Grief Digest Articles

Walking alongside T through his cancer treatment and finally his death was the most deeply devastating, heart shattering and painful experience of my life and the boys. And, it was the most precious, meaningful, experience as well. Life was simple in the sense that nothing else mattered but time with him. Moments of simply being. Soaking up each touch, breathe and sound with him. Death sat with us each day at our family table. Sitting in the reality of the fine line between life and death. It …

When my daughter was stillborn, friends and family reached out in countless thoughtful ways to show that they cared. They brought meals to fill our bellies, sent cards to offer condolences, and gifted trinkets to help us remember Charlotte. The overwhelming majority of those well-wishers suggested that she would "be in our hearts forever". This metaphor is truly a beautiful one: I will hold my child in my heart by honoring her existence and she will live on as I revisit those few, but meaningful …

I first met Matt and Dylan at a summer soccer camp when I was in 3rd grade many years ago. My family had just moved to this new town, and I knew nobody. My shy demeanor and sheepish personality certainly weren’t helping me in the friends’ category either. During that first summer, I attended a soccer camp where I met Dylan and Matt. We instantly became best friends. There was no defining moment, it just happened. We aptly named ourselves, The Three Musketeers, and we became inseparable much to t …

I was asked by a couple of different sources to write about the latest shooting in Florida. I dreaded the thought. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first, or second, or third time this has happened. What is there to say other than it is horrific? And most conversations end up in one of two places- guns and/or mental illness. I have little desire to discuss either issue, so it caused me to ask myself why.After a few conversations with people, I realized I could come at this topic in a dozen differen …

My significant other was married for 52 years. We met online. Their anniversary and her death date anniversary approach.“I cried yesterday.” We are preparing dinner in my kitchen.“It’s been less than two years,” I say.“Thank you for understanding.”I might have said more: that it’s OK to talk about her, that love never dies, that tears are helpful, that I wish I had known her, that love is not scarce, that I’m not jealous.But never mind, there will be more times we speak of her stronghold in his …