“One of the best guides to how to be self-loving is to give ourselves the love we are often dreaming about receiving from others. There was a time when I felt lousy about my over-forty body, saw myself as too fat, too this, or too that. Yet I fantasized about finding a lover who would give me the gift of being loved as I am. It is silly, isn’t it, that I would dream of someone else offering to me the acceptance and affirmation I was withholding from myself. This was a moment when the maxim “You can never love anybody if you are unable to love yourself” made clear sense. And I add, “Do not expect to receive the love from someone else you do not give yourself.”

—bell hooks, in “All About Love: New Visions”.

The African-American author, professor, feminist, and social activist died a year ago today, December 15, 2021 at the age of 69 in Berea, Kentucky.

Caregiving tips during the holidays – Have realistic and positive expectations! Check out this article for tips on dealing with guilt (https://drive.google.com/file/d/143U-5CKCJjRMINlMGh37k39WOYJNSgSk/view) and and use this checklist to prioritize activities and make the holidays manageable (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n_BAj_NGi2baNyklP2roTX-K_V9aVSKT/view).