I talk, and read, and cry, and write, and speak, and listen about grief much of my waking hours. I choose to do so because I recognize how much grief I have experienced, and I am still standing, and smiling, and even laughing sometimes. I certainly don’t think grief is funny, yet it is part […]
Read MoreThe Greek philosopher Heraclitus, 540 B.C., is accredited with the quote “There is nothing permanent except change.” And the concept of a desire for change has been constant ever since, and probably before that too. When a U.S. presidential campaign occurs, it seems that once every four years the country focuses on changes the people […]
Read MoreI recently heard the song Que Sera, Sera on a television commercial and it reminded me of hearing it as a child. Doris Day came out with this song in 1955, so I was pretty young, but the song stuck with me, and I sang it to myself often leading me to fanciful daydreams. The […]
Read MoreOur lives are full of things, some tangible and easily seen; others intangible and not easy to define. When a loved one dies, many tangible memories are simply left behind and may gradually lose their significance. When the time came to move, I kept that in mind so as not to release what we treasure. […]
Read MoreThink about those days you have had where everything just feels off. Maybe you didn’t sleep well the night before. Maybe it is a day when you are missing your loved one deeply. Maybe you don’t feel good with a headache and sluggishness. Maybe you have no energy. All these feelings are common while grieving. […]
Read MoreI used to feel like I had things hanging over my head. I knew I would feel better when the tasks were complete, and the longer I put them off, the heavier they would get. Recently I was working on organizing my storage room. I was motivated to get it done so that I would […]
Read MoreWhere I live in upcountry Maui now, I have the biggest garden I have ever had, and it takes lots of attention. Even with two people who help me, the tasks seem never ending. I am not complaining, however, because the rewards are worth all the time it takes. I grow tropical flowers, fruit trees, […]
Read MoreOften, I hear that people think we must get over grief. I disagree. I see grief as something that starts with the realization of the major changes that come with the transitions you experience. Though there is a time that you realize you are grieving, chances are there won’t be a time that you say, […]
Read MoreWhen I talk to people who are grieving, I often see they aren’t smiling. Actually, most people who I talk to are not smiling at first. Thinking about this led me to wonder how much better we all could feel if we just remember to smile. Think about all the things you could smile about […]
Read MoreHave you experienced talking yourself out of doing something you would love to do because you are grieving? We all do that at some point – even when we’re not grieving. Early in grief, people may hesitate to invite you to their party, to dinner, or even for a walk. They talk themselves out of […]
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