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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Somatic Breathwork Transformed My Grief

Posted on January 28, 2025 - by Stephen Stott

How Somatic Breathwork Transformed My Grief Grief has a way of seeping into every part of our lives, even when we think we’ve moved on. For years after my sister’s death, I lived in the fog of grief. Mentally, I was coping as best I could, but because I was active in sports, my body found a way to release some of the tension after every practice. Still, even two decades later, I realized that grief was still lurking in my body, even though I believed I was in a good place—or so I thought. I remember attending my first […]

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Steps to Heal from Miscarriage and Baby Loss

Posted on January 28, 2025 - by Gloria Horsley

The taboo surrounding miscarriage and baby loss continues to affect countless individuals, yet many suffer in silence. Dr. Aura Rose, author of “Sacred Sadness: Insights into the Spiritual and Energetic Layers of Miscarriage,” brings a fresh perspective to this sensitive topic through her research and personal experience with pregnancy loss. Understanding the Impact of Pregnancy Loss Dr. Rose’s journey into exploring pregnancy loss began after witnessing two women discussing their miscarriages in a coffee shop restroom. This encounter sparked her mission to create a space where women could openly share their experiences and find healing. The author’s research reveals that […]

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A Journey Through Suicide Recovery

Posted on January 28, 2025 - by Gloria Horsley

The sudden loss of a loved one to suicide creates ripples that affect families in profound ways. In a moving conversation on the Open to Hope podcast, Vanessa Francis shares her journey of healing and transformation following the unexpected loss of her husband Rick to suicide in March 2016. An Unexpected Turn Vanessa and Rick’s love story began through a matchmaker in 1994, leading to nearly 20 years of marriage and the adoption of their daughter. Rick, described by colleagues as “jovial” with a quick wit, showed no obvious signs of depression. The morning of his death began like any […]

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Grieving the Death of One’s First Love

Posted on January 15, 2025 - by David Daniels

On Grieving the Death of One’s First Love Question from Barbara: Is it normal to grieve over someone you have not seen in 30 years? Recently, a guy who was my first boyfriend when I was 15 was murdered. He was 47. I have not seen him since we were 15. I did not expect to feel so much loss. I do not remember how or why we stopped seeing each other, or how long our relationship lasted. I only have 4 or 5 memories. I don’t understand why I feel such a deep loss. He was a great guy then, […]

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Winter Without Son is Lusterless

Posted on January 14, 2025 - by John French

When your child dies, the holidays quickly lose their luster. The entire spectrum of lights is muted to a dull gray, while the endless barrage of seasonal music only brings out the blues. When you combine that with freezing temperatures and the whirlwind of activities, it can lead to treacherous living conditions. Additionally, a string of silent nights bring neither comfort nor joy. I spend a tremendous amount of time and effort during the holidays trying to block out the past and ignore the present. Why? Because all the great memories reiterate how much I have lost. But without them, […]

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Bleak Midwinter after Loss

Posted on January 10, 2025 - by Gail Norwood

A bleak midwinter silently advanced and settled in, both seasonally and in my soul. Gray, dreary January days reflected my dismal mood. Like a tomb, it was cold in the house and cold in my soul. Even the garden seemed to whimper softly as I slipped back to say hello upon my return. Dark and dormant as it had ever been, I sensed a palpable dirge in the wintry woodland, descending like a cold soft rain. Retreating inside through the well-worn back door, I was struck at the sudden realization that I was the sole inhabitant of our family home. […]

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Finding Joy After Multiple Losses

Posted on January 8, 2025 - by Gloria Horsley

Dr. Nancy Saltzman’s story of survival and resilience stands as a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to endure and find joy after devastating loss. As an accomplished educator and recipient of the Milken Family Foundation Award, Saltzman faced unimaginable tragedy when she lost her husband and two sons in a small plane crash in 1995. A Foundation of Purpose Saltzman credits her ability to survive such profound loss to her upbringing and professional background. Raised in a family that emphasized making a difference in others’ lives, she carried these values into her career as an educator and school principal. […]

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When Grief Affects Your Mood

Posted on January 6, 2025 - by Bradie Hansen

When Grief Affects Your Mood It was one of those days. You know what I’m talking about; when you wake up tired and you can’t quite sort out how you’re going to do all the things? There have been a lot of these kinds of days for me lately, as we’ve been in the full tilt of holiday energy. Sometimes I can remember why it might be harder this year than others. Sometimes I forget. When I forget is when things get more complicated. I’ve found over the years that the holidays, as nice as they can be, also hold […]

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Art and Writing as Healing Tools

Posted on January 6, 2025 - by Heidi Horsley

When Britney DeSantis lost her father at age 13, she found solace in an unexpected gift – a journal. Two decades later, this simple act of putting pen to paper has evolved into a powerful healing journey that has touched thousands of lives. Through her business, Peak Paper Company, DeSantis has taught calligraphy, watercolor, and journaling to over 50,000 people worldwide. In a recent Open to Hope Conversations podcast interview with Dr. Heidi Horsley, DeSantis shared insights from her personal grief journey and discussed her award-winning guided grief journal, “Forget You Not.” The journal, which hit Amazon’s #1 most gifted […]

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Ten New Year’s Eves: A Widow Remembers

Posted on December 30, 2024 - by Katy Hutchison

Ten New Year’s Eves December 31st has come and gone ten times since my husband Bob was murdered. While ringing in the New Year with friends, Bob left our dinner table to check on the home of a vacationing neighbor. It had become apparent no responsible adult was overseeing a party the neighbor’s teenaged son was throwing. Bob walked in on two hundred drunk and out of control youth. Within minutes he was dead, beaten to death by two young men angered by his efforts to shut things down. I was left a widow with four-year-old twins. The first year […]

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