Grief Digest Articles

A rummage sale can be defined as a collection of madness, memories and maybes—all “for sale.” It’s a time for restrained grief and grateful hallelujahs. Restrained grief meaning, “I hate to see it go; I’ll miss it.” But, a rejoicing hallelujah that there is now room on the shelf for something more purposeful. It takes days (maybe weeks) to go through the accumulated clutter and decide what you are willing to part with. For Gary and me, it was even more eventful because it was the climax to movin …

How to Find a Support GroupThe credo of The Compassionate Friends, an international organization of bereaved parents, says, "You need not walk alone." You will probably discover, if you haven't already, that you can benefit from connecting with people who also have had a death in their lives. Support groups, where people come together and share the common bond of experience, can be invaluable in helping you heal. In these groups, each person can share his or her unique grief journey in a non-thr …

When our loved ones were physically alive, they were the combination of their bodies and their souls, both loved equally. Those two seemingly inseparable parts created their lives. When they were in our presence, we absorbed them physically. We could touch them, hold them and talk to them.They were primarily their bodies, which to us was the most essential part of their lives. When they left to go to school or work, when they went out with friends or even when they had just gone to bed, we could …

You’ve probably heard about it on Oprah: The Secret. It’s a book, a DVD, an audio CD, and it’s big. What is The Secret? Well, the folks who produced it probably won’t like my brief definition, but here it goes. The Secret states, “Whatever you think about most, the universe will bring to you.”You want a mate? A car? A new career? More money? Better health? Don’t say, “I wish for these things.” Instead, see and feel yourself having them. Don’t focus on lack. See abundance. If this sounds familiar …

Nothing in my fourteen-year hospice career ever could have prepared me for June 9, 2005, when my mother and my two adult children were flown to Shock Trauma in critical condition following a motor vehicle accident. I was not prepared for the “save life at all cost” philosophy or the total disregard of my mother’s advanced directives. I was not permitted at the bedside or even informed that she was dying.Locked down on the first floor waiting room, my husband, my brother and I had no access or up …