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The End of a Life

Posted on November 16, 2006 - by admin

Imagine the opening and closing of an oak roll top desk representing the opening and closing of life. If there is only one time to leave a first impression then there is only one time to leave a last impression. Spiritual leadership guides the memory of the final imprint of the breath of life. Religion, an instrument of spirituality, reflects grief?s rights to closure at the end of a life?s journey. The dead do not require clergy to pray or hear their final thoughts. Clergy respond in the time of loss to offer guidance, prayer, and grief counseling to the […]

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Resolution

Posted on November 16, 2006 - by admin

Resolution by Pien Ris, MIM 19 From now on I will only speak with my own voice. Learn how to use it, in integrity with my self. Can only be found with very long introspection preceding formation of words. For many, silence is the only option. Listen to the tapes that run ahead of your intention. Who are you? Today. Wiggle silence out of your throat. Communicate wordlessly more, suspend inner talk, self talk, voices, space it out. Stretch time while retrieving self information. Stress had brought you into the out field. Learn about who you are, scroll through your […]

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Siblings & Parents: Branching Out to Heal

Posted on November 16, 2006 - by admin

Dr. Heidi Horsley from the Family Guidance Program has been conducting workshops and discussions on sibling loss. Here is a recent article from issue 111 of TheLink newsletter of the FDNY-CSU. SIBLINGS & PARENTS: Branching Out to Heal Helping to create healing partnerships has been central to the CSU?s response to the attacks of 9/11. At recent events, both parents and siblings connected with experts who offered new strategies to help them look ahead to the future. On the evening of July 13, it may have been brutally hot outside but inside the CSU space at 594 Broadway, 19 parents […]

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Are We All Losers? Understanding Grief

Posted on November 13, 2006 - by admin

The well-known pioneer researcher Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross identified five states through which the dying patient goes. It is also true that the recently bereaved and the about to be bereaved evidence the same stages. Kubler Ross has labeled the 5 stages denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. People do not necessarily go through these stages in any set order or over a set length of time, nor

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Men and Grief

Posted on November 13, 2006 - by admin

Men grieve differently from women. Our cultural roles make it difficult for men to look for support, and harder again to accept it. Men are so often silent, solitary mourners who immerse themselves in activity and private, symbolic rituals. They feel profoundly, but often can’t express the depth of their loss.

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Terminal Illness- Death and Grief

Posted on November 12, 2006 - by admin

No one likes to think about illness and death, when we are well, we feel invincible and there is nothing that can prepare us for the shock and devastation of a terminal diagnosis. The knowledge that we can no longer take our lives or the lives we share with our loved ones for granted takes away our ability to plan for the future and removes hope from our lives. When a loved one becomes terminally ill, we grieve in anticipation of their death, we grieve for the loss of them in our lives and we grieve for our own mortality.

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Grief and Loss: Another Perspective

Posted on November 12, 2006 - by admin

Grief and loss is a multifaceted counselling field based on the loss of someone or something. “Grief is our response to loss, particularly the death of a loved one. Grief can affect our thoughts, feelings, behaviours and beliefs, and our relationships with others. Many people experience feelings of sadness and anxiety. The experience of grief can sometimes feel wave-like; a person may feel that their grief is behind

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Dealing With Grief and Loss – How to Mend a Broken Heart

Posted on November 12, 2006 - by admin

What is it about Grief & Loss that upsets us so much? Is it the heavy duty emoting that we have to do to get through our suffering? Is it the fear we have about opening ourselves to all this pain? Because, let?s face it, it?s hard down there, in the land of grieving where all those emotions toss us around like a cork on a stormy sea.

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Grief Assistance: Things That Shoud Never Be Said

Posted on November 12, 2006 - by admin

When we lose a loved one to death, it seems like everyone has a word to share. Regardless of the circumstances or the difficulty of the loss, each person has a perspective on what can be said that is helpful. Unfortunately, sometimes things are said with good intentions that actually prove unhelpful. Sometimes words can even prove harmful. Though sincere, some things should never be said to a person grieving over the loss of a loved one or close friend. Some common things that are better not said include the following statements. They are better off. This ignores the person’s […]

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Child Bereavement: Words of Comfort for a Child

Posted on November 12, 2006 - by admin

Young people need as much time to grieve after the death of someone close, whether they show it or not. The most common issue for a parent is that the child doesn’t seem to be distressed so they don’t want to upset them. Children are in a world where they are used to not having control over things and therefore often accept things quicker that doesn’t mean that it is ok with them though. Their feelings can be hidden from people, the child often watches the grown up to see how they are ?supposed to react. It is a very […]

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