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Memories are Gifts for Grievers

Posted on February 10, 2023 - by Beth Marshall

What could someone else do to help you as you begin your healing journey? In the beginning, you probably had plenty of food, volumes of cards and a house full of flowers, but what kind of gift would genuinely touch your heart? When you’ve loved and lost, memories are priceless treasures. What if there are stories about your loved one that you’ve never heard? The next time a trusted friend asks what they can do to help, ask them to write a favorite memory and send it to you via mail or email. Can you imagine going to your computer […]

Valentine’s Day Triggers Mother’s Grief

Posted on February 8, 2023 - by Janice Bell Meisenhelder

From the author of Surviving the Unthinkable: The Loss of a Child: Meisenhelder, Janice Bell: 9780979651120: Amazon.com: Books My firstborn, Melissa, was a hopeless romantic! She loved Valentine’s Day ever since she was a little girl. We always celebrated as a family with a special dinner and Valentine cards. My husband would give red roses and candy to all three of “his girls”: myself, Melissa, and her younger sister. As a teen, Melissa always had a boyfriend. and Valentine’s Day continued to be a major celebration. Melissa succumbed to cancer in June of 2004, at the age of 19. I […]

Husband Admires Wife’s Strength After Child-Loss

Posted on February 8, 2023 - by Ken Lefkowitz

This is an excerpt from Weave Our Destiny, by Ken Lefkowitz. This scene comes after the death of the second of two of his children, one stillborn, the other just one day old. “I never even saw him,” she said. “I never touched him. Never held him. Never kissed him. My arms feel so heavy, they ache from emptiness. I don’t even know what my heart is feeling. I’m numb.” She began to cry, gently at first and then more heavily. “I did get the chance to hold his hand. But I also watched him die. I kissed Matthew for […]

‘Are We There Yet?’ and Other Grief Questions

Posted on February 7, 2023 - by Beth Marshall

If you took road trips as a child, you probably remember the question parents forever answered: “Are we there yet?” As you begin to regain your equilibrium after loss, you may wonder: How long does grief take? As long as it takes. Each person has a unique timeline and way of coping with loss. Will I always miss my loved one? Probably so. But, hopefully over time the deep ache will become more bearable, and memories of the person you’re missing will be gentle reminders of the impact they made in your life. It’s OK to always miss them. Why […]

Communicating Your Needs When Grieving

Posted on February 4, 2023 - by Beth Marshall

“Call if you need anything.” You may have heard this well-intended offer, but chances are you never called back. Here’s a straightforward way to communicate your needs when grieving. As you think of something you’d appreciate help with, write it on a list, and post it on the fridge. Your list might include: watching the kids for a couple hours raking the leaves technical assistance driving carpool setting up auto pay for bills Whenever something comes to mind, add it to the list. The next time someone asks how they can help, snap a photo of your list, and send it […]

Writing When Life Hurts

Posted on February 1, 2023 - by Beth Marshall

After losing three close family members in five years, I remember feeling overwhelmed as waves of unanticipated emotions would roll in like a storm. How long would this intense sorrow last? Would life ever feel normal again? What if I forget about the people I’m missing? And why do well-intentioned people say crazy things when they’re trying to be helpful? I searched volumes of grief-related books, envisioning a clear, concise manual to lead me down the well-lit path to healing. As you might imagine, there was no such book available. Nothing on the market was touching the deep sadness in […]

Feeling Sad or Being Sad?

Posted on January 30, 2023 - by Greg Adams

Are We Feeling Sad or Being Sad? Do you ever hear a story or a comment that really stays with you? It hangs out in the back of your mind and repeatedly pops up to the front of your mind when you’re not looking? It’s an idea searching for a home in your head or heart. You, however, are not so sure you want to give this idea even temporary lodging much less allow it to unpack its bags and settle in. But there’s something there, or you think there might be, so you keep returning to it, considering, turning […]

Why Some Widows Choose Not to Date Again

Posted on January 28, 2023 - by Samantha Ruth

Being a widow is hard. Anywhere! Starting over in a new area adds more layers of adjustment. I’ve been meeting people and attending events, but it’s a lot of couples. So, I finally decided to go to a “widows walk.” I’m cringing even writing this. There’s gotta be a better name! Women’s Walk is better, if you ask me. I was looking forward to meeting other women who are part of this club I never asked to join. After all, we had an immediate connection. Questions About Dating Life If only it were that easy. I arrived on time and […]

Finding Purpose and Meaning in Our Older Years

Posted on January 26, 2023 - by Jacqui Coombe

Enrich Your Life with Meaning There’s a common myth that life happens in three stages. That life is linear and that there is a clear path that moves from education to work and family and then on to leisure. Those who follow this path often find their identity changes with each stage, along with their quest for reward and enrichment. Reward and enrichment go hand in hand when it comes to gaining meaning and purpose. Reward is something given to you in recognition of service, effort, or achievement. Enrichment is the action of improving or enhancing the quality or value […]

Father Writes a Musical for Deceased Son

Posted on January 23, 2023 - by Larry Hirschhorn

A Shocking Loss My son Aaron Hirschhorn died in a boating accident in Miami bay on March 28, 2022. He was a month shy of 43 years old. He left behind his wife Karine and three children, August, Joel and Elle. Aaron was a wonderful man: energetic, lively, intelligent, an entrepreneur who had started two companies and was rising to the top of his game. He was a loving and loyal son. His death shook my world to its core. On April 29, 2022, the day before Aaron’s 44th birthday, my community of family and friends attended a performance of a […]