Posts Tagged: loss

I’m Listening

June 13th, 2012
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I have found that when you are talking to children of any age about almost any subject, you should be prepared to hear things that can be so truthful, so honest that it can take your breath away.  Now, I’m not saying that’s a bad thing.  I think it’s wonderful but you have to prepared yourself for the possibility that the unpolished truth could pop out at any moment.

That’s the beauty and wonder of children: there usually is no filter on their wise thoughts.

In my many talks with my son about his father’s death, I tried to keep … Read More

The Anger of Losing Someone

March 27th, 2012
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Anger is a normal part of grieving.  It is.  I know people would rather not address this part of grief but it’s there and it’s best to find a way to come to grips with it.  When a loved one dies, many people feel anger first rather than sadness because they feel they are being left behind and also feel very helpless.  Everyone says that life must go and it does but what do you do with the anger you feel? Many people try to push the anger down and ignore it because the intensity of it scares them.  That’s… Read More

Walking & Wandering

March 6th, 2012
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I was walking downtown the other day and started to think about what it would be like if I ran into my husband.  I know, I know.  There is no way that I am going to suddenly see my husband casually walking down K street or any other street near my office or my home but this is how your mind works sometimes after someone you love very much has died whether it’s a spouse, a parent, a child or a friend. Granted, my husband died eight years ago but sometimes when I’m walking my mind wanders and one thought… Read More

Meryl Streep & Margaret Thatcher

February 25th, 2012
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When Hollywood hands out its little gold statuettes tomorrow night, we’ll find out how The Academy voted on the nomination of Meryl Streep and her empathetic performance in the role of Margaret Thatcher as a politician and a wife.  The story is primarily about a British woman attaining so much power in the 1980’s that she became Britian’s first woman prime minister. But the movie is also a love story and a reminder that no matter how high the government position you are elected to, no matter how much money you make, no matter how much privilege surrounds you, human… Read More

Music Heals Soldier’s Souls

January 26th, 2012
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Music is a powerful medium that touches the human soul. This link will take you to a compelling story featured in today’s Washington Post.  I’m sharing the link because the story shines a light on the healing effects of music for veterans trying to overcome their traumatic memories of war. http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/military-veterans-seek-support-and-release-through-music-at-lifequest-arts-camp/2012/01/23/gIQAeRcMQQ_story.html… Read More

Insight from Bridesmaids

January 20th, 2012
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One of the reasons the movie, Bridesmaids, is such a run-away hit is that women either know one of the characters or they see themselves in one of the characters. It’s also an insightful movie about the ups and downs of female friendships. Multi-talented comedian Kristen Wiig plays Annie, a 30ish, single young woman who has hit a rough spot in her life.  Nothing is working.  Her boyfriend uses her, she gets fired from her job, her car breaks down all the time, she moves in with her mother and on top of all that her best friend is getting… Read More

Tips For The Early Days of Grief

January 16th, 2012
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Photo By Patti Raab A family I know lost their brother right before Christmas and now the same family has suddenly lost their father.  I can’t imagine the waves of shock, pain, anger, despair and confusion they are engulfed in now as they try to work their way through another intense grieving process. Please include them in your thoughts and prayers.  The following article is dedicated to them: The Early Days: Surviving the First Few Days of Bereavement By Greg Wright What are the most important things to know during the first few weeks of bereavement?  Several months ago, my… Read More

Those Messy Ugly Grief Feelings

December 1st, 2011
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After experiencing a personal loss, everyone has to find their own way of getting back into the game.   Sometimes it’s not pretty. The piece below is from hellogrief.com.  You may not agree with how this woman felt but she is courageous in stepping out from the pack to tell how it really felt for her.  Please give it a read. The One Where I Lie To My Friends Posted On November 8, 2011 @ 8:51 am;  Featured in Parents, Hello Grief   [1]The truth about grief and loss is that they do not always come with pretty, neatly packaged feelings.  Many… Read More

Bridge of Love

November 11th, 2011
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Photograph by Philippe GaravelIn Paris, lovers fasten padlocks to the railings of the Pont des Arts bridge.  The couple then tosses  the keys into the Seine river below, symbolizing their eternal love. Happy Friday everyone!  The following quote is from the last paragraph of the novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thorton Wilder. I’m sharing it because I think it captures the essence of what we all strive to do while we are trying rebuilding our lives after the loss of a person near and dear to us: “We ourselves shall be loved for a while and forgotten. … Read More