Even when Carmen was just a little girl, she always wondered why her mother seemed so sad. Carmen would ask now and then, but was always told things were fine. Deep down, however, Carmen knew they weren’t.
At an early age, Carmen learned the difficult truth. Her grandmother died of cancer when her mother was just a little girl. When it happened, Carmen’s mother was sent to live in a new home. Her aunt was sent elsewhere.
As we start a New Year, we think about our lives. We focus on the things that are most important to us.
We all long to be with our loved ones. To be in a place where we are warm, safe and cared for. We find strength in the family and friends who share our lives. And we miss the people we’ve lost touch with.
In 2011, you can go home again. You can find the family and friends who are missing from your life. You can feel the strength that comes from a warm embrace, a long chat with an old friend or even a simple word of encouragement over the phone. This year, reconnect with the people who are missing from your life, but not from your heart. A direct path to them is waiting for you. Find it at PeopleFinders.com.
Happy New Year, and thank you for reading the PeopleFinders people search blog.
Roots Day happens every December 23. It’s a day when everyone is encouraged to learn more about their ancestors.
Genealogy is the study of us. When we understand the people who came before us, we discover more about who we are today. The quest to unveil our past has become more than a hobby. It has become a passion.
November is the owner of an often-overlooked celebration known as Family Stories Month. It’s a simple thing, really. Just a time to reflect on the silly, funny, serious and sometimes terrifying stories that help define our family units.
Family Stories
These are the stories of us. They can make us laugh, cry and experience every emotion in between. Sometimes all at once. That’s because these stories helped make us what we are today.
Every family has thousands of stories. Some are epic tales that changed lives. Others are small anecdotes that bring us happy memories of someone, or some moment in time. But they are all important. And they are all worth sharing.
We all have so many things that we should be grateful for every day. Unfortunately, our schedules can get so hectic that most of us don’t have time to stop and think about the moments that make us smile. That’s why we’re grateful for World Gratitude Day.
Origin
In 1965, a group of dignitaries from several nations enjoyed a Thanksgiving dinner together in Hawaii. They discussed the concept of setting aside one day each year for people to focus on things that they are grateful for. Every attendee agreed to take this idea back to their home country. From that moment on, September 21 would become an internationally celebrated event.
Families have many wonderful attributes. One of our favorites is the fact that a family can be extended at any time. New people can be added to your biological or extended family throughout your life. The largest and fastest growth spurts often come from the addition of a stepparent.
Family life can be a little difficult when a stepmother or stepfather is added. Children may resent the “new” person, and feel they are trying to replace a birth parent. Adults might have a completely different parenting style than what the family is used to, which can lead to misunderstandings and conflict.
Some experts suggest that it takes a minimum of four years for most stepparents to develop positive relationships with their stepchildren. There are no easy solutions that work for everyone.
Family is defined in many ways. It begins with the people who share your name and ancestry. As you get older, your family continues to grow.
People marry and inherit a second family. Relatives give birth to nieces, nephews, cousins and grandchildren. Close friends and confidants are invited into the special group of people you call your family, even though they aren’t related by birth. A family is made up of people who share a special bond; it does not need to obey any boundaries.
Many adults might not spend much time thinking about child abuse. The very idea seems absurd to most people. How could an adult intentionally harm a child?
Tragically, the truth is many children are abused physically, emotionally and sexually. It’s a tough topic, but one that needs to be addressed. That’s why April is designated as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
His name is Narayanan Krishnan. In 2002 he was on the fast track to becoming a highly-paid chef, but chose to give it all up for a life of hard work without pay.
Years of training and an expensive education helped Krishnan land a job at a five-star hotel, and he was one of a very small group of people being considered for an enviable position in Switzerland. He planned a trip to pursue this career possibility, but stopped to visit his family in India first. While there, Krishnan saw things that changed his life forever.
We all have our own ideas about what it takes to live a happy life. A small group of researchers hope to prove that there are some specific components to personal happiness.
According to a recent scientific study that will be published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, there are five things people can do to makes their own lives happier. They include gratefulness, optimism, positivity, personal strength and kindness. Psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky explained that, according to her findings, “A large portion of happiness is in our power to change.”
