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From Loneliness to Solitude

Posted on April 1, 2013 - by Donna Miesbach

Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of losing a loved one is the awful sense of having been left alone. The loss of the presence, the personality, the person with whom we had blended so well leaves an acute sense of loneliness. It is easy to feel lost, abandoned even, with no idea where to go. All sense of purpose seems to have evaporated. We feel very much like a ship without a rudder, and the seas do not feel like friendly seas at all. It is hard to keep going, to even try at times like these. Yet […]

Using The Help Of God To Manage Your Depression

Posted on March 24, 2013 - by Stan Popovich

Dealing with fear and anxiety can be very difficult. As a result, using the help of God can be very effective in managing your fears. With this in mind, here are some suggestions on how a person can use the help of God in his or her own struggles. The first step a person should do is to start talking and praying to God. A person can go to church or to a quiet place during the day to tell God that they are having a problem. They should tell God how they feel and ask God for some of […]

Take Spring Holiday Flowers to Cemetery

Posted on March 23, 2013 - by Sandra Pesmen

Holidays are always hard for widows. We remember those who are missing, and miss them even more, regardless of how much time has passed. But there are ways to include them in the family celebrations — and then share some of that holiday spirit with them afterward. Always talk about those who are gone during all holiday meals and remember special moments you all enjoyed together during holidays past. Then make good use of those lovely spring flowers that decorate your homes and especially the dining tables during Easter and Passover. Don’t let them wither and die. The […]

Walking Your Way Out of Grief

Posted on March 22, 2013 - by Harriet Hodgson

You’re grieving now, feeling lost, alone, helpless, and depressed. I understand some of your feelings. Six years ago, my elder daughter and father-in-law died the same weekend. My husband and I felt crushed by grief and we sat on the couch and sobbed for weeks. Finally, our sobs waned and we went for a walk in the neighborhood. Walking felt good after sitting so long. My husband and I kept walking. Though we didn’t walk daily, we walked regularly, several times a week. While we were walking, we talked about our loved ones and how grief had changed us. As […]

What “Red and Me “Taught Me About The Grief Journey

Posted on March 20, 2013 - by David Roberts

A Boston State of Mind I have been a Boston Celtics fan since I was fourteen years old. I know that there are many New Yorkers who like Boston teams, but from my experience it has been mainly the Boston Red Sox. I may be one of the few New Yorkers who has ever liked the Boston Celtics. When it comes to basketball, many New Yorkers are primarily New York Knicks fans. I always liked the Celtics because they played great team basketball, weren’t hung up on individual accomplishments and had players and coaches who conducted themselves with integrity. My […]

Recovered Email Provides Comfort to Grieving Mom

Posted on March 20, 2013 - by Sally Grablick

Throughout the years, my mother has written me many inspiring letters. I use the internet and write my children emails. Time may change the way we communicate – but it hasn’t replaced our need to connect with one another. I cherish the notes received from my son and daughter, and have managed to tuck a nice selection of them away. When I started to save them, I had no idea how much I would grow to value or learn from them. What I do know is that these emails were just a few of the many keepsakes I’d lovingly packed […]

Finding Solace in Acceptance

Posted on March 19, 2013 - by Maria Kubitz

My daughter, Margareta, died in a sudden, tragic accident in the fall of 2009. Her death happened so quickly, there was no time to prepare or say our goodbyes. One moment she was with us and then next she was gone, and life as we knew it was forever shattered. The pain that came with the weeks and months after my daughter’s death was overwhelming; it almost felt like I couldn’t keep on living. But somehow, I found the will to face each day, if for no other reason than to take care of my surviving children. In the early […]

Going Beyond Thinking

Posted on March 18, 2013 - by Carol Loehr

We all use our minds to try to understand why our children died. I am no different; when our son Keith died, I continued to ask that endless question—Why? Throughout my pursuit for answers, my niece Juli and her son Cody helped me realize that maybe I was not looking at all possibilities—just maybe I would have to go beyond my own realm of understanding. As Juli shared some of Cody’s spiritual experiences with me, I found it would take a child to help me break through the spiritual barriers that I, as an adult, had created. Cody was only […]

Book Helps in Healing From Child-Loss

Posted on March 17, 2013 - by Beth Marshall

Speaking with the Heart Strings group was different than any assignment I can remember. These ladies share a journey no one would ever sign up for, the loss of a child. There are no words to describe the unquenchable sorrow their families have experienced, yet somehow in this room, I could sense there was still hope. The monthly meetings offer a safe place to talk, share pictures and honor the lives of precious children with people who understand. At Heart Strings, it’s okay to cry, but it’s also okay to laugh. I asked the group if they knew of any […]

Tuning In To Your Body During Grief

Posted on March 15, 2013 - by Donna Miesbach

We all have an inner guide, and oftentimes it speaks to us through the signals the body sends us – signals of comfort or discomfort. Author Tom Robbins calls those signals “yuk” and “yum.” So how does that work? Say you’re driving down the street and you aren’t sure which way to go. Listen to your body! Or if you’re in the grocery store and you can’t decide between this product or that one. Listen to your body! As we practice following that signal on the little things, we develop a trust – and a confidence – in their accuracy. […]