Dr. Lisa Belisle

The Golden Years: A Mindful Approach to Living

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published September 11, 2007, The Maine Switch

I love the idea of retirement. Traveling, spending time with our loved ones, focusing on our wellness and relaxing: what wonderful life-enhancing activities! Of course, why wait until we are 65? My older patients have taught me that the best way to be hale and happy throughout one’s later years is to start the process in one’s earlier years. In recognition of this, and of “Healthy Aging Month,” let’s seek to make each of our years golden by living mindfully. In other words:

Sent by an Angel

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published September 4, 2007, Portland Press Herald

It began with a birthday party. The evening was cloaked in winter cold, and the guests had yet to arrive. Just home from basketball practice, my thirteen-year-old called out from the kitchen: “Hey Mom! You know the person who founded Safe Passage? The one you went to Bowdoin with? They told us in school—she was killed in a car accident yesterday.”

It seemed I must not have heard him correctly. How could Hanley be gone? She was only 36: my age as of that January day. Unfortunately, Campbell was right. Hanley Denning, the woman known as “El Angel del Basurero," or "The Angel of the Garbage Dump,” was dead. Her family and friends were gathering to mourn even as mine were gathering to celebrate.

Raising Readers: Celebrating Books and Children

By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH, Medical Advisor, Raising Readers
Originally published September 2007, Raising Readers Issue Brief 

Sophie still talks about visiting the Blaine House for the first official Raising Readers Graduation. My outgoing daughter was entertained by the ‘drawing guy’ (Maine illustrator and author Scott Nash), and enjoyed meeting Mrs. Baldacci. Sophie recalls many specific details about this event, which is impressive given that it happened more than two years ago. This, and the fact that first-grader Sophie still regularly asks to be read the ‘Raising Readers’ books she received from her doctor (Portland family physician Ann Skelton), tell me that she received our program’s message loud and clear. The message? Books are special, and children are important—and both are worthy of celebration.