John Pete

John Pete is a spiritual writer, founder of Daily Grief Quotes on Facebook, and was a Certified Grief Counselor for over 10-years . He has appeared on the "Grieving The Healing Heart" radio program and is published in the 2011 books, "Open To Hope, Inspirational Stories of Healing After Loss," "Grieving the Sudden Death of a Loved One" (2012, DVD), and Grief Diaries - Through the Eyes of Men (2016, book). John Pete is online at https://facebook.com/dailygriefquotes.

Articles:

Forgiveness

Forgiveness can be a very hard thing to do. That speaks to how incredibly powerful it is. Like hope, forgiveness is often a stepping stone forward. It can be a necessary part of truly accepting things that cannot be changed; for healing broken hearts and renewing spirit; and for allowing happiness into our lives again. Forgive whenever you can. Forgive yourself. Forgive others. Use forgiveness as a beacon to light a path to healing.

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How To Hope Again

My philosophy is to always choose hope when the alternative is hopelessness. If you have difficulty understanding a purpose for hope after loss, you are not alone. Consider that through hope, you can find paths to peace and healing in your life, and perhaps the lives of others. How will you continue forward with your own life after the loss of a loved one? It can seem quite impossible, but somehow we make our way wearily through the days, weeks, months and beyond. And hope can help us to live a life that honors the legacy of loved ones and would make them proud. […]

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Winter Grief, Spring Healing

This time of year can be especially difficult for many who are grieving a personal losses. The December holidays have come and gone, and the days are long and dreary for many. It sometimes  feels as if the warmth of Spring may never get here, but instead of waiting for light at then end of the long dark tunnel of Winter, you can create a beacon of light for yourself! You have the power to inspire renewal and hope within yourself at times when you may need it most. Many of us enjoy special gardens and other projects that foster healing while also honoring our loved ones. And the long […]

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Winter Grief, Spring Healing

This time of year can be especially difficult for many who are grieving a personal losses. The December holidays have come and gone, and the days are long and dreary for many. It sometimes feels as if the warmth of Spring may never get here, but instead of waiting for light at then end of the long dark tunnel of Winter, you can create a beacon of light for yourself! You have the power to inspire renewal and hope within yourself at times when you may need it most. Many of us enjoy special gardens and other projects that foster […]

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Forging New Bonds with Our Loved Ones

Perhaps you would like to do something meaningful yet easy to remember your loved one this weekend. You could take a walk to find a special stone or something from nature to put in your garden or windowsill. Or plant some flowers… You could buy an “I Love You” helium balloon at the grocery store and write a letter or poem to go with it. Perhaps you would like to frame a special picture, or craft something special in your loved one’s honor. It can be anything you like. While doing these activities, try to set aside your grief as […]

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Giving Grief a Voice

Sharing gives voice to difficult loss and painful grief. But it also helps others to know they are never alone. And that is a wonderful way to honor the lives of our loved ones.

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Writing A Plan To Help You Cope with Loss & Grief

Do you have a plan to help you cope with your loss and painful grief? Taking back control of your life and how you respond to your grief can be empowering at a time when we often feel vulnerable and hopeless. To begin writing a plan, start with a simple list of all things that can help you to cope. Your plan will evolve and change over time, so don’t worry if the list is incomplete right now. You should also include things that involve interactions with others and leaving your home once in awhile, even if just for short walks. Below are some ideas to get you started, and […]

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Celebrity Deaths Remind Us We Are All Mortal

Celebrities often appear bigger than life, untouched by the everyday challenges of “regular people.” So, when their lives come to an end, it is a stark reminder that we are all mortal, and no amount of fame and fortune can change that fact. Collectively, we seem to mourn celebrity losses because of the mutual admiration we feel for those whose lives seem to hold so much favor, and are lived out so publicly. Their deaths often bring a much-divided world together despite political, religious, economic and other differences. We look to the legacies of these famous people whose public lives […]

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Brother Struggles to Say Something as Sister is Dying

Michael writes in: My sister is dying of breast cancer. I don’t know how to be with her. I want to say something but so far I only speak to myself. John Pete resonds: Hi Michael. It can be very difficult to be with someone who is dying and we often try too hard to think of the “right” things to say or do. It can help to think about how you would want to be treated in their situation. Dying is not only about dying – it is about living out a life while coping with a terminal illness. I commend you […]

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Finding Joy in a World of Losses

Everything in this world that lives, will one day die. That is a fact of life. From the moment we are born we begin a journey that ends the same for every human being. And along the way, we will lose many, many things: Time, loved ones, beloved pets, material things… So in the midst of so much loss, how can we persist and thrive? Some people are bubbly and upbeat, and some are sullen and negative. And most of us exist somewhere in between. So how is it some people cope so much better with life’s ups and downs than others? And why does […]

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