How a Basset Teaches Life Lessons

I am a dog person. Dogs epitomize unconditional love, and I consider them my furry children. We have owned Yellow Labs for the past dozen years. We welcomed three litters of Lab puppies, and maintained three Labs of our own. We know the breed. Labs are people...

Comparing Apples to Oranges

I have struggled with low self-confidence since childhood. When someone compliments me, I mentally list others who do it bigger, better, grander than I.  I rarely try anything new or (gasp) a little silly because I fear what others might say. I imagine their...

How to Care for Yourself After Sexual Assault

By now you probably know that GateWay of Hope is honoring April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). In our first blog post this month we looked at who is affected and how it affects them. (Click here to read the previous post.) We also examined how to help...

How to Counteract Stress

We all experience it in some form or another and sometimes – we actually expect it. Within our busy lives, we expect to meet some version of stress. Stress usually makes itself known as we react to it. We yell at the kids, kick the dog, scream into our pillows and...

How to Determine More or Less in 2016

Statistics show that most New Year’s Resolutions have already been broken. We begin, determined to exercise more, eat less sugar and move toward new goals – then something happens. We realize how much we don’t WANT to change. Or we finally accept the fact that change...