John Pete

John Pete is a spiritual writer, founder of Daily Grief Quotes on Facebook, and was a Certified Grief Counselor for over 10-years . He has appeared on the "Grieving The Healing Heart" radio program and is published in the 2011 books, "Open To Hope, Inspirational Stories of Healing After Loss," "Grieving the Sudden Death of a Loved One" (2012, DVD), and Grief Diaries - Through the Eyes of Men (2016, book). John Pete is online at https://facebook.com/dailygriefquotes.

Articles:

Winter Grief Activities and Projects

The long winter months can be especially confining, isolating and challenging when grieving a loss. But you can also engage in unique ways that will help you bear your loss. Here are some winter grief activities and projects (or for any time of year): start an indoor gardens/terrariums/terrarium memorial garden take up a new hobby/craft, learn new skills/enhance existing ones enroll in an online class (many are self-paced) write your autobiography or a biography about your loved one start a Blog (many free options with public/private settings) volunteer at church, care-facilities and non-profits plan and gather materials for spring projects give […]

After Mom’s Death, Daughter Struggles With Dad’s Girlfriend

Daughter Struggles with Dad’s Girlfriend Heather asks for advice: In November, it will be two years since my mother died after a prolonged illness. My father started dating a woman this summer. I supported him finding companionship. He and Mom were together for 35 years, so it had been a long time since he was alone. Unfortunately, I have not dealt well with the reality of his girlfriend. He wants to include her in all of our family gatherings and has told me that he expects me to become friends with her. My mom and I were very close before […]

A Different Approach to Holiday Grief

Holiday Grief is Hard Holiday Grief is Hard. It just is. Emotions are heightened, and some grievers find themselves shunning holidays, or perhaps sitting sadly by and muddling through. But this does not work well for many grievers who often end up feeling even worse after the holiday has come and gone. If this sounds familiar, perhaps another approach will works better you this year such as finding special ways of remembering, honoring — and including — lost loved ones. You could start by setting-up a special area for candles representing lost loved ones that you light throughout the holiday […]

Own Your Winter Grief

Something many of us learn through the course of years, losses and grief is that it’s far better to take control and OWN YOUR WINTER GRIEF, rather than to allow your winters own you. The seasons change & winters come (and go) in the midst of grief, ready or not. And long winters days and nights can be additionally difficult for those in cold climates. But planning ahead can greatly help one cope with the seasonal changes. This is true at other times and season, too. As a survivor of many of my own losses, I am a firm believer […]

Grief in Spring?

If Spring makes you feel better and to feel new hope, that is a good, positive and nurturing thing. But it may not be true for everyone, and no one should feel they have to hide their true feelings. It is perfectly normal to experience new heightened grief and/or grief-related anxiety in Spring, just as it is in other seasons of the year. Although warmer, sunnier months can be nurturing and inspire new hopefulness, grief does not suddenly go away just because seasons change. Spring generally brings a sudden flurry of change and things begin to move faster all around […]

Remember Anyway

Remembering bears a weight of great responsibility and sometimes feels like a constant struggle to do justice to the memory of loved ones and all that they mean(t) to one’s life. Do we remember with painful grief? Do we seek healing to pay homage to the sanctity of life and those we have lost? Do we find (allow) new happiness in our lives as we journey forward to where loved ones wait for us in God’s time? Do we move forward with some perpetual sadness in our hearts due to painful separations? The truth is you don’t have to pick […]

Never Give Up

When things are bad and don’t seem to be getting better, don’t give up hope. There is always a better way if you are willing to keep looking until you find it. ~John Pete ❂ ❂ ❂

Just So You Know

Just So You Know I can’t stop grieving just because you believe it is time for me to move on. I can’t stop hurting just because you do not understand the piercing pain in my heart. I cannot stop my tears from flowing just because they make you uncomfortable. My heart is not suddenly mended just because you believe I have grieved long enough. I will grieve the loss of my loved one for the rest of my life. Just so you know. (Just So You Know © John Pete) Just So You Know Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps7k8JM5RoU

Finding Hope After Loss

The very painful losses of loved ones can perhaps only be made less devastating by giving them substance beyond the devastation. Over time painful grief can be reshaped into something less confined to hopelessness and pain, and more open to faith, hope and healing; and anger and frustration into something less corrosive and more forgiving of self and others. If there is to be real purpose for life, death and human tragedy, I think we must seek it out and embrace it as a part of our own existence.

Don’t Judge My Grief

A person’s grief is not too short, and it’s not too long. It’s not too weak, and it’s not too strong. It just is what it is, but it’s never wrong. Please don’t try to tell others how to grieve. If you can’t be supportive and non-judgmental, then just say so and step aside to make room for someone who can. ~ John Pete

Open to Hope is an online community offering inspirational stories of loss, hope and recovery. We believe hope is the bridge between loss and recovery.