Peer Support is essentially individuals supporting other individuals with similar or shared experiences. This support is offered one-to-one or in a group setting. The benefits of peer support are numerous, including that the supporter has credibility and is trusted because they have been through the experience. It’s important for the person who needs the support […]
Read More...When a Widow or Widower Remarries
Lyle & Janelle 1992 I was 34 years old when Gerry died. While others quickly assumed that I would eventually remarry, pursuing another relationship was quite unimaginable for me. In fact, right up until I met Lyle nearly 14 months later, the thought of being involved with another person didn’t occur to me. We married […]
Read More...Country Music (and other genres) Define a Broken Heart
Music has tremendous healing power. From classic to rock and from gospel to pop, everyone has their favourite song that stirs something within them. For me, it’s country music. Perhaps it is because (for me) no other musical genre defines a broken heart like country music does. The success of country music is founded on […]
Read More...Wind Beneath My Wings ~ Bette Midler
Cst. Gerald Vernon Maurice Breese September 10, 1953 – October 24, 1990 It must have been cold there in my shadow, to never have sunlight on your face. You were content to let me shine, thats your way, you always walked a step behind. So I was the one with all the glory, while you […]
Read More...Finding the Right Counsellor for You
Not every counsellor will be the right counsellor for you, in the same way that not every doctor or lawyer would suit you. There has to be a rapport and a sense of being comfortable with a counsellor for the relationship to be effective. Moreover, you need to feel that you can trust the counsellor […]
Read More...The World of Play for Kids
A child’s world is one of play. They like to be on the floor building with blocks or pretending to be a super hero. Children need to keep their little fingers busy and thrive when moving things about and telling imaginative stories. So doesn’t it make sense that when you want to get your child […]
Read More...Grieving in Your Own Way ~ In Your Own Time
This picture is of my grandson, Greyson, when he was only a few months old. It is one of my favourite. Not that I enjoy seeing him sad, but it pulls at my heart every time and helps me to appreciate that everyone has feelings and needs. It also reminds me that those needs may […]
Read More...Dark Night of the Soul
The Dark Night of the Soul is a broadly used metaphor to describe a person’s spiritual journey, which is marked by a sense of loneliness and anguish. It is also a metaphor to describe a time in one’s life in which they experience a lengthy and profound absence of light and hope. It is a time […]
Read More...Empathy vs. Sympathy
Do you understand the difference between empathy and sympathy? If not, you are not alone. People will often confuse the two as being one in the same. They aren’t. Everyone can be sympathetic, but not everyone is empathic. Empathy is an acquired skill that people can learn if they so choose. It may take practice, but […]
Read More...Compassion
Compassion and understanding go a long way in supporting a person through difficult times. When asked, people may describe compassion has having sympathy for another person’s sorrow or suffering. Or they may say that it is to be empathetic to another person coupled with a desire to take away their pain or hurt. I have […]
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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...