Today is Independence Day!  Like many I am off work this weekend to enjoy rest and leisure.  This week I visited a hospice patient who had a decorative flag display on his table.  He told me the hospice program gave it to him.  I later learned that for all of our patients who are veterans one of our employees made and delivered these displays to them.  Most veterans I have met feel they have made sacrifices for their nation through the military service.  At the twilight of their life to receive an unsolicited token of remembrance and appreciation brought smiles to their faces and made them feel joy.

The lesson I am learning from this is that for all patients when you can help them feel joy from previous life events, you can help them feel better in the present.