Christa Johnson’s Blog

Introduction to Life, Death, Love, Loss, and a Raucous Good Time

PART 1 ARTICLE 1 AUDIO FILE IN FOOTER ♫ Lessons Learned from Life as It Is, Not as We Wish It Would Be We all wish for lives of boundless joy, devoid of suffering, filled only with love and light. But life, in truth, encompasses death, love, loss, and every shade in between. Tragedy strikes…
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Healing Pain Beneath the Tip of the Iceberg

PART 2 ARTICLE 10 AUDIO FILE IN FOOTER ♫ After you have gone to your doctor, explored all possible physical causes, and followed every recommended treatment plan for your pain or symptoms, it is time to delve deeper into where healing, not just curing, occurs.  This is especially important for those whose symptoms persist and…
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Contemplating Afterlife

PART 2 ARTICLE 9 AUDIO FILE IN FOOTER ♫ This past year, I have lost several close friends and shared in the grief of others who have endured profound losses, including life-threatening diagnoses, the passing of their spouses, or, most heartbreakingly, their children. At my age of 72 and beyond, such losses are expected, yet…
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The Writing Journey

PART 2 ARTICLE 8 AUDIO FILE IN FOOTER ♫ Writing or journaling is one way to connect with the deeper, nonphysical part of ourselves, where answers about who we really are reside. The self-knowledge that this practice encourages is helpful for both self-healing and discovering meaning in life. Somehow, giving concrete expression to our thoughts…
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The Healing Potential of Christmas Spirit

PART 2 ARTICLE 6 AUDIO FILE IN FOOTER ♫ Sitting in the warmth and comfort of my Blue Foot Café, soothed by the gentlest instrumental Christmas music, I pause dreamily as I contemplate this season, its meaning, past, present, and future.  The holidays have the mind-boggling power to deliver both joy and sorrow, wonder and…
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Resilience and the Rose

PART 2 ARTICLE 5 AUDIO FILE IN FOOTER ♫ Just look at that rose! This photo was taken in early December after enduring four frosts, a few wintry, wind-driven rainstorms, and a full year of breathtaking beauty through spring, summer, and fall. Of the hundreds that grace my tiny yard each year, she was the…
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Healing our Country: Healthcare

PART 3 ARTICLE 4 AUDIO FILE IN FOOTER ♫ Why bother to heal a country, seemingly irreparably damaged?  Where does one possibly begin? One person, one issue at a time. Healthcare has been getting worse year by year. I couldn’t bear it 10 years ago when I retired and had been tortured by the obscene…
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Messages from Beyond… Lynn’s Legacy

PART 1 ARTICLE 25 AUDIO FILE IN FOOTER ♫ The morning after Lynn passed, I went to the beach, thinking about her memorial service scheduled for a month later. She had wanted Eva Cassidy’s haunting version of “Fields of Gold” to be played at the start of the service. When I asked her what other…
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Grieving the Loss of Integrity

PART 3 ARTICLE 3 AUDIO FILE IN FOOTER ♫ Sitting here on yet another somber and frightening day, I find myself at a loss. I believe with all my heart that every human being possesses a core of pure love, the most precious gift humanity has ever been given. Within this place resides a profound…
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Lessons from the Hard Times: The Election Edition

PART 3 ARTICLE 2 AUDIO FILE IN FOOTER ♫ Hard times often teach us our most valuable lessons. In the wake of the recent election, as grief and fear weigh heavily on the minds of many,  these lessons resonate louder than ever.  Over the past few days, I’ve reflected on how much I love our…
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Election Day – The Morning After

PART 3 ARTICLE 1 AUDIO FILE IN FOOTER ♫ We live in a democracy for which I am so grateful.  The outcome of all elections makes clear the will of the majority of our citizens. Whether we like it or not, acceptance of this reality is our only choice.  This does not mean we have…
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