Swayze Inspires as He Battles Cancer

Posted on January 14, 2009 - by Eric Tomei

By Eric Tomei —

Am I Holding Onto the Past? Why We Keep the Clothes of Those We Love

Posted on January 13, 2009 - by Carol O'Dell

I’ve had my Daddy’s suede jacket hanging in my closet since 1982, the year he died. I didn’t know I’d be a keeper, but I guess I am. It’s brick-red suede, and has completely worn through at the edge of the sleeves. It no longer smells of him, but I keep it. I remember when I was a child, riding with him to Sears on Saturday morning just to buy salted peanuts and look at the tools in the tool department. He wore that jacket. I was adopted and maybe that makes me more sentimental, I don’t know, but keeping my […]

A Widow Asks: What Does He Think of Me Now?

Posted on January 13, 2009 - by Mie Elmhirst

By Mie Elmhirst I had a lovely holiday this year. Nothing really big happened. My daughter Anneke and I baked bread, we told each other silly stories about what presents the other was getting, we made soup, went to a movie, hugged a lot and we celebrated our family. Our very small family. We were enough. I had enormous gratitude as I remembered where we were eight and nine years ago, when we were trying to keep our heads above water as we watched our husband/father die, and then as we struggled to learn how to live without him. But […]

Got Faith?

Posted on January 11, 2009 - by John Pete

WHAT IS FAITH, BY THE WAY? It’s a simple question, right? Maybe not… Faith can mean many things to many people, and whatever one’s personal beliefs, they should be respected as everyone’s journey is their own. This is reflected in our everyday life experiences, including grieving the loss of a loved one. And regardless of those beliefs, we all have the opportunity to comfort and support one another in the most important aspect of our lives – the here and the now. Most of us have an inner faith of some sort, including the strong conviction by some that there is nothing beyond this […]

Nine Steps to Self-Forgiveness

Posted on January 11, 2009 - by Fred Luskin

By Fred Luskin, PhD — 1. Know exactly how you feel about what you did. Be able to articulate the specific wrong you have committed and the harm it caused. Tell a couple of trusted people about your experience and about your feelings. 2. Understand forgiveness. Forgiveness enables you to feel at peace even though you did things you wished you had not. You do not have to reconcile with the person you have hurt and what you did may not be OK. Still you can make peace with yourself. 3. Self forgiveness can be defined as the recognition that […]

David Daniels: Hope Even in the Face of Despair

Posted on January 11, 2009 - by David Daniels

By David Daniels —

Strategies for Surviving Holidays and Special Days

Posted on January 10, 2009 - by Coralease Ruff

By Coralease Ruff — Many of us can exhale now that Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanzaa and other winter holidays have come and gone. Some have survived their first big holiday season since the death of their loved one. It is no surprise, however, that there are other special days coming that may be equally as difficult. During these times you may be hurting so badly that you have neither the interest nor the energy to do anything. Then don’t. If that is your wish, you should feel free to choose not to observe the holidays. On the other hand, it may be helpful […]

2009: A Year of Remembrance

Posted on January 9, 2009 - by Eric Tomei

Happy New Year everybody!   Now that the gorging, celebrating, and partying is over its time to focus on goals for 2009.   Not resolutions, but goals.   Resolutions are things that fade by the wayside after a week like many people going to the gym.   Goals are measurable, defined and most important reachable.   This has been the third holiday season after my father’s death.  I will tell you certain days of the year are not that much fun.   The start of the New Year is a day filled with happiness, hope, and most important remembering all […]

Poem: A Conversation With Grief

Posted on January 9, 2009 - by Bob Baugher

By Bob Baugher, Ph.D. —

Poem: My Life: Seven Years Later

Posted on January 8, 2009 - by Abel Keogh

November tenth is a day that creeps up on me now.

It wasn’t always this way.

In past years it was a day heavy with memories, emotions, and unanswered questions.

Now it’s a day just like any other.

This year it wasn’t until after lunch that I looked at the calendar in my office …