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 3,000 articles written by our Open to Hope authors.
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On Your First Father’s Day Without Dad
June 7, 2018
This year might be your first Father’s Day since losing your Dad, a beloved child or another important person in your life. Or maybe it’s been a while. Either way, Father’s Day can be tough when a piece of your heart’s puzzle is missing. Here are three tips I hope might help: Say What You […]
Brooks Douglas: Choices: Forgiveness and Strength
June 7, 2018
Brooks Douglass is a film producer and actor, lawyer, businessman and former state senator in Oklahoma. In 1990, Douglass was elected as the youngest State Senator to serve in Oklahoma at age 27. His signature legislation was a 1992 bill championing the rights of crime victims. In 1979 Brooks and his sister Leslie saw their […]
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Missing All of Mom on Mother’s Day
May 15, 2018
My friend and I were recently having breakfast and talk turned to the upcoming Mother’s Day. Both of us have lost our mothers recently and a look of sadness and “I miss her” tears began to fill our eyes. As my thoughts drifted back to my years as a child, when I scurried to make […]
Feelin’ Groovy: Connecting with Mom’s Legacy on Mother’s Day
May 11, 2018
Ever had a song, a fragrance or box of cereal stir you to tears? It’s been 19 years since my mom’s sudden graduation to heaven. So, how could Mother’s Day week and a song be the catalyst for tears in my grilled chicken tenderloin salad? Sounds like a country music song. This week a classic […]
Where Do I Belong Now? After Both Parents Die
March 1, 2018
Dad died suddenly in my early fifties. At the funeral, I will never forget the feeling of being 6 years old in a 50-something-year-old body. Mom died just a few short years later; I was strong until the end with her as she battled breast cancer. My years in hospice made me acutely aware of […]
Kathy Miller: Chippy Chipmunk Deals With Loss
November 23, 2017
Kathy M. Miller is an award-winning author and photographer of the Chippy Chipmunk picture book series. Her latest book “Chippy Chipmunk: Friends in the Garden” helps children who are grieving. After Kathy lost her mother, she found comfort and healing in nature photography. Her book uses nature and a delicately woven storyline to open a […]
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Death and Dying: Interview with Brian Barry MA
September 10, 2017
At the annual ADEC (Association of Death Education and Counseling), I spoke with Brian Barry, who teaches death and dying at RIT in Rochester. Brian began to explore the field of death and dying after the passing of his mother, and he has been doing it for the past 35 years. When Barry’s mother passed […]
Webinar: Survival Tips for Mother’s Day
May 8, 2017
There are many holidays which can be particularly tough for the bereaved, and Mother’s Day is a big one. Can you celebrate Mother’s Day if your child is no longer living? Of course you can, but you may benefit from some modifications. The Open to Hope show welcomes Dr. Darcie Sims, an internationally renowned speaker […]
Suffering a Loss Yet to Come
April 19, 2017
My father’s wife of 30 years passed away in November 2014. Prior to her passing, he was her caretaker in all senses of the word, even to the extent that he was neglecting himself. We knew while he was taking care of her that something was happening with his cognition, but he was a wonderful, […]
