The Open to Hope Community

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Articles:

New Beginnings

Over the past several weeks there has been so much news of endings. End of tournaments, end of life, end of businesses, and end of relationships. All of these endings could cast a pall of depression over us. We wonder why things have to end.

Death Poem

During the two years of my husband’s terminal illness, death was never far from my mind. We had been told he was dying and even a time in which it was supposed to happen. We had no idea of how it would happen. I was loathe to let him out of my sight incase he should suddenly die and not return to me and woke each day fearing that he may have died during the night. Towards the end of his illness I sensed that death was near, waiting in the shadows to steal my love from me and wrote […]

Death and Grief: Unacceptable Reasons Given

Many reasons for death are given to those who have lost someone close to them. Some of these reasons, while well intentioned, do not provide any comfort. Most often, people suffering through the loss of a loved one or friend are not ready to have legitimate answers given until later. It is completely natural, however, to ask ?Why?? This is in response to the sense of a lack of reasoning on ?why bad things happen to good people.? To ask is expected; but to get a satisfying answer is not expected. People dealing with grief may be ready at a […]

Death and Grief: Acceptable Reasons Given

Many reasons for death are given to those who have lost someone close to them. Some of these reasons, while well intentioned, do not provide any comfort. Most often, people suffering through the loss of a loved one or friend are not ready to have legitimate answers given until later. There are helpful reasons, however, to give to someone when their suffering may seem so senseless.We suffer as a result of living in a fallen world. (Matthew 5:45)

November 16, 2006 Dealing with Traumatic Loss – Rich Tedeschi

HEALING THE GRIEVING HEART Dealing with Traumatic Loss Hosts:? Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley With guest:? Rich Tedeschi November 16, 2006 G:?Hello.? I?m Dr. Gloria Horsley with my co-host H:?Dr. Heidi Horsley. G:?Each week we welcome you to Healing the Grieving Heart, a show of hope and renewal for those who?ve suffered the loss of a child, a sibling, a grandchild, or a friend and as always the message is others have been there before you and made it, and so can you.? You do not walk alone.? If you?re listening to our Thursday live Internet show, please […]

NOVEMBER 16, 2006 – DEALING WITH TRAUMATIC LOSS: LAWRENCE G. CALHOUN AND RICH TEDESCHI

NOVEMBER 16, 2006 – DEALING WITH TRAUMATIC LOSS:? LAWRENCE G. CALHOUN AND RICH TEDESCHI, Professors of Psychology at the University of North Carolina Charlotte and specialists in trauma and bereavement.? They have written numerous articles and books in this area including:? Trauma and Transformation in 1995, Posttraumatic Growth in 1998, Facilitating Posttraumatic Growth in 1999, Helping Bereaved Parents in 2004, and most recently The Handbook of Posttraumatic Growth.? They teach undergraduate and graduate courses in a variety of clinical areas.? Their professional practice has been focused on individuals and couples coping with highly challenging life circumstances.? In addition, Dr. Tedeschi […]

Grieving at Holiday Times

As we approach the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays each year, our senses are heightened and memories of past celebrations flood our consciousness. Most of us can remember that, as children, we celebrated traditions with members of our extended family, many of whom we may have seen only at these joyous holiday times.

The End of a Life

Imagine the opening and closing of an oak roll top desk representing the opening and closing of life. If there is only one time to leave a first impression then there is only one time to leave a last impression. Spiritual leadership guides the memory of the final imprint of the breath of life. Religion, an instrument of spirituality, reflects grief?s rights to closure at the end of a life?s journey. The dead do not require clergy to pray or hear their final thoughts. Clergy respond in the time of loss to offer guidance, prayer, and grief counseling to the […]

Resolution

Resolution by Pien Ris, MIM 19 From now on I will only speak with my own voice. Learn how to use it, in integrity with my self. Can only be found with very long introspection preceding formation of words. For many, silence is the only option. Listen to the tapes that run ahead of your intention. Who are you? Today. Wiggle silence out of your throat. Communicate wordlessly more, suspend inner talk, self talk, voices, space it out. Stretch time while retrieving self information. Stress had brought you into the out field. Learn about who you are, scroll through your […]

Siblings & Parents: Branching Out to Heal

Dr. Heidi Horsley from the Family Guidance Program has been conducting workshops and discussions on sibling loss. Here is a recent article from issue 111 of TheLink newsletter of the FDNY-CSU. SIBLINGS & PARENTS: Branching Out to Heal Helping to create healing partnerships has been central to the CSU?s response to the attacks of 9/11. At recent events, both parents and siblings connected with experts who offered new strategies to help them look ahead to the future. On the evening of July 13, it may have been brutally hot outside but inside the CSU space at 594 Broadway, 19 parents […]

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.