Beth Marshall

Beth Marshall is a freelance journalist, speaker and author of two grief-related books. Grief Survivor, 28 Steps toward Hope and Healing; and A Time to Heal, a grief journal. After losing three close people in her life, Beth felt crushed and overwhelmed by the intense emotions of grief. As she began to write about her "uniquely awesome" family members, Marshall eventually began to smile again- and even laugh. Her hope is to help others discover joy-filled life after loss.

Articles:

Soap on a Rope: A Father’s Day Tribute

“Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap on a rope.” Bill Cosby Unless you are hiking in the Austrailian outback or cruising the Mediterranean, you probably know Father’s Day is coming up. There’s no escaping the TV and internet images of families grilling out and celebrating dads. This year you might be missing your father. If you are, you’re not alone. My dad’s name was John Glenn. He was not the astronaut, but occasionally this John Glenn didn’t mind leveraging his famous name in a crowded restaurant. Once he was asked if he was “the real John […]

Want to Fast Forward Through Mother’s Day?

Have you ever wished you had a huge remote and could fast-forward through something? A tedious conversation, or maybe the perky dental hygienist with a terrifying tray of metal weapons? I have. Mother’s Day isn’t supposed to be on that list, is it? For anyone missing your mother this year, or maybe you’re a mom missing your beloved child, you know what I’m talking about. It’s inescapable — hourly reminders of happy moms and children everywhere you turn. If you’re considering pulling the percale sheets over your head and waking up Monday, you’re not alone. I remember the first Mother’s […]

Don’t Go Through Grief Alone

life∙line/ˈlīfˌlīn/ Support that enables people to survive or to continue doing something (often by providing an essential connection) The first time I heard the term “lifeline” related to grief was from my dear friend, Patti. Four years ago Patti’s life changed forever when a violent crime took the life of her beautiful twenty-six year old daughter, Anne. There are no words to adequately describe her journey through sorrow since Anne’s death; yet somehow Patti continues to find strength to wake up every morning and keep putting one foot in front of the other. She is often asked how she keeps […]

Book Helps in Healing From Child-Loss

Speaking with the Heart Strings group was different than any assignment I can remember. These ladies share a journey no one would ever sign up for, the loss of a child. There are no words to describe the unquenchable sorrow their families have experienced, yet somehow in this room, I could sense there was still hope. The monthly meetings offer a safe place to talk, share pictures and honor the lives of precious children with people who understand. At Heart Strings, it’s okay to cry, but it’s also okay to laugh. I asked the group if they knew of any […]

Writing to Heal: Notebook, Pen and Time to Remember

Losing someone close to your heart can be one of the toughest things you ever go through. With an important piece of your life puzzle missing, you may wonder if it will always hurt this badly. In an instant, a phone call changed my life forever. My mom was gone. The words “crushed in spirit” suddenly felt very real to me. Growing up in our big family was usually pretty awesome. We were definitely not the minivan family with the perfect honor student stick people; but our home was the place friends wanted to hang out on the weekends. Mom […]

First Holiday Season after Mother’s Death

The holidays seem to magnify emotions of grief as music, events, even aromas can remind us of the person we are missing. Our family lost two close family members during the holidays, one right before Thanksgiving and the other two years later on December 9th. I remember thinking it would be nice to just pull the covers over my head and wake up in January. Maybe this year you understand what I’m talking about. I want you to know you don’t have to completely check out for the holidays, even through an intense season of grief. The first year. My […]

Writing Mother’s Stories Helps Daughter Handle Loss

My career as a flight attendant included some intense training every year for “the unlikely event of an emergency.” One of the scenarios flight crews practice over and over is bracing for an emergency landing. Should this extremely rare situation occur, I felt confident that the crew was prepared and knew exactly what to do. The late night call about my mom’s death came with absolutely no warning or bracing time, and the impact was devastating. I felt completely unprepared and unsure where to go with the unpredictable emotions of grief. What would life look like without her, the #1 […]

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