Open to Hope Articles

Do you want to read stories of others who have been where you are? Are you looking for bereavement help, and advice? Look no further. We offer over 7,000 articles written by our Open to Hope authors.

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The Magic of a Child’s Grief

Posted on May 14, 2024 - by Anne Abel

Son’s Grief Opens a Door I got a belated birthday card from my mother for my 41st birthday. “To Our Wonderful Daughter,” was scripted on the front, in gold, above […]

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Finding Meaning in Violent Loss

Posted on May 13, 2024 - by Brooke Carlock

Finding Meaning in Violent Loss When I hear about “finding meaning” in grief, I feel a knee-jerk reaction to snap back with a salty, “What possible meaning can come from […]

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Toxic Positivity in Grief

Posted on May 13, 2024 - by Brooke Carlock

Toxic Positivity in Grief When I first started devouring information about the grieving process after Libby died, I remember immediately being turned off by the overly negative messaging on social […]

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Are You Sabotaging Your Grief Journey?

Posted on May 13, 2024 - by Brooke Carlock

Are You Sabotaging Your Grief Journey? This article is going to require you to be a little bit brutal with yourself. The goal of the telling the truth principle is […]

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Grief Guilt

Posted on May 13, 2024 - by Brooke Carlock

Grief Guilt is about Loss of Control Guilt is, in my humble opinion, one of the most prevalent emotions during grief, and one that many grievers seem to come back […]

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Creating a Loss History

Posted on May 13, 2024 - by Brooke Carlock

Creating a Loss History The first place we need to start is the past. We’re going way back—as far back as you can remember—and dredging up any experiences that may […]

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People Will Say Stupid Stuff

Posted on May 13, 2024 - by Brooke Carlock

People Will Say Stupid Stuff When it comes to insensitive comments, you will be on the receiving end of a ton of them. Yes, people will say stupid stuff. It’s […]

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Practicing Gratitude in Grief

Posted on May 13, 2024 - by Brooke Carlock

Practicing Gratitude in Grief OK, OK. Before you throw lasagna in my face, let me just assure you that this section is not going to be full of toxic positivity […]

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Create Meaning Through Ritual

Posted on May 13, 2024 - by Brooke Carlock

Create Meaning Through Ritual Creating traditions, rituals, and ceremonies that celebrate your person is the shit. Seriously. It’s the opposite of the get-over-it and move-on mentality. Instead, by celebrating the […]

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Childhood Pet’s Violent Death Still Haunts

Posted on May 6, 2024 - by Anne Abel

Childhood Pet was a Gift My father worked in a lab at MIT next door to an animal experimentation lab. The summer I was seven, he surprised us with a […]

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