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Dr. Gary Axelson , Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Ret. “Deacon Don, Congratulations on completing your labor of love. You tell an amazing story of adventure and triumph, blended with tragedy and heartache. Your remarkable grandmother found a way to cope with it all and emerge with the joys of a life lived well. Hope and love, faith andContinue reading “What Critics are saying: My Maja: A Grandson’s Tribute”

Perhaps I should have titled my book about my Grandma Maja differently. For now read, My Maja A Grandson’s Tribute on Amazon beginning August 1, 2020. At the two thirds point of compiling the research and writing a tribute book about my Grandma Maja, the project came crashing to an abrupt halt. I received anContinue reading “MAJA’S SECRET VALOR”

In 2004 I went to Sweden on an ancestral pilgrimage to research the life of my Grandma Maja. When I returned I discovered Maja’s discarded steamer trunk in a dusty attic . Overwhelmed with sadness that Maja would soon be forgotten prompted book writing about her life as a Swedish immigrant. A granddaughter was namedContinue reading “My Maja -A Grandson’s Tribute”

HUNT FOR THE ESSENCE OF GRIT AND GUMTPION For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with stories of how vulnerable persons manage to rally the guts and gumption and grit needed in order to rise after suffering assaults that knock them down in their river of life. GRITTY ROLE MODELS-TIMMERFOTARRE SwedesContinue reading “Seeking the Essence of Gumption and Fortitude”

My Grandma Maja and I had 21 years of storytelling and mentoring focused on discovering the art and science of gritty resilience she called, framatanda. My new book, My Maja-A Grandson’s Tribute is a 16 year study dissecting and analyzing the essence of her unique power to manage her adversity challenges over her lifetime. IContinue reading “Swedish Viking Out On a Limb With Deep and Strong Roots”

True grit may require a stable connection with one’s true self, an inner stability, to cope with a world that is inevitably chaotic, full of uncertainty, adversity, and fluctuations. But while “existential courage” is certainly important for recovering from the inevitable stressors of daily life, this alone is not enough for being satisfied with yourContinue reading “My Maja’s Grit”

Grandma Maja demonstrated the best example of grit and gumption of any person I have known. I have been searching all my life how to best explain the essence of her unusual spirit of moving forward through adversity. I have discovered a Swedish word that helps me explain her resilience: Fram-at-anda. Framatanda , Is aContinue reading “My Maja’s Framatanda”

Maja Wittenstrom needed to recover quickly from the sudden heart attack death of her young husband, Carl Oscar, June 1932. She packed up the 3 kids and in her grief returned home to Sollefteå Sweden to be consoled and plan the rest of her life as a widow, single mom. She had to decide ifContinue reading “(Some Widows) Wear Black”

Many persons like my mother and Swedish immigrant grandmother carried a great psychological burden during, and after America’s Great Depression as they were swept up with scores of unwilling victims in the economic tsunami of the 1930’s that flooded the American landscape from small towns to big cities. Most of the details of noteworthy storiesContinue reading “GREAT DEPRESSION DESTROYED LIVES AND CREATED VALIANT HEROES”