Words for the Journey

Holidays aren't as brightas once they used to be...I try to be a shining lightJust like you were to me... These family times, without youare always difficult to bear.. but I see signs of youand God seems to hear my prayer. Without you once again,another holiday will pass.

Thoughts on Fear of Death[my struggle with the inevitable end]In order to not fear death, I must believe in death.That is, I must believe that death is all that I believe it to be. If I believe that our souls unite with God at death,then death is not a thing to be feared at all. 

They ask me if I'm married and I always choose to say,

. emotions are meant to be felt. so why is it so hard to feel them?why is my first reaction always: "find a way to shut them up."even happiness is difficult for me. I realize I'm feeling happy and *boom,* I'm doing something that will surely push that happiness away.who really wants to grieve?

Grief, when it comes, is not gradual. It hits like a tsunami, unexpected and violent. Suddenly, we are in the deepest, darkest pit with no way out. What we may not realize is that we are on a slide, falling to the bottom. When that bottom comes, it is as sudden as the grief for there is a solid wall waiting at the end. Some of us have hit that wall.

The Holidays are ComingSo what do we doHow do we celebrateHere Without youNow that you’re in HeavenHow do we go onIt’s just not the same hereSince the day you were goneBut wait just a minuteI just now recalledAll the sweet memoriesIn my life you installedYou taught me to loveAnd to share love the same

One thing about grief is it can come from any loss we expreience in are life though the most painful time it hit me personally as from the death of my mum. When it is someone so close or we have known for time we have an attachment and connection with them. One thing I found was people don’t know how you are feeling.

Grief is about to meet Thanksgiving. Which one will win?

Holidays are challenging for those who have lost a loved one. To provide some comfort, a well-known hospice in my community is putting on a concert for families. The director of the hospice contacted me and asked me to say a few words at the concert—just eight or 10 minutes. This was a writing challenge and sticking to the time limit will also be a challenge.

A woman and her dog found my secret beach on the river, struck up a conversation and told me her father had died in July.  She dreaded Thanksgiving.

I have not given up, even though I want to most days.

Pain runs deep. Grief scars are powerful, and sink into the darkest recesses of the heart. Catastrophic wounds can throw us into survival mode for a while.No matter how old the wound, with the right trigger, the pain can become incredibly fresh again.Grief is like that. And it’s especially challenging during the holiday season.