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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Missing a Son During his Birthday Season
September 30, 2012
As I planted my veggie seeds last spring, I sensed a joy to bring in new life. As I now tear down my garden, I am relieved the work is almost done. I sense a sadness. Why? you may ask. So close to the birthday of my deceased son, Joshua. It’s a very hard season indeed. I am still here. I walk this earth. I work and work to fill my mind and heart with the good that God has allowed me to have. I share my life with others in hopes it may help in some small way, and I’m […]
Finding Your ‘Essential Self’ after a Loss or Life-Changing Event
September 26, 2012
Yesterday, I finished reading “Finding Your Own North Star” by therapist Martha Beck, PhD. I bought the book because it looked empowering and this proved to be true. In fact, the entire book is about personal empowerment and building a new life after a “cataclysmic event.” During this time we are stressed and have to let go. If you identified yourself with your job and lose it, Beck explains, your identity shifts. According to Beck, each person’s essential self is determined before birth. As she writes, “You are designed with the ability to find the life you were meant to […]
The Open to Hope Show with with Dr Gloria and Dr Heidi and special guest Dr Ken Druck “Open to Hope Handling the Loss of a Child”
September 24, 2012
“Open to Hope Handling the Loss of a Child” with guest Dr. Ken Druck. Dr Ken Druck discusses the loss of daughter Jenna and the Center he went on to find, The Jenna Druck Center which serves teenagers and their families. Guest Chris Donohoe shares his gift of song and his story of healing after the death of his brother. To Watch the Show in it’s entirety
The Open to Hope Show with Dr Gloria & Dr Heidi and special guest Pat Loder of The Compassionate Friends; “Handling the Loss of a Child”
September 24, 2012
“Open to Hope Handling the Loss of a Child” with guest Patricia Loder. Pat Loder, Executive Director of The Compassionate Friends discusses the Compassionate Friends and her loss as a parent of her two children Stephen and Stephanie. Pat has gone on to help so many in need. To Watch the Show in it’s entirety
How Working Outside My Hope Helped Me Survive
September 7, 2012
When my older son Paul died by suicide in 1999 after a seven-year battle with bipolar disorder, I had to find ways to keep myself busy and productive or else I would wallow away in my grief. At the time of his death I wrote grant proposals for a homeless shelter, but with too many reminders working from my home office, I decided I needed a job away from home. After two false starts at part-time jobs – writing grant proposals for our local free clinic and managing capital campaigns as a fundraising consultant – I decided to try to […]
Your Spiritual Path to Grief Healing
September 7, 2012
Though grief has common symptoms, each person’s grief is unique. Your grief isn’t quite the same as mine, and each of us must find our way. In 2007, after losing my daughter, father-in-law, brother, and former son-in-law, I was overcome with grief, so overcome I could hardly function. But my husband and I were our twin grandchildren’s guardians and we didn’t have time to waste. Two vulnerable teenagers were depending on us. At the time, I didn’t have a grief recovery plan, yet my subconscious was working on it. Each day, I set aside some time for reflection. And I […]
Taking Survival Lessons from Wolves — and Jodi Picoult
September 4, 2012
I’m on my way to the library to return yet another remarkable novel by Jodi Picoult. It’s called “Lone Wolf” and I want to share some words her main character speaks about wolves who die, but that apply to all of us who have had “family upheavals” and soldier on. “There is no grief among wolves. Nature has a wonderful way of making you face reality. You can sit and weep if you want, but you are likely to be killed while you’re lost in your mourning because your let your guard down. “I have seen wolves step over a […]
Mom Shares Child-Loss Story, Feels ‘Alive’
September 4, 2012
I recently followed a writing prompt that suggested: Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors). A tough one, in a year where I mostly felt dead. But let’s see… The moment that comes up most vividly is a recent event, one that happened during the very first date with the guy I’m seeing. I’d squeezed between tables to sit on the bench seat–something I’m now certain must have driven him a bit nuts since he prefers to sit in view of the door. As my initial […]
Writing Heartfelt Words Can Lead You Out of the Darkness
September 3, 2012
Recently Deb Kosmer, a bereaved parent, author, poet, health care professional, and blogger, posted on Facebook about accumulating words. I don’t know the source of her post, but it said letters make words, words make sentences, sentences make pages, pages make chapters, and chapters make books. I added a line to Deb’s post, “And some words make a new life.” Why did I add this line? It comes from my experience. In 2007, I lost four family members, my daughter, father-in-law, brother, and former son-in-law. Losing their father made my twin grandchildren orphans and my husband and me GRGs, grandparents […]
