Grief Digest Articles

“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned, so we can accept the life that is waiting for us.” (Joseph Campbell)There is nothing more difficult than holding onto hope after tragic or challenging life events. But, it’s also the most important thing we can do for ourselves. Hope is the one thing in our lives that can sustain us through the tears, uncertainty, and difficult days while we find peace with our situation.Gary and I clung to the vision of hope through many years when we were t …

Such a rare indulgence of burgers and fries enjoyed with our ten- and twelve-year-old nephews, followed by a brisk walk. My husband and I love hanging with them, allowing us old folks to once again be kids. We joked, laughed and talked with the boys while simultaneously picked forsythia, apple and cherry blossoms from the many flowering trees. Both boys picked beautiful arrangements. Johnny being the oldest smiled and said, "These are for my mother." Nick perked up saying, “Can these be for Laur …

It is November 2014. My mom died almost two years ago. I kind of held my breath thinking that at the one-year mark I would have the strength to “be okay and be ready to move on,” but after two years, I know now that it is truly a much longer journey of healing. You see, she and I had this unique bond. We had a friendship that surpassed a mother/daughter bond. She was my connection to this world. She grounded me in every sense. I talked to her almost every day, or at least felt the need to …

The old saying is true: “If there is an elephant in the room, introduce him.” No good purpose is served by denial, yet we are very good at it. And when it comes to facing the pain of our grief with both eyes open, we often turn away instead. But when we have a psychological elephant in the room of our mind, we should acknowledge him, and plan a way to shrink him down to a manageable size then get him on his way. If we’ve had a loss recently, the new year provides a good opportunity f …

We have all heard of the five stages of grief made famous by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. These are denial, bargaining, anger, depression, and finally acceptance. Although her book On Death and Dying was intended for the dying, it has also been used as a reference for the bereaved. The myth is assuming this is a complete list of stages, that they come one at a time, and in an orderly manner. A more realistic and comprehensive list should include shock, numbness, denial, emotional outbu …