Open to Hope Articles
Do you want to read stories of others who have been where you are? Are you looking for bereavement help, and advice? Look no further. We offer over 3,000 articles written by our Open to Hope authors.
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I Just Want this Pain to End — Now! Carving Out the Time and Energy to Grieve
October 10, 2008
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. I still feel numb and a big empty hole in my heart. He was also my high school sweetheart. I am 41, and he was 43 — we had 3 beautiful daughters, including a set of twins! Reading these posts is making me realize I am not alone and only other widows can truly understand my pain, a pain nobody else will ever understand. Thank you all […]
Widow’s Friends Resist Her Moving On
October 7, 2008
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 who were great to me, but when I met another man, they were not happy and were always looking for faults with him and trying to tell me not to be with him. They don’t understand that I am just trying to move forward with life. I will always love my husband, but I know I must move on. I can’t go back to the way it was before March […]
Diane Rooks: Writing to Heal the Loss of a Husband and Child
October 2, 2008
Diane Rooks reveals how we can use our stories to repair even the most shattered lives. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2010/10/Diane-Rooks-100208.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
(Not So) Happy Birthday! Dealing with Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Traumatic Dates
October 2, 2008
Whether it is the birthday of your spouse who has died, your wedding anniversary, or even the anniversary of the death, traumatic dates bring back so many memories, and also bring up so many feelings of loss and sadness. But, they can also give us a chance to mark our progress of healing. These events mark not just another date on the calendar but they are significant milestones within our personal healing journey. Our lives are put on pause, at any stage of our grief journey; in order to honor our lost loved ones. Birthdays, anniversaries and those other […]
He Loved those Slippers — Dealing with the Belongings of Your Departed Spouse
September 22, 2008
The closet full of his shirts, ties, jackets and slacks. His well worn slippers next to his side of the bed. His wallet and eyeglasses. His razor and toothbrush. The tool chest in the garage. His tennis racket. His harmonica collection and guitars. His treasured complete set of vintage Beatles imports on vinyl. All those science fiction books that fill more than half of our bookcases. What do we do with all the “stuff” that belonged to our spouse who has died? So many people stand ready to quickly offer glib advice […]
Beth Nielsen Chapman: Art and Loss, Music as a Pathway to Healing
September 18, 2008
Beth Nielsen Chapman uses music as a way of healing and giving hope. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2010/10/Beth-Nielsen-Chapman-091808.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
When Things Go to Hell in a Handbasket — Coping with the Financial Aspects of Spouse Loss
September 17, 2008
For most of our 20 years of marriage, Steve very capably handled all the finances and paperwork for our household. He brought his skills as an accountant and legal librarian to managing all of our accounts, organizing all of our paperwork and files, handling all the taxes and associated documentation, and making sure all the bills were paid on time each month. Like almost everything else he did, he made it seem effortless. I remember breezily watching him zip his way around Quicken, and always pretended to be interested when he’d show me the latest budget he’d created, […]
When Does Touch Become Critical?
September 12, 2008
Writer and widow Elaine Williams examines the yearning for touch following the loss of a spouse due to death, divorce or physical separation. She’s trying to be patient, she writes, but some days are hard.
Doesn’t God Listen? — Coming To Grips With The Spiritual Aspects Of Spouse Loss
September 9, 2008
My prayers started the moment Steve was diagnosed with esophageal cancer: “Please God, please, send a miracle. Let him be in the 15% of those who statistically beat this cancer. God, I beg you to restore Steve to health, please heal him completely, as you have so many times in the past.” This and similar fervently issued prayers were to continue even up to the day Steve died, exactly six months later. Those of us who have lost our spouses despite prayers such as these have experienced first-hand one part of how grief and loss affects […]
