Happy New 2014!

January 1st, 2014
Posted By: Mary Kate Cranston

As I awake to the beginnings of a new day and a new year,

I feel the air is crackling with the sense of possibilities.

Let us embrace the unknown and untried.

Let us go forward, secure in the knowledge that we are resilient.

We can gain strength from our pain and, in turn, we will help others in their journey.

For we are truly better together!

 … Read More

The Loss of A Child

March 5th, 2013
Posted By: Mary Kate Cranston

When I have been in support group sessions and listened as people have talked about losing a spouse, I can almost feel the unspoken emotional support developing within the group; a sense of bonding, a feeling of “having been there” in the expressed feeling or thought.  A supportive dialogue sometimes follows and I’ve heard people say after the sessions that they have felt a sense of personal progress in working through their own emotions because they heard someone else express familiar thoughts and feelings. Being around other widows and widowers can be a blessing after you have lost a spouse. … Read More

Writing Through Your Emotions

January 25th, 2013
Posted By: Mary Kate Cranston

To me, processing or working through difficult emotions such as grief, anger, frustration and confusion, is in a sense, breaking down the walls of why I feel a certain way.  Once I think I have figured out a pretty good reason why I think this is happening, I try to either get rid of as much of the feeling as I can or I try to readjust or “rebuild” my way of looking at the situation. During the “figuring out” stage (which can be hours or months), my mind is usually a jumble of thoughts and emotions.  I may be… Read More