My Back Porch Cemetery Gives Me Cause to Pause
From my back porch I can clearly see the city and the cemetery, with a river in between. In the evenings I sit and watch as the sun sets on it all. The shadows lengthen, the orange, red, and gold hues appear. There is softness in the closing of the day and I am reminded […]
Go To Your Comfort Zone; Then Leave It
Last week while driving to work I found myself only half-listening to NPR’s interview by Scott Simon, from the series Next Chapter, entitled Wisdom from YA Authors on Leaving Home: Neal Shusterman. That was until I heard the following words uttered by Mr. Shusterman: “Find your comfort zone and then leave it because the greatest experiences […]
Roadside Assistance for Grief Along the Journey
Recently I was traveling home with two dear friends from a deeply moving funeral, when we noticed a car along the side road just off the highway. It was windy, rainy, and cold. The hood of the car was up with a female looking under the hood. We decided to detour from our route and see […]
The Tracks of Our Tears
“The sorrow which has no vent in tears may make other organs weep.” — British psychiatrist Henry Maudsley Tears are your body’s release valve for stress, sadness, grief, anxiety, and frustration. Also, you can have tears of joy, happiness, excitement, or surprise. Our bodies produce three kinds of tears: reflex, continuous, and emotional. Each kind has different […]
Recommended Reading
Read any good books lately? I have. Reading has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. Dr. Seuss, Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and others filled my childhood. I am what some might consider an indiscriminate reader. I like to think of myself as eclectic! I usually have 2-4 books in process […]
Grief and the Holidays
With Thanksgiving and Christmas fast approaching, the following information on getting through the holidays after the death of a loved one seems timely. Remember to take what works for you and don’t worry about the rest. Be kind to yourself and others who are grieving during this holiday season. Peace be with you. SET LIMITS […]
Tips for Handling the Holidays
From those of us at Friends of Hospice to all of you: we wish you and yours peace, love, and comfort during this holiday season. With Christmas just a few days away we want to share some ideas that may be helpful in dealing with loss during this time of the year. Take what works for […]
Reflecting the Silence: Supporting a Grieving Person
People often share their uncertainty about what to do for a grieving person. They are afraid of making a mistake, saying the wrong thing, or causing the person to cry. Tears are not to be feared. They are a physical and emotional release. Tears when witnessed by a deeply caring person not trying to fix […]
Weeding in the Garden of Grief: Supporting a Grieving Person
Weeds and grief such untidy parts of life. Just when we think we’ve got the yard back in order a weed pops us, and sometimes even more ferocious than the first shoot up. The advantage of a weed though, is that we recognize what it is, and sometimes people will come along and help us in […]
Walking Through The Woods: Supporting a Grieving Person
Walking through my own grief and accompanying others in theirs, the lyrics from The Prayer, “Watch us where we go; help us to be wise in times when we don’t know,” resonate deeply the truth of supporting one another in grief. Watch us where we go encourages others to be with us but not lead. Rather […]