http://www.ashleydavisbush.com Transitions and Loss Counseling, PLLC Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:07:22 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en “Why are so many lights on?” Dan used to ask when we were new to each other’s living habits.  “Because I can’t see a thing,” I would answer.  My typical response to winter nights was to turn on every light that I could get my hands on . . . ... http://www.ashleydavisbush.com/change/unplugged/ I have a bad back.  Well . . . actually, I have a good back, it just happens to ‘blow out’ on an annual basis.  I’m still not sure when or how to anticipate an episode.  Is it related to weather, stress, how well I stretched that day?  There do ... http://www.ashleydavisbush.com/change/sweet-surrender/ I was sitting at my desk on a Monday morning, calmly reviewing my inbox of emails, when I heard a yell and a sharp crack outside.  I raised my eyes to look out the window in time to see a huge pine tree – we’re talking at least 70 feet ... http://www.ashleydavisbush.com/grief/timber/ I’m not a true died-in-the-wool, year-round chocoholic . . . and yet, when it comes to the day of red hearts and cupids, I go nuts for chocolate.  Sure, you could say that I’m just a puppet to marketing and a pawn in the game of retail consumerism.  And you’d ... http://www.ashleydavisbush.com/change/enduring-love/ I have a tiger cat who lounges on the floor of my office or purrs in my lap when I write.  She has the most gorgeous markings:  black stripes on tawny fur, sand colored chin, pale emerald eyes.  As a kitten, she was taken from the wild, prematurely separated from ... http://www.ashleydavisbush.com/pets/healing-hearts/ Last fall, the Metropolitan opera staged its Italian classic “Tosca” with a totally new set and new costumes -- a new concept.  This was after decades of using the tried and true ‘Zefferelli’ design.  How was it received?  On opening night, the audience booed the production.  Critics were . . ... http://www.ashleydavisbush.com/change/life-is-good/ My 17 year old daughter, Elizabeth, has begun the college application process (yikes!).  Her first assignment from her guidance counselor was to fill out an extremely extensive life review questionnaire.  The question that really caught my eye asked, "What is the most significant event in your life to date and ... http://www.ashleydavisbush.com/change/renewing-wonder/ Every year I wrestle with my ‘weary-winter syndrome’.   Even though I’ve had nearly 30 years of northern winters, my native Texas bones long for warmth and light.  Like a honking Canadian goose, I have the urge to fly south for the winter.  I know that more daylight is slowly returning, ... http://www.ashleydavisbush.com/inner-peace/under-the-snow/ I recently had the pleasure of running into an old friend.  We were casually chatting, catching up on life's adventures, when she mentioned that her youngest son had gone off to college last fall.  "Oh," I surmised, "You're an empty nester now."  She corrected me, "No, we're free birds." http://www.ashleydavisbush.com/inner-peace/free-birds/ More than once I’ve made attempts to follow the tradition of making a new year’s resolution.  “Resolve to exercise.”  “Resolve to lose weight.”  “Resolve to floss teeth.”  Yea, right.  Has anyone actually succeeded with these clichéd goals?  I might as well have spit in the wind.  By Valentine’s day, my ... http://www.ashleydavisbush.com/in-between/resolutions-revisited/