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Pain is a Given – Suffering is a Choice
‘Pain is a given; suffering is a choice’. What on earth does this mean? And how does it apply to our lives? I think we can all agree…
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Dekker Tells His Story, part 1
Many people ask me (Dekker) what it takes to be a service dog. I could talk to them about the one to two years of training which I…
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Letting Go
My journey through liminal space continues. The pace of our transitioning between continents is that of a snail. And for the time being, that still feels mostly okay, even as…
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How to Procrastinate with Style
I put off writing about procrastination for a long time and I had a lot of (to me) reasonable excuses. My favorite one: “I’m not procrastinating, I’m researching”.…
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The Joy of Gratitude: Simple Ways of Giving Thanks
The joy of gratitude is an acquired joy that comes with practice. I was taught as a very young child to say “thank you” and most of the…
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Dekker Speaks
Dekker is a British black lab who is a service dog by day and a writer by night. His greatest joy is sharing his thoughts about human behavior.
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How Old Do You Have to Be to Become a Crone
Well, if there isn’t a specific age for crones and no certification from an institution of higher learning, and when you look in the mirror you aren’t looking…
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Do You Know What To Do Before Being Hit by a Bus?
People don’t often survive a head-on collision with a speeding bus when they are out for an evening stroll. It is often easier to talk about buses than…
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How Can We Entertain Our Feelings of Grief?
We have an energy crisis, and I am not referring to an oil shortage. I am thinking about all the energy it takes to keep the doors and…
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How Old Is Old Enough?
I am not sure when my desire to be older came to a halt, but there was a period in my life I didn’t think about aging much…
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Dear Dekker
Dear Dekker, I am writing to you because I have what some people call mid-winter blues. I can’t seem to find the energy to keep going.
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What is the Meaning of Reflective Practice
Reflective practice is the art of thinking in a way that not only brings a deeper understanding of an issue but, more importantly, fosters real change in our…
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Why Is It So Hard To Pray When Someone Asks
Why is it so hard to pray when someone asks? What is it that makes prayer something that many people do in private but shy away from if…
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What Do People Mean When they Say They Are Not Religious?
Is it necessary to align oneself to a set of creeds or a place of worship to be considered religious? What is inside of people that sees them…
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Dekker on Aging
Hi. If we haven't met before, my name is Dekker. I welcome you to this site where I write once a month to help people out with their…
