CogniFit just showed me that I am NOT a multitasking genius… I am honestly quite surprised. I’ve been duped! All these 58 years I’ve been under the wrong impression… multitasking is not a skill that I excel in… I’m disappointed.

Another good news… I fail miserably in the skill of “focus”.. well, this is not something I don’t know.. I DO know that one. What is so exciting to me.. hopefully, CogniFit will help me learn to improve that skill.

My overall cognitive rating is Above Normal when comparing me to other old farts like me!

Here are the skills that I excel in:

Memory

Motor

Perception

Need help with:

Attention!!! Shifting and Divided Attention!

Okay, I am ready to take on attention.. follow me along as I improve to NORMAL on these two skills… especially divided attention… that is what I need help with most! I am out to prove to myself that I am not ADHD.

Thank you for following me along.

Strong Online Presence for Senior Market

When reaching buyers of senior care products, a strong online presence is of high importance. In a recent article published by Entrepreneur.com, writer Mark Willaman outlines the importance of providing online content that clearly states who the company is and that addresses their unique selling points. However, traditional marketing tactics, such as print advertisements, sponsorships, or trade show exhibitions, are still crucial methods when attracting the senior care market.

Research illustrates how these marketing approaches are still useful when targeting seniors, as well as online sources such as webinars, search marketing campaigns, white papers, and byline articles. Yet, acquiring a strong online presence proves to be more effective when reaching the elder care market. Not only does the Web provide customer with product information and services, but gives the opportunity for the company to position its culture, standards, and expertise.

Carebuzz delivers online marketing services to the providers of the in home care industry. For more information send an email to Carol Marak, Founder - carol@carebuzz.com.

Source: Entreprenur.com

Losing Hanna was published yesterday. Thank you for reading the loss of my sweet pet. It helps to heal when I am able to express my sadness through writing. Keeping this journal of the loss is helping to  release the sadness and emotions via words. A way to let go.

As time moves on after Hanna, I am making a conscious choice to stay connected with her spirit. I choose to think that we are still connected in this great Universe and one day I will see her again - as promised in the Rainbow Bridge Poem (click on Rainbow Bridge to read). Now when I see a rainbow… I know Hanna and I will meet there one day.

The awareness that her loss presents many opportunities for me. In a day or two, I will share the meditation here on the Carebuzz blog that I used (and will do again to remind me) to help me process and learn what it is that Hanna’s loss is teaching me. I talked about the biggest lesson yesterday in Losing Hanna. I choose to move forward and use this loss as a stepping stone for growth and enlightenment. This is what heals and gives me peace after Hanna.

Losing Hanna… for 18 years I’ve dreaded this place - where I am today… the place without Hanna. Yes, she was my pet, only a pet.. but she’s so much bigger than that to me. She was one of my biggest teachers of feminine essence, love, loyalty and commitment.

I put Hanna down exactly a month ago, August 17, ‘09. Since then it’s felt like my heart’s been jerked out and used for a baseball. The tears continue to surge and I’m left behind, empty handed. No sweet, soft face to kiss, to hold, and call out to in comfort and joy. Hanna grew on me like white on rice. She was my shadow. For those of you who think cats are aloof and frosty … that’s an error.

For those of you grieving your sweet pet, my heart and prayers go out. I am not sure you or I will “get over” this loss… how can we? The place in our hearts where our pets live is filled with a tremendously deep love. Loss of a pet can tear into us with the force of thunder. It’s one of the hardest periods of life that I have endured so far.

Remembering…

Hanna was a gift from a dear friend, Christine. My friend was aware of my single life.. living alone.. she thought it would be complete with a cat. You see, Christine was a cat lover, growing up with them she believed everyone wanted one too. Quite frankly Christine, I did not want a cat. I repeatedly said to her, “what the hell am I gonna do with a cat?” Her reply was insistent… “you need one and her name is Hanna!” Geez, I thought, can’t even name my own pet! So, off in my car I went.. Hanna in tow. Looking at that sweet face.. all smiles… she melted my heart and found her “huge” spot in it to live. (A big thanks to Christine!)

Hanna and I had a lot of ups and downs… not with one another… from the beginning I knew we were to be together, well, sort of. Not sure why we were made for one another.. until years later.

I was the proverbial single woman, a boomer growing up in the liberation era, out to prove that I am just as talented as a man and more than equal! I am proud to say that I proved it too! (my attitude at the time)

What sweet Hanna taught me - it was okay to be soft and yielding.. but just because she was sweet and innocent did not mean she was a push over! Hanna was very determined to stay in her power and would let you know IMMEDIATELY if you were stepping beyond her boundaries….HISSSSS….

That was the lesson for me! Through her innocence and commitment to me, Hanna had a special way of just being. I’m not sure I ever noticed out loud. She taught me through osmosis.

What I leave with you today. Death and loss is gravely difficult. It brings pain and it hurts, something gawd awful. I am taking it a day at a time… please visit again tomorrow, when I journey (again) through the loss of Mom. Again, our posts this week are not for the weak of heart.

Please offer you comments, how you moved through the mud - what helped you survive.. we’re begging to know.

Image 2: lightheartedpress.com

Welcome to the Carebuzz Grief and Loss Series starting today! This Carebuzz series is not for the weak of heart, for those who have no heart, and/or an open mind.

My disclaimer on the upcoming week’s blog post comes from my experience, listening to those of you sharing the pain of loss, and my personal search to find answers of why it affects us so deeply.  The top concern for me on this topic… why does it feel so final?  While I am not sure that answer can be fully disclosed in human terms, for me, I am finding some resolution. It’s in this that my intention is to bring hope and peace to those coping with death, loss, and grief.

Our Grief and Loss agenda for the week:

1. Loss of Hanna - since this is the most recent death that I’ve lived through, it lives with me daily… like the seconds of a clock.. ticking away and dragging me with it… crying and resisting change. Sweet Hanna B., my dear, cat of 18+ years has been with me since she was seven weeks old. To me, like many of you living with a dear pet for so many years, my cat was more than a pet.. she was my baby girl.

2. Mom’s Passing - my Mother passed seven years ago this summer and while seven years is estimated to be a good while…  to this day I long for hugging her. I miss her terribly.

3. Hope - I will share with you the lessons learned through the arduous journey of grief and loss. It’s not a journey for sissies. It takes courage, strength of character and heart and above all, an open mind with compassion.

4. The Books, websites, and support groups that help/continue to see me through healing and give courage to understanding the lessons to be learned.

5. I’d like to share the experiences of others and how they survived losing a loved one. What helped them the most and hopefully give you insight into your own loss and how to cope.

Please join Carebuzz this week and read our stories on the heartbreaks endured. Please comment, if you care to join in this heavy (at times) conversation. I don’t know where this series will take us, but my hope and intention is find a resolution, and the promise of healing.

Image 1: fbliterary.com

Image 2: hope4survivors.com