A Widow's Change of Season

Summer is over. No more trips to the beach. No more sunbathing by the pool. No more ice-cold smoothies on a hot afternoon. Why does it have to end? Sound like something else in your life?

 

Your spouse dies and your marriage is over. No more vacations together. No more mornings drinking coffee together. No more planning for the future together. Why did it have to end??

 

Seasons change. We go from summer to fall to winter to spring. My life went from single, to married, to widowed, to remarried.

 

Gifts of Grief

Grief is something that easily sneaks up on us at times. We may have some indication that it's almost upon us, but many times we know don't until we are deep within it.

 

Grief isn't something to fear nor is it something to run from. It is something to embrace and accept the gifts it may have hiding within it.

 

Mom passed when I was 13 years old. I remember barely able to stand or walk at the funeral. Sitting in the front row and the Minister spoke of her (they were good friends), but all I could do was sob thinking I would never see her again.

The Art of Noticing: Being Mindful of How the Losses of Life Affect Our Hearts

Life guarantees us two things: change and loss, together they make up the unpredictable rhythm of life. They also exert tremendous pressure on the soul. If we don't stop long enough to notice, we'll wake up one day and wonder why the light's gone out of our eyes, and why passion is but a distant memory. All the losses in our lives are significant, and each has shaped our beliefs about life, God and the world around us, that's why it's critical to recognize them, no matter how insignificant they may appear.

How to Help a Child Grieve

Is there anyone more vulnerable than a child who has just lost someone close to them? Death is a tragedy for anyone, but for children, the death of a family member or close friend can be even more devastating and confusing than it is for an adult. It's hard for them to understand what happened and to comprehend what will happen next. That's why it is so important to be there for children in their time of grief to help them through this difficult time.

 

Recognize the Signs


When You Cry Unexpectedly in the Middle of a Talk: Grief Recovery

I've been a freelance writer for decades. After losing four family members in 2007 the focus of my writing changed and I began to write about loss, grief, and grief recovery. I also give talks that expand the information in my books. Last week I spoke to Elder Network volunteers in my community. It was a small group, a dozen volunteers gathered around a table.

Can you heart literally stop beating due to grief?

I'm no stranger to grief, it has been eating me up for the last 6 months.  6 long months have gone by since our daughter was born sleeping.  It took me at least 3 of those months to be able to get out of bed, and go out of the house.   Even when I would venture out, I would avoid key places I had visted when I was expecting her. 

Just over a week ago today, I lost my best friend my Mom Pauline.  She was 64 this year, and so very heart broken to have lost her first grandchild.  Her heart stopped working, something I have feared will happen to me.

A Memorial You Can See From the Heavens - Rancher in Argentina Designs His Ranch to Fulfill his Late Wife's Dream

If you’re set to fly over General Levalle, Argentina any time soon, keep an eye out for this spectacular design surrounding this family’s ranch. The gigantic guitar made of trees was the dream of Graciela Yraizoz, the matron of the … Continue reading