…where I am, do what I can…

Greetings!

My big sister Mary is gone. She died “suddenly” last week – not from Covid but from years of living to the fullest.

I’m still somewhat in shock. I guess we five remaining siblings thought that because she had blazed through so many tough challenges, she’d beat this latest cancer, too.

Yep, she’s gone. But she’s still here. Every day we hear new stories from people whose lives she touched in her 64 years as a Maryknoll Sister. We sibs didn’t even know she was on Facebook.

When a relative alerted us, we checked and saw hundreds of loving testimonies from Myanmar, the Philippines, the USA. We saw how Mayang (a name of endearment given to her in the Philippines) – Mya (her name in Myanmar) continues to inspire them. And so many said, “And she loved to party!”

On our family zoom gathering this past Saturday, a nephew told how, on one of Mary’s trips back to the States, he asked, “So, Aunt Mary, what do you do anyway?” She just said, “Where I am, do what I can.”

Funny thing, on that zoom call, I thought of the words that Charlie Brown always said: Good grief! I suddenly realized: that’s exactly what my family and I are experiencing – good grief – yes.

Mary was soft-spoken but evidently had the strength and persistence of a bulldozer. She walked and worked with people to make things happen, whether it was peasant farmers in Negros Occidental or high-ranking bishops in Myanmar. Maybe it’s no coincidence that she left this planet the day before the coup in Myanmar. Wherever she is now, she just might be doing what she can to help the people in that beloved country.

Yep, where I am, do what I can.

Background realities – Covid continues. Sun shines. Impeachment proceeds. Snow glistens.
Foreground – Multiple tasks: Wash lunch dishes. Proofread this note. Send out to you.
Next step – Who knows? Breathe.

Warm thanks to all of you who have sent words of comfort to us.

Millie Grenough discovered her own Oasis after a near-death accident shook her out of her fast and furious lifestyle. During her months of recuperation Millie developed the 60-second Oasis Strategies that have helped thousands of people around the world. Millie's Oasis Training Program has graduates throughout the USA and in the Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico and New Zealand.. Her books, trainings, international presentations, and coaching have helped people ranging from Casino VPs, US Army Officers and University Deans, to overworked health personnel, prison inmates, and harried parents.

Millie is an International Coach Federation Professional Coach, a Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is certified in EMDR-Level II with a specialty in Performance Enhancement. Her trainings are authorized for CCEs by the National Association of Social Workers and the International Coach Federation.

These occasional Oasis e-notes are for you: to offer little sanity tips, stories from life, and simple invitations to make your life healthier and happier. Please let us know if there is a special topic you would like addressed.

Written and produced by Millie Grenough.

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