MSI Press Blog

  Grief becomes heavier when it’s vague. When we say only “I’m sad” or “I miss them,” our minds don’t know what to do with the ache. It floats, shapeless, and therefore endless. Naming the exact thing you lost—the role you played, the future you imagined, the daily rhythm that disappeared—helps your mind understand what it’s trying to heal. Often the grief isn’t only about the event; it’s about the identity tied to it. Maybe you lost the person who made you feel capable. Maybe you lost the version of yourself who believed life would unfold a certain way. Maybe you lost the ordinary morning routine that once anchored your days. Each of those is a distinct loss. Each deserves to be named. When you name the loss clearly, you give your heart a map. You begin to see what changed, what remains, and what might be rebuilt. You stop fighting shadows and start tending to something real. Grief is not a single wound—it’s a landscape. Naming the loss is how you find your footing in it. And on...

  What happens when the baby in the family occasionally “dies” or lives in constant danger of dying? The answer is surprisingly simple, because we witnessed it firsthand. They become eternally bonded—and exceptionally independent. Whenever Doah stopped breathing or slipped into a clinical death, Donnie and I were wholly absorbed with him. We would tear out of the driveway behind the ambulance, racing to the children’s hospital miles away. At home, nine‑year‑old Lizzie—old enough to babysit, but just barely—took command. She kept Shane and Noelle organized. She catheterized Noelle on schedule. She taught 23‑month‑old Shane to read and to follow along with her fourth‑grade lessons. No one told her he was too young, so he never knew he was. One day we heard him reading a book aloud… then another… then a stack of flash cards. The preschool we enrolled him in was equally stunned; overnight, they promoted him to first grade. This crucible of crisis created more than bonding. It forged in...

  Ilene Berns-Zare, author of  You're Not Too Old, and It's Not Too Late , was recently interviewed by Michelle Chappell on Your True Calling podcast: The Power of Resilience . Book Description Designed as an accessible 52-week companion, this inspiring guide invites Baby Boomers and Gen Xers to reimagine aging with confidence, vitality, and purpose. Drawing on research-informed tools and practical reflections, it encourages readers to tap into inner strengths, embrace meaningful shifts, and discover everyday “ah-ha” moments that spark renewal. Whether you seek greater wellbeing, deeper meaning, or renewed fulfillment from midlife through older adulthood, this uplifting resource reminds us that aging well is an active journey—and that the best chapters may still lie ahead. Keywords: midlife transformation; aging with purpose; positive aging book; Baby Boomer wellness; Gen X wellbeing; 52‑week self‑growth guide; midlife reinvention; aging well strategies; vitality after 50; per...

  Grief arrives in many costumes. Sometimes it looks like the death of someone we love. Sometimes it’s the quiet ending of a friendship, the loss of a dream, the collapse of a season of life, or the slow erosion of a version of ourselves we thought would last forever. Whatever form it takes, grief is a universal human experience—and yet it never feels universal when you’re inside it. It feels personal, disorienting, and strangely private. Healing from grief isn’t about “getting over” anything. It’s about learning to live with what changed, and discovering who you are now. Here are some ways people can begin that process, no matter the type of loss. 1. Name the Loss Clearly Grief becomes heavier when it’s vague. Naming the exact thing you lost— the role you played, the future you imagined, the daily rhythm that disappeared —helps your mind understand what it’s trying to heal. Often the grief isn’t only about the event; it’s about the identity tied to it. 2. Let Your Body Participate...