebrating the Longer Story

by Sheila Collins | Oct 14, 2021 | Celebrations, Family, Gatherings, Grieving, Health and Wellness, Our Children, Personal Stories, Story-telling, The Art of Grieving

After my sister Pat died last August in a memory care facility in Massachusetts, my nephew Adam and I decided to gather members of our far-flung family for a reunion and memorial in her honor. The last family gathering had been seven years ago, when we met over...

Sisters

by Sheila Collins | Aug 26, 2021 | Celebrations, Family, Good Will Come, Grieving, Personal Stories, Self-Care for Caregivers, Story-telling, The Art of Grieving

Since my 79-year-old sister Pat died over the weekend I’ve been flooded with memories of her and the long life we shared together. It’s amazing how present she has become now that she has made her transition. Pat slept in the twin bed next to me most every night for...

Gifts That Keep On Giving

by Sheila Collins | Jun 24, 2021 | Art & Life, Community, Duality, Family, Grieving, Health and Wellness, Our Children, Personal Stories, Resilience, Self-Care for Caregivers, Spirtuality, Story-telling, The Art of Grieving

Last week, on the first day of summer known as the summer solstice, thoughts and memories of my youngest son, Kenneth were close at hand. Friends and family members know this day as the anniversary of Kenneth’s death from complications of AIDS at age 31. They send...

Crossing Over

by Sheila Collins | May 27, 2021 | Celebrations, Duality, Family, Gatherings, Grieving, Health and Wellness, Our Children, Personal Stories, Rituals, Self-Care for Caregivers, Songs, Spirtuality, Story-telling, The Art of Grieving

Michael rowed the boat ashore, Alleluia, Sister helped to trim the sails Alleluia. Our living room has turned into the dying room. Friends linger after stopping by to bring flowers or drop off food. One tells me, “There’s so much love in this house. it’s hard to...

Love and Loss –The Pet Edition

by Sheila Collins | Apr 14, 2021 | Art & Life, Environment, Family, Our Children, Past Events, Personal Stories, pets, Story-telling

It was the Saturday before Mother’s Day. I was 6 years old and my brother Miles was 4. He and I were pulling his red wagon around the neighborhood collecting newspapers for a school paper drive –a common activity of recycling and fundraising for schools of that day....

Want more ease and enjoyment while stuck at home? Try some artful play.

by Sheila Collins | Feb 11, 2021 | Art & Life, Community, Gatherings, Improvisation, Personal Stories, Story-telling, Technology

Looks like it’s still gonna be awhile before we can move about our communities and our country freely. One type of experience I’ve been missing especially is being able to attend plays, dance concerts, and performances of live music. We’ve been lucky to have...