David Daniels: Hope Even in the Face of Despair

Posted on January 11, 2009 - by David Daniels

By David Daniels —

Strategies for Surviving Holidays and Special Days

Posted on January 10, 2009 - by Coralease Ruff

By Coralease Ruff — Many of us can exhale now that Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanzaa and other winter holidays have come and gone. Some have survived their first big holiday season since the […]

2009: A Year of Remembrance

Posted on January 9, 2009 - by Eric Tomei

Happy New Year everybody!   Now that the gorging, celebrating, and partying is over its time to focus on goals for 2009.   Not resolutions, but goals.   Resolutions are […]

Poem: A Conversation With Grief

Posted on January 9, 2009 - by Bob Baugher

By Bob Baugher, Ph.D. —

Poem: My Life: Seven Years Later

Posted on January 8, 2009 - by Abel Keogh

November tenth is a day that creeps up on me now.

It wasn’t always this way.

In past years it was a day heavy with memories, emotions, and unanswered questions.

Now it’s a day just like any other.

This year it wasn’t until after lunch that I looked at the calendar in my office …

Trust That Hope is Inside

Posted on January 7, 2009 - by Doris Jeanette

By Doris Jeanette —

Another Year, Another Piece of the Grief Journey

Posted on January 7, 2009 - by Debra Reagan

By Debra Reagan — I was sitting at my desk and glanced at the new calendar hanging on the wall. Suddenly, I was hit with the overwhelming thought of another. […]

Woman Starts Grieving 12 Years After Mother’s Death

Posted on January 6, 2009 - by Pamela Gabbay

Cora writes in with this question: “I just started grieving about my mom this Christmas. She died in 1996. I thought about all the events and things we shared from […]

New Year Offers Chance to Start Fresh

Posted on January 6, 2009 - by Mary Jane Hurley Brant

By Mary Jane Hurley Brant —

Four Stages of Forgiveness

Posted on January 5, 2009 - by Fred Luskin

The full process of forgiveness is a liberating experience. One that if practiced smartly can lead to a terrific life experience. Interestingly, forgiveness can only occur because we have been given the gift of the ability to make choices. We have the choice to forgive or not to forgive and no one can force us to do either. Conversely, if we want to forgive someone no one can stop us no matter how poorly they may act. This ability to forgive is a manifestation of the personal control we have over our lives. It is nice to reflect upon and feel the respect that we have been given to be able to make such profound choices.

Compellingly, the option to forgive also implies that we had discretion as to whether or not we took offense in the first place. While forgiving may be a difficult enough choice for many of us, imagine how our lives would be if we rarely or never used our power of choice to take offense. Since we have choice, wouldn’t it make sense to limit the amount of times we are hurt or offended so that the need to forgive rarely if ever arises? The ability to live life without taking offense, without giving blame, and by offering forgiveness are choices that offer a life of great peace.