I am “Proudly” Sandra Carr Hill. It took me a while to be able to make that complete statement.
For many years, I “worked” without realizing my “worth.” I always felt as if I was on a treadmill. I was living life, but not taking time to actually enjoy life. I merely existed to pay bills.
However, in 2006, I obtained the position of Lifelong Planning Specialist for a program for the aging and immediately fell in love with my career choice. My position was a Social Worker of sorts, providing Community Resources and Services.
As an LLP, I dispensed information, provided motivation. and resources to make life as a retiree, more knowledgeable, fulfilling, comfortable, and peaceful, My workshops and presentations included resources for independent living, and tips for “PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE;” and just all-around better living advice.
In 2008, because of a change in the state government, (my employer), and a different administration coming into office, my program was discontinued. I then found myself—unemployed.
For two years, I submitted resume after resume, and almost always received the same results—overqualified.
The Placement Tests I took indicated I was better suited for employment in the field of creativity. But who, in my city, would pay me to be creative?
Eventually, I had a complete Mental Meltdown. I became a hospital inpatient—of no good to my family, or myself.
After several years of struggling to become a viable first-class-citizen again, I rediscovered my passion for writing. And like Colonel Sanders, of KFC fame, though not at the same level, I began to thrive late in life doing what I always loved.
Because I lived a sheltered life in my childhood, I always had time to write. So I did! And for that, I thank my mother who always kept us close to home.
But, I digress. After the kickstart of my delayed writing career, I dusted off my certificates, old poems, skits, and manuscripts, and then moved forward.
I do not regret my misfortunes in life. I feel it was all in God’s plan. For it is “Now” that my time has come!
As a passionate writer, I craft creative short stories, meaningful and mindful articles and quotes; and also poems, aimed at captivating my reader.
I do not write just to fill pages, I write to fill souls! It is my mission to defy the mundane. I would like for my messages to ignite a fire in the hearts of those who have never seriously tried, or have forgotten how to appreciate life and their dreams.
My journey through the world of writing has been a fascinating exploration of ideas that led to creativity. My works are offered as “Respite Relief,” a place to park and rest your mind, to take a break from what I call the “9 to 5” grief and the “Day to Day “ grind.
Here you can find “Today’s Thoughts, Motivation and Profound Quotes , Clean Means of Laughter, Soulful Stories, as well as, Words of Encouragement; A little bit of everything for everyone.
I have resigned myself to the fact that:
Writing is part of my DNA.
I do not write because I can, I write because I must!
—Sandra Carr Hill
by Sandra C. Hill photograph by Paul Abell
As the life expectancy of American adults Increases each year, planning for long-term by the medical community on living a longer, healthier life, there are still people who ignore their health until care becomes more and more important. Most
that first heart attack or stroke. Thus, we may expect definitions of long-term care include providing personal an even greater number of seniors combating chronic care, as well as social and medical services, to assist people health problems, physical illnesses, or mental disabilities. with everyday living activities allowing them to remain While in the past, close relatives would care for family independent for as long as possible. These activities of members who were seriously ill, today people have daily living (ADLs), such as bathing dressing toileting.
to give thoughtful consideration to who will care for and even eating may not be particularly difficult for them in case of serious injury, illness, or disability. Many most people; however, such activities may be impossible children are living too far from parents to check on them to perform for someone who has chronic health regular and help with their activities of dally having It problems. Typical users of long-term care may also have would be impossible for a child who es hundreds of trouble with other activities that most people take for miles away to take on the responsibility of managing a granted, such as meal preparation, money management, parent's medicine, meals, and grooming on a daily basis gram telephone usage, shopping housework, and medication In Georgia, Governor Sonny Perdue has implemented management, While Georgia's seniors have good reason Georgia Cares Lifelong Planning, an initiative to educate to consider long-term care issues, no longer can the
Georgians on problems with long-term GEORGIACARES care and senior community be the only ones looking at long-term offer solutions. To this end the Middle Georgia Regional care issues. Development Center, the designated Area Agency on Aging, according to the US Census Bureau, in 2000, 5-9.9 percent of Georgia's population was over the age Aging, sends out lifelong planning specialists through the Middle Georgia region (Baldwin. Bibb, Crawford of sixty-five, but as more of Georgla's Baby Boomers mature this percentage will increase steadily. In 2015, for Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Pucnar instance, this segment of the population will grow 10- Twiggs, and Wilkinson counties). These lifelong planning 14.9 percent. However, looking toward 2025, Georgia's specialists offer fre population over sixty-five years old will be 15.0-19.9 to businesses percent of the whole. Therefore the Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, have important decisions organization. "One never knows what kind of reception to make regarding long-term care. you will receive until you're in front of the audierce. People are living longer, but that doesn't necessarily Pat Denier, a lifelong planning specialist with the Middle mean people are living a better quality of life. Medical Georgia Regional Development Center. Area Agency on research is consistently coming up with more preventive Aging. "You just hope that you can say something that medicines and cures for diseases that, in the past, would will touch at least one person and start him or her to have meant prolonged illnesses or early death. But thinking about their future long-term care." Pat goes even with all the medical advances and advice given on to say, "I think some people think that it's a natural sequence of life to reach retirement age and their health.
ACTIVE lifestyles
Sofia’s Search Sparks Sudden Smiles
The old rocking chair, worn smooth by the generations gone before her, creaked a familiar rhythm in the quiet room. Elena, her hair a silver halo, hummed a tune her mother used to sing, though the words often escaped her now. Her daughter, Sofia, sat on the rug, with a photo in her hand. The photo was one of Elena when she was young, vibrantly laughing while holding Sofia.
“Mama, “ Sofia began gently, “Do you remember this photo?”
Elena’s gaze drifted to the picture, then back to Sofia’s face. There was a flicker of something familiar that shone in her eyes. “My little star,” she whispered, her voice raspy and monotoned, “Always smiling.”
Sofia’s heart ached with a bittersweet twinge. The memories were fragmented, like shattered glass, but some feelings, some connections, remained stubbornly whole.
As they continued to sit, but in silence now, Elena’s frail hand reached out finding Sofia’s cheek.” You have your grandmother’s eyes,” she murmured, with a soft smile. “Full of stories.”
Sofia leaned in with tears blurring her vision, “Yes, Mama,” she whispered back, And you’ve told me the best stories.”
Even as the memories faded, like the aged picture Sofia held, the love continued to echo between them like a harmonious melody. It was a soulful hum, a quiet understanding that transcended words.
The silent communication served as a beacon of light that brightened both their faces, and warmed their hearts. And, suddenly, to Sofia’s surprise, Elena gifted her daughter another beautiful, spontaneous smile
t every site.
