In the case of Prince William, when every person on the planet feels a connection to your mother, how do you do remember her at your wedding with honor, respect, and most importantly, in a way that has meaning for you?

Did you know that May is Better Speech and Hearing Month? Well, it is! And as we venture out with our kids into the nicer weather, there is much that can be done to protect our hearing.

We all rely heavily on our sense of hearing to get us through the day. Why, then, do so many adults and children walk around with headphones on all the time? Not only are they missing out on the tweets of the birds and the buzz of the bees, but they’re also exposing their ears…

April 2011 is here and with it comes the acknowledgment of a condition that affects many children and adults through out the world. Maybe you know little about it but the full page ads in the NY Times and the TV commercials are everywhere — bringing home a message that as many as 1 in 110 children in the USA are affected by Autism (1:90 in NJ). Little is know about the causes but research is rampant to find answers. Gone are the days of ‘icebox mothers’ as the cause, and…

Some years ago, through the public relations conduits of VNSNY, I was a guest consultant on MSNBC. The topic was the worldwide reaction to the death of Pope John Paul II. As a bereavement professional and member of the clergy, I was asked why there was such a strong public outpouring of grief over the death of one man. While I don’t recall my exact comments from that day, I’m sure my response focused on both his larger-than-life persona as a Pope, as well as the person himself. He had struggled…

We have all seen the headlines and news stories on the devastation the earthquake caused in Japan and the pacific coast. It is scary to see how quickly everything can change — often in seconds. With that said having a preset plan is SO IMPORTANT! Disasters often strike with no warning and can lead to other problems as the hours pass. Contaminated water and air, disease, lack of food, and no transportation all have to be dealt with. It is scary to imagine what the disaster victims in Japan are…

(photo by q thomas bower)

Did you know today is International Women’s Day?

According to the International Women’s Day website: “It’s a day to celebrate the economic, political, and social achievements of women from the past, present, and future.” This event is celebrated globally with many activities in major cities across the world. I wasn’t even aware that it’s considered a national holiday in other countries like China, Russia and Bulgaria.

Although there is no one theme under which everyone celebrates International Women’s Day, the United Nations has chosen the following:

Equal Access To Education,…

Remember long ago when you were learning the alphabet? You had a word for every letter: “A” stands for Apple, “B” stands for Boy, “C” stands for Cat. That made it so easy. Well, today I propose a change to that mnemonic device, and it goes like this: “A” stands for Active (that’s right get up and move!); “B” stands for Bicycle; “C” stands for Cartwheel (bet it’s been a long time since you did one of those!!); “D” stands for Dodge ball (now that will get your heart pumping!). According to…

My family recently gathered for our Lunar New Year celebration, which included the usual festive meal, snacks and red envelopes. However, this year there was even more excitement with the addition of our six-month old daughter, Grace. As Grace grows before our eyes, my wife and I realize that we’re blessed to share the joy of a new child with both sets of parents who live in close proximity. Their advice, support and encouragement have been invaluable during these first few months of parenthood.

The care I provide for the elderly is greatly…

The Unisphere from the 1964 World's Fair, photo by Stephen Jue

What does the phrase “coming back home” mean to you? To me, it means returning back to Flushing, my hometown, this year to provide rehab care for its elderly. Flushing is a neighborhood in northeast Queens and it’s where I learned to appreciate cultural diversity. Serving as the last stop of the 7 train (nicknamed the “International Express”), this area has hosted two World’s Fairs and is home for many new immigrants.

In the past few weeks, I have enjoyed hearing my seniors share stories of the old…

(photo by Adam Jenkins)

A generational issue exists between me and my mom. She’s sixty-four years old (about to turn sixty-five in April) and I’m…well, I’m a member of Generation X. She says she’s too “old school” for computers.  Her concerns about buying a personal computer are not only cost, but also the overwhelming feeling that comes with having to learn something new. It seems very complicated to her at this time in her life. She told me that she doesn’t understand how people can spend so much time online. “Isn’t it…