We avoid thinking about or dealing with death at every turn.
Even caregivers who are caring for their aging parents try not to think about the inevitable end.
Cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, combined with age will eventually claim the lives of those we love. And sadly, by not fully anticipating and participating in […]
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My Daddy died at the average age men die in the US (78 years old), from the most common disease men die from–heart disease. Yet, Daddy was anything but typical. He was a big teddy bear of a guy who made my world right again.
I was adopted at the age of four years old–and my […]
There’s no way to stay in a long-term relationship and not have issues.
Hurts, frustrations, “you weren’t there for me,” “I can’t believe you said that, betrayls and disappointments are all a part of being human.
Whether you’re in a committmed relationship, married, have children, adult children, siblings, and even friends must eventually hit this road block […]
Grieving is natural. It’s good for you. It’s necessary.
But can you take grief too far?
What is “too far?”
What’s right and necessary for one is dangerous for another.
I recently watched “Reign Over Me”about a man (played brilliantly by Adam Sandler–not his usual comedic role) who loses his wife and three daughters in the airplane crash […]
What a difference a year makes. Last year this time I was planning a wedding, making plans to move my daughter and I 16 hours away from our friends and family to IN, completely in love with a wonderful man. Now today I am trying to gracefully survive a tremendous loss.
In 2006, my first love […]
I Used to Always Love April
???????????????????????? By Kim Hodne
I used to always love April
The month you were born
You loved it too
The fifth day is special in my heartBut now it brings a special sorrow
You?d be turning twenty-nine
I lost you at twenty -four
So young
I would love to meet you half way
Somewhere between Heaven and Earth
Just […]
Anger is one of the most common emotions that surfaces when grief and loss have to be confronted. It is a normal human response if you feel abandoned, betrayed, disrespected or undeserving of the experience you are facing. It tells us we have to do something.
If you have been taught early in life that anger […]
Face it, times are tough.
Can you afford to stay in your own home? Are you well enough to manage everything on your own?
Are you recently widowed and wonder if living by yourself is such a good idea?
Are you a boomer or sandwich generationer wondering how to care for/pay for your kids, your parents and save […]
Do you need to be needed?
Carl Jung called it, “The Wounded Healer.”
Caregivers, whether they come by it willingly or are drug into their caregivingroles, become accustomed to being needed. It’s comforting? and satisfying to know that you have a purpose.
But what do you mean when you say, “wounded healer?” ?Is that a bad thing?
Wounded healer […]
Note: Often we encourage you to “be gentle” with yourselves when you are grieving. In the whirlwind of emotions we are experiencing on the grief path, we sometimes just can’t fathom what that means to us. Ellen Besso has given us some clear guidlines on how we can take care of ourselves?during this harsh journey.?Drs. […]
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Open to Hope is an online community offering inspirational stories of loss, hope and recovery. We believe hope is the bridge between loss and recovery.
