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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Maggie’s Love: A Feathered Friend and a Lost Goodbye

Posted on September 4, 2026 - by Veronica Crawford

For several weeks I watched from the kitchen window as a magpie, who I came to call Maggie, rested in our backyard. From a distance I could see that he had an injured leg, but whenever I attempted to get closer he would fly away. One evening I arrived home from work to find Maggie squawking in the tree next to our garage. I was surprised to see him here, as in the past he had never come so close to the house. The winter weather had been relentless for days with constant wind and rain. Maggie was soaked to […]

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Our Breath Buoy: Grief & Breathwork

Posted on September 2, 2026 - by Katty Douraghy

No matter how long we’ve been on our grief journey, we know grief doesn’t move in a straight line. There is no set timeline, and it certainly doesn’t follow a clearly defined path. It arrives in waves, sometimes slowly and quietly, and other times fiercely and loudly. When a wave of emotion hits, our sympathetic nervous system goes into fight-or-flight mode in response to the stress grief brings on. It feels as if we are drowning in a sea of sorrow as our heart rate climbs, we tense up, and our breath turns shallow and fast. Although this is a normal stress response, it […]

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New York City: 25 Years of Healing and Hope

Posted on September 1, 2026 - by Heidi Horsley

Over the past 25 years, I have watched New York City carry unimaginable loss while continuing to grow, rebuild, and find hope. What stays with me most is how people came together. Families, first responders, neighbors, volunteers, and strangers supported one another in extraordinary ways. In the midst of grief, there was also an incredible sense of connection and community. As the years passed, I watched the city change. Lower Manhattan came back to life. New buildings rose, families grew, and children like mine came of age in a city forever shaped by 9/11. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum became […]

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Returning to Work After a Death: A Guide to Grieving on the Job

Posted on September 1, 2026 - by Heidi Horsley

Returning to work after a death is one of grief’s hardest transitions, especially when bereavement leave runs out fast. Here’s how to navigate grieving on the job, what to ask for, and how to be gentle with yourself.

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Pet Loss: Why Grieving an Animal Hurts as Much as It Does

Posted on August 30, 2026 - by Heidi Horsley

Pet loss grief is real, valid, and sometimes as intense as losing a person. Here’s the science behind why losing an animal companion hurts so deeply, and how to grieve a beloved pet without shame.

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What to Say to Someone Who Is Grieving (and What to Avoid)

Posted on August 28, 2026 - by Heidi Horsley

Not sure what to say to someone who is grieving? You don’t need perfect words. Here’s what genuinely comforts a grieving person, the common phrases to avoid, and why simply showing up matters most.

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Men and Grief: Why Loss Often Looks Different for Men

Posted on August 26, 2026 - by Heidi Horsley

Men and grief can look very different from what we expect — often quieter, more action-oriented, and more likely to go unsupported. Here’s why men grieve the way they do, why it’s not ‘wrong,’ and how to help grieving men.

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Sudden Death vs. Anticipated Loss: How the Type of Death Shapes Grief

Posted on August 24, 2026 - by Heidi Horsley

Sudden death and anticipated loss lead to very different grief journeys. Here’s how a sudden, traumatic death differs from a long, expected one, why each is hard in its own way, and what helps in both.

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Grief and Anxiety: When Loss Brings Panic, Dread, and Worry

Posted on August 23, 2026 - by Heidi Horsley

Grief and anxiety often arrive together — loss can trigger panic, dread, and constant worry. Here’s why anxiety is such a common part of grief, when it needs extra attention, and how to calm a grieving, anxious mind.

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Grief and Faith: When Your Beliefs Are Shaken by Loss

Posted on August 20, 2026 - by Heidi Horsley

Grief and faith have a complicated relationship. When you lose someone you love, your beliefs can deepen, shift, shatter, or all three. Here are 7 compassionate ways to navigate grief and faith after loss, whatever your tradition (or lack of one) looks like.

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