1 Positive Takeaway From 2014

December 31st, 2014
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Today is unbelievably my last post for 2014 and I find myself reviewing the year and wondering, “Did I do something different this year that personally broke new ground?  Something that was healthy and healing? ”

Yes I did!

This year I made a commitment to learn how to find quiet time time and meditate.

It was awkward at first and really very hard for me to settle myself, sit still and keep all my stray thoughts at bay while trying to focus on the absence of thought.  But I kept at it and I am making progress.  And that’s … Read More

A Lovely Diamond Heart

December 10th, 2014
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And then there are acts of love that people randomly do that are often so selfless as to take your breath away. Upon reading the healing and tender story from Associated Press I am sharing below, I think it definitely fits into the category of giving when it hurts. The giving part of the story involves wedding rings.  I say to you, Lovely Boston Widow, I can’t imagine giving away my wedding rings in that manner, but at the same time, I say more power and blessings to you Lovely Boston Widow for doing it. High five!! Nothing so publicly… Read More

One Thankful Chick

November 27th, 2014
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When I sit down today to share Thanksgiving dinner with different generations of my family, I will be mindful of the many blessings I have received this year, blessings that have helped me find a healing path and blessings that definitely make me one thankful chick. In turn, I hope your blessings this Thanksgiving are also bountiful as you spend time relaxing and having fun with your loved ones. And while blessings are the focus of today’s holiday, I am still one of those people imagining a chair at the Thanksgiving table wishing a deceased loved one might be sitting… Read More

My Community My Peeps

November 21st, 2014
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One of the most important things you can have when you are grieving is a community of support. We all need, and I hope you have, a group of people who offer comfort and understanding through thick and thin.  They care enough about you to know when you need the space for solitude,  when you need a shoulder to cry on and when you need a hug. They also know when you need a laugh and some good ole retail therapy.  Our human connections give us emotional strength and can help to renew us in times of pain and vulnerability.… Read More

Hope For The Holidays

November 19th, 2014
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These are challenging times that we live in and for those who are in the midst of grief, the arrival of the holidays can make life a lot more challenging. Thanksgiving is next week and decorations and other holiday reminders are already popping up everywhere.  You may already be dreading this time of year because you know the holidays can be an emotional minefield.  Reminders of your loved one can sometimes present themselves when you least expect it. It can be a song, a smell, the house where you are celebrating or even a story that someone may tell.  It… Read More

Being Brave

November 14th, 2014
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When I am about to deal with a potentially stressful situation like one happening this weekend, I start thinking about it before it even happens. Does that happen to you?  What’s up with that? Wellllll, since I can’t avoid this particular situation, it’s possible that it’s about me thinking it’s a good idea to get ready for it by putting on some so-called protective armor in case things go South quickly and I need to deflect what’s being said and not take it to heart.  As always, I remind myself over and over to stay open to the possibilities of… Read More

A New Project on Amazon

November 12th, 2014
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Hey there Resilient Readers: This morning I am very excited to share news with you about a project which started last year and is now completed!! It’s a new ebook about grief and I am included (Cry Laugh Heal is Chapter 21; don’t worry the chapters are short!) along with other bloggers and writers whose work I consider to be truly fantastic!  I am beyond flattered to be included in this wonderful project that we hope will help others in their grief. The book is titled “From Grief To Greatness” and it was written and organized by a great guy… Read More

Back To The Garden

November 7th, 2014
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My son and I recently spent a Sunday afternoon meandering around the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond, Virginia and it reminded me once again of the importance of taking time to immerse yourself in the calming and healing beauty of nature. I was not particularly stressed out when we entered the spectacular gardens but after walking around among the themed gardens and gentle water fountains for about ten minutes, I found myself slowing down and suddenly stopping on the path to take a deep breath and truly look and listen to where I was at that moment.  We sat… Read More

A Poem Of Comfort

October 27th, 2014
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Today I send heartfelt prayers to a wonderful woman and mother of three children who has been a close friend of my family’s for decades and is tragically in the process of saying good-bye to her beloved husband currently being taken care of in an ICU unit of a local hospital. I know that words cannot take away her deep pain but I send them in hopes that they may bring some small measure of comfort.  Perhaps there is someone in your life who is also bearing a burden of sorrow and is in need of words that lets them… Read More