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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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Episode 217: Navigating Loss as Men

June 10, 2024

While there are similarities among men who are grieving, there are also differences. Listen to how two men with very different experiences navigated their unexpected losses. Join hosts Dr. Gloria Horsley and her daughter Dr. Heidi Horsley, along with their guests Jon Lefrandt and Warren Kozak, as they discuss how they navigated their lives after loss. Jon Lefrandt is the Founder and CEO of Elevia, a text messaging service used to better serve grieving families. Jon comes to this work after the death of his father, which left him reeling. He is also the founder of For Grief, a multi-platform […]

My Father’s Conscious Dying

June 10, 2024

My Father’s Conscious Living As Father’s Day approaches, memories bubble up of my beloved dad. I grew up feeling valued by him, and as a kid, I was always willing to do my part. I learned that when everyone pitches in a reasonable portion of the work around the home, it makes the chores go smoothly. When shared with others, work can be a fun enterprise. Daddy always asked me to be his helper as he worked at various chores around our home. One of my favorite jobs was washing the car with him. He made it fun to lather […]

Episode 216: Grieving Voices; Journeys of Loss

May 29, 2024

Is it possible to find hope again after loss? Join hosts Dr. Gloria Horsley and her daughter Dr. Heidi Horsley, along with their guests Abby Dart and Meghan Riordan-Jarvis, as they discuss their journey out of the darkness and back into the light after losing loved ones. Abby Dart has a law degree from Loyola Law School and is a member of the California Bar. Following the death of her husband by suicide, she entered the political arena, lobbying for better mental health care. Meghan Riordan-Jarvis is a psychotherapist and hosts the podcast “Grief is My Side Hustle.” She has […]

Episode 215: Sudden Traumatic Loss

May 29, 2024

Have you experienced a sudden traumatic loss? If so, get tips and tools on how to navigate this difficult time. Join hosts Dr. Gloria Horsley and her daughter Dr. Heidi Horsley, along with their guests Meghan Riordan-Jarvis and Abby Dart, to discuss what helped them after traumatic loss and what might help you too. Meghan Riordan-Jarvis is a psychotherapist and hosts the podcast “Grief is My Side Hustle.” She has written two books: a memoir called “End of The Hour,” about her personal experience with PTSD after the successive deaths of her parents, and “Can Anyone Tell Me Why: Essential […]

Episode 214: Navigating Health and Wellness After Loss

May 29, 2024

The death of a loved one can take a physical, psychological, and emotional toll on us. How do we navigate health and wellness after loss? Join hosts Dr. Gloria Horsley and her daughter, Dr. Heidi Horsley, along with their guests Jeanne Jacobwitz and Meghan Riordan-Jarvis, as they discuss healthy ways to care for ourselves after loss. Jeanne Jacobwitz is a widow and board member at the W Connection, a nonprofit organization that helps widows. Jeanne teaches at Georgetown University in the graduate midwifery/women’s health programs and is currently conducting research on how bereavement can impact a widow’s health. Meghan Riordan-Jarvis […]

When God Leads You to a Parent’s Deathbed

May 27, 2024

I got used to living a fatherless life, even before he died. When I thought about him, it was always followed by guilt, and then I would actually stutter. It was better to not think about him at all. And then one day my sister, Peggy called. “Hello Anne. You’ve got to come. It’s Dad. He’s dying of cancer.” Is she crazy? She knew what he had accused me of. He blamed me for our mother’s death. She knew all about that. And now she is telling me I need to come and see him? “No!” I shout. “I can’t.” […]

A Writer’s Attempt to Outrun Grief

May 20, 2024

A Writer’s Attempt to Outrun Grief I set my timer for twenty minutes and vow to write without stopping. I tell myself not to judge, not to edit, not to think, not to cross out, or hit delete, or re-read. Just keep my fingers dancing across the keyboard, I tell myself. Just keep moving. This is what I tell my students, and this is what I repeat in my head as I type. Just keep moving is a good strategy for writers because it keeps us from getting bogged down in our thoughts. For writers, thinking is not helpful. I think a lot of […]

Handling Your Own End-of-Life Planning: A Thoughtful Goodbye

May 20, 2024

Handling Your Own End-of-Life Planning Each of us will eventually have to confront death. My late husband, Tom, died in my arms several years ago. Less than two months later, my 84-year-old mother passed with me at her side. While I deeply miss their physical presence, I still have their love and spirits with me today. I will always be grateful for the support of friends, family, and colleagues during that difficult time. Grieving the loss of a loved one is never easy, and many of you may have experienced similar heartache. Amidst my sorrow, I managed the estate settlement […]

Meghan Riordan Jarvis, MA, LCSW Regulating Your Body After Loss

May 9, 2024

Join Dr’s Gloria and Heidi Horsley and Meghan Riordan Javis, LCSW  psychotherapist and grief informed expert for ideas on regulating and recognizing normal grief responses.  She is a podcaster and author of “The End of The Hour” and “Can Anyone Tell Me Why: Essential Questions About Grief and Loss” published with Sounds True Media. She also conducts a grief writing workshop “grief mates”. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/content.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/Meghan-Riordan-Jarvis-MA-LCSW-Regulating-Yourself-After-Loss.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download