Safety Net Stories

These stories, often contributed by readers and workshop participants, express how personal safety nets and care share teams have made a difference in their lives.

Friends Do Matter!

Image for visual representation of this story

We are all integral parts of a Personal Safety Net; a support system we all need to understand as we move ahead - one that allows us to fulfill our dreams and deal with challenges that life sends us along the way. John & Judy's book was given quite a bit of credit for beautifully explaining this ongoing process in a letter from Brenda C.

Funny . . . And True!

Our funny joke has a moral: The best assurance of staying connected, regardless of age or reason, is communication and the power of having made and taken appropriate action on decisions.

Letting Them Grow . . . Or Stay

What to do with that grad who is heading home and planning on staying there? It's not the same as it was years ago - and YOU may not be ready for the changes in store!

The Reality of Kindness

I wake up happy, and love extending kindness to others and having others extend their kindness to me, but am I really naively clinging to a concept that has no value and no reality?

Looking Out for Each Other in the 'Hood

Without an official Neighborhood Watch or Personal Safety Net program, a neighborhood evolved in a group of homes that take an interest in each others' well-being.

Tell Your Story/Paint Your Picture

Effectiveness wasn't in more definitions or in louder explanation of our goals. It consisted of making my presentation personal - focusing on real examples and personal stories - connecting to feelings and thoughts, and painting a picture that would unlock the path to clarity and get us both on the same page.

A Legacy of Hope

"To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy."
- Jim Valvano

The Heart of Life

A healthy heart is one that helps you live better, live longer, and do more for yourself and those around you. If I don't take care of it, who will? Are my loved ones ready to deal with the consequences of my unhealthy heart?

The Beatles Were Right!

Research shows that the Beatles got it right many years ago - when they sang,"I get by with a little help from my friends".

Another holiday season arrives and you wander through store aisles, selecting "stuff" for others, as well as yourself - placing all in your cart. Did you ever think that your shopping journey reflects your personal journey, and it's time to take stock?

Share your Story

Help others by sharing your own experience dealing with the unexpected. What worked well? What didn't work at all? We'd like to publish real stories of real people with your actual photo. If you wish to be anonymous, please include this request in your submission. See Terms & Conditions.

Tell us your story

Looking for a story in the book?

Our book contains dozens of stories ranging on topics from dealing with family issues to sudden job loss to aging creatively. Readers often tell us how handy it is, so we've created an easy-to-print Story Index for our readers. Grab a copy to go with your book!

Download the Story Index