Death is something that is truly beyond our control. Yes, we can do things in life to help us live as long and as healthy as possible, but death is not something we can control. Following the deaths of my brother-in-law (23), my father (54), my brother (39), my husband (37) and my friend (42), […]
Read More...Grief Bursts and How to Prevent One
A grief burst is a “perfectly normal experience” after losing a loved one. A grief burst is just that… a burst of sadness and sorrow triggered by the sight of something, a song, something you read, or by a memory. When you experience a grief burst, you may cry, have an overwhelming feeling of sadness, […]
Read More...Children and Grief
We are often afraid for children to experience the pain of loss. As parents and adults, we understand how loss feels; therefore, we want to shelter our children and protect them from feeling that overwhelming sadness. The reality is that children, even if you shelter and protect them, will experience loss and they will feel […]
Read More...The Family Pressure Cooker
Emotions run extremely high when a loved one dies, or a loved one is dying. All kinds of personal dynamics can happen. For families who believe that this is a time to come together, it can be disarming to see and feel tensions rising. These situations are never easy and we are not feeling or […]
Read More...Divorce & Separation: To End it ~ Grieve it!
Kelly Clarkson wrote in her song, “Because of you, I am afraid…” I am certain that many women and men leave a relationship with that sentiment. Yes, relationships can end amicably, but rarely do. Often many years and growing issues accumulate before couples end their union. There can be violence, abuse, growing differences […]
Read More...Valentine’s Day for those with a Broken Heart
When your heart is broken it is very difficult to face Valentine’s Day. Everyone is talking about love, being in love, having love, finding love and loving love. What if you lost your love? Following the death of a spouse or partner, it is incredibly painful to face holidays when handholding, kissing and romance are […]
Read More...Grieving in the Public Eye
Grieving and mourning the loss of a child is extremely complicated and agonizing. Celebrities who lose a child, like other grieving parents, have a long, painful and lonely road to walk. The difference is they are doing so under the watchful eye of an adoring public. How do they cope? The grief process is not time specific […]
Read More...TO DIE IN SERVICE
On October 19, 2010, two Canadian paramedics died after their ambulance left the road and went down a steep embankment plunging into approximately 30 feet of water. The paramedics, a man and a woman, were veterans in the industry, dedicating over two decades to service. Their deaths will have significant impact on their families, friends, […]
Read More...WHEN HOPE IS ALL YOU HAVE
Hope is defined as a feeling or a desire for a positive outcome. At times, our sense of hope is backed with an expectation that whatever it is we are wanting is indeed attainable. Other times, our hope for something is more of a wish and often, undermined by a fear that the end result […]
Read More...REAL MEN CRY … AND WHY THEY SHOULD
A broken heart can happen to anyone – even men! The world witnessed this firsthand when John Travolta and his wife lost their beloved son, Jett in January 2009. His death provides cruel proof that bereavement, grief and loss impacts both genders, every culture, and pays no heed to social status. The grieving families of […]
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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...