Open to Hope Articles

Articles Home

I Just Want this Pain to End — Now! Carving Out the Time and Energy to Grieve

Posted on October 10, 2008 - by Beverly Chantalle McManus

In response to Widows – Honor The Pain, No Need To “Suck It Up”, Suzy Aguilar writes, “My husband passed away on May 30, 2008 — yes 5 months ago. […]

Writing Condolence Letters

Posted on October 10, 2008 - by Sandy Fox

by Sandy Fox — Whether you are a bereaved parent or just know of someone else who has lost a child, the most challenging letter an individual is ever called upon […]

Mourning a Brother Lost to Violence

Posted on October 10, 2008 - by Stephanie Frogge

Sameena from Charlotte writes: I am looking for ideas to help my mom. My older brother was murdered and buried in foreign country as a John Doe. We will eventually […]

The Poetry of Death: Can It Comfort Us?

Posted on October 9, 2008 - by Norman Fried

By Norman Fried — Modern poetry has often found a critical muse in the concept of death. In words apocryphal or mundane, spiritual or skeptical, modern poets have used their […]

Evolution of the Soul

Posted on October 9, 2008 - by John Pete

I have often encountered people who question the purpose of life, especially following a sad loss in their lives. As a spiritual person I too have questioned our purpose and the […]

Widow’s Friends Resist Her Moving On

Posted on October 7, 2008 - by Abel Keogh

Ann from Michigan writes: My husband of 23 years and my dad died within a week of each other. It was awful. We had a large circle of close friends […]

Military Losses Often Complicated by War Coverage

Posted on October 7, 2008 - by Stephanie Frogge

By Stephanie Frogge — Living in a country at war, it’s difficult to escape the media reports, the mind-numbing statistics, the opinions of politicians, even the views of our family […]

When the Head and Heart are at War

Posted on October 6, 2008 - by Debra Reagan

By Debra Reagan — On August 6, 2005, a civil war of my being was declared. You may not have heard of this war. It isn’t marked on a map […]

What is Shock? What to Expect That First Month After a Loved One Dies

Posted on October 3, 2008 - by Carol O'Dell

Losing a spouse, a parent, a child is devastating. But somehow, you will get through. As crazy, lost, alone, scattered, numb, and frantic as you feel in those first months, […]

How Families Survive Trauma and Loss

Posted on October 3, 2008 - by Norman Fried

By Norman Fried — What are the lessons that trauma, loss and recovery can teach us about family relationships? And what are the changes that occur in families that have […]