Many of my personal experiences in adult life have been around learning to let go of situations and /or relationships. Some of those relationships I didn’t have a choice in and just had to let go. When my father was killed, my brother-in-law murdered, and with my brother, husband and mother’s deaths… there was no […]
Read More...Transitional Losses
Transitional losses may be experienced through employment (lay-offs, downsizing, retirement) or even moving to a new community. As adults, moving to a new community is exciting and may bring new opportunities, but your child may not feel the same way. It gets more and more difficult as they age and move through the school years. […]
Read More...Do Animals Grieve?
Elephants are expressive animals and they have the ability to feel complex emotions much the way we do. Herds of elephants are known to circle an ill member of their family, offering physical support for them until they can no longer stand. The herd will even try to revive their relation after they pass. Following […]
Read More...Developmental Losses
What is a developmental loss? The ‘empty nest syndrome’ is a classic example of a developmental loss. In my presentations, I often joke about raising five teenagers and not experiencing any sadness when the last one left home. While it is true, I felt that I did my best and I was ready to move […]
Read More...Getting Through a Year of Firsts
When my husband died, I was still reeling from the deaths of my father and brother. Much like everyone else in our family, including my sister-in-law and niece and nephews, I was grappling with the emotions of getting through the milestones in life without them. However, it wasn’t until I journeyed through the twelve months […]
Read More...Death of a Soldier
Although we pay great honor to those who die in service, the pain of losing a loved one lingers beyond the funeral and public dedication. For years to come, the families and friends who are left behind will travel a long and unpredictable grief journey. They will seek comfort in their precious memories and struggle […]
Read More...Loss of Trust
Each of us holds a memory when our trust in someone was shattered. It could have happened as a child when your best friend blurted out a sacred secret held between you. It could have happened when a parent or friend committed to be somewhere and/or do something and then didn’t. It could have happened […]
Read More...Take Time to Smell the Flowers
Spring is in the air! This is a lovely time of year where nature is rebirthed. The trees, grass and flower beds are bursting with colour and freshness. Listen for the lawn mowers and breathe in deeply the smell of freshly cut grass. Get outside and look at the blue sky. Lay on the grass […]
Read More...Ending a Friendship
Ending a relationship is never easy. Even when the ending is by mutual consent, it still can leave you feeling raw and wounded. It is not uncommon after an individual has sustained a brain injury for the person to experience a shift in their friendships. Some grow and expand while others wane away and then […]
Read More...Sand and Water by Beth Nielsen Chapman
All alone I didn’t like the feeling All alone I sat and cried All alone I had to find some meaning In the center of the pain I felt inside All alone I came into this world All alone I will someday die Solid stone is just sand and water, baby Sand and water, and […]
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It is an honor to share my journey through grief with you. Although my story is that ~ my story~ it is important for me to acknowledge that many people shared in the losses that I share here. Each of us had a different experience and each of us grieved and mourned in a unique way. While I empathize and truly shared in the pain of others who were also affected by these tragedies, I can only speak for myself and share...