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.
SORT BY RELATIONSHIP
30 Ways to be Your Own Best Friend
February 26, 2012
For many years, I was anything but my own best friend. I neglected, badgered, criticized and overindulged myself. It was much easier to be nicer and kinder to my friends than it was to myself. Maturity and the experience of devastating loss, has taught me much. I now know that in grief or in fact, anytime in life, I am the only one who can look after me. Me, myself and I. Many times, I didn’t think I had time for me. I thought my needs weren’t as important as others in my life. I was too busy giving out […]
Getting the Routines Back in Your Life
February 25, 2012
February, with Valentine’s Day, is a great time to take a survey of where I stand on my love meter. Am I on the high or low side this year? In order to do that I have to take myself back to what I call Ground Zero. For me,Ground Zero was in April 1983 when my 17 year-old son Scott was killed in an automobile accident. That boy was the love of my life. At the time of his death I wondered if I would ever be happy again. As with my love meter your love meter may have been […]
Birthdays and Becoming a ‘Grand Family’
February 25, 2012
Yesterday was my grandchildren’s birthday. The twins (one boy, one girl) turned 20, a surprise to me and to them. When my grandchildren moved in with us, they were 15 ½ years old. Now they are college sophomores, young adults pursuing their education and their dreams. Where did the time go? What did I learn in the last five years? I learned that two kids and two grandparents can come together to form a grand family. It’s a miracle. Before their parents died, the twins used to come to dinner with their mother every Sunday. Though they didn’t know us […]
Stephanie Benbenek; Death of a Son
February 23, 2012
The news that her only child, Clarke, was killed in a freak car accident, could have ended author Stephanie Benbenek’s life as well. Instead, she wrote a story to help cope with this senseless tragedy. The book is, “…keeping Clarke. One son. One day. One mom’s personal journey through grief.” – an honest and compelling story of living, dying and honoring loved ones lost. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2012/07/Stephanie-Benbenek1.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Multiple Losses
February 17, 2012
I have lost my 37 year old son, my husband and my 35 yo daughter within the past four years. Hospice personnel refers to me as the person with "multiple losses." Many say I am so strong. I don’t feel strong. I am profoundly sad. Each of their deaths were totally different. My son’s was accidental; my husband, always healthy, died after less than three months of being diagnosed with lung cancer. My daughter, who died this past Dec. 13th, had brain cancer and had many disabilities since she was a child. She did manage to get her Bachelor’s degree, […]
The Storms of Grief
February 17, 2012
I sometimes feel like my mood is reflected in the weather, albeit differently now. Before Nina died, I used to dread those dreary cloudy days and felt my best when it was warm and the sun shone brightly. Physically and mentally, I could feel the difference. However, in the early years after Nina died, my outlook flip-flopped. I was better able to tolerate those days where the sky turned a lackluster shade of gray. I felt in tune to the drabness of the skies, as it went along with the darkness in my heart and soul. I welcomed it. Luminously […]
Valentine’s Day Reminder
February 16, 2012
Valentine’s Day 1995: I had just sat down at my desk in my home office for a busy day work-wise when the phone rang. It was Nina calling me from Park High School. “Mom, you have to help me. I need to have something for Chris (her new boyfriend) for Valentine’s Day. I am pretty sure that he got me something and I really want to get him something too.” Furthermore, she knew exactly what she wanted: glow in the dark stars, like the ones she had on her bedroom ceiling. The place to find them was at Spencer’s Gifts […]
A Valentine Wish for Bereaved Parents
February 12, 2012
Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone! I’ve listed for you some things you can do on this special day in memory of your child. Children always loved this holiday for its sweet cards, candy, stuffed animals and going out to eat. And I’m sure you will miss those moments when your child surprised you with that perfect gift. So this year enjoy yourself by sharing this holiday with loved ones who are with you and honor those only in your memory. A small gift for everyone You can make the day really special for all those who work for you but […]
If Only
February 10, 2012
If only…… If only….. If only……. If only……… If only…….. Most everyone has their share in life of “if only’s.” If only I were better looking, more popular, made more money, lived in a better neighborhood, were more organized, creative, articulate, athletic, had grandchildren, had more faith, had my sister’s curly hair and long eyelashes. So many “if only’s”and” what then’s.” When our loved one dies suddenly we have a whole new list of “if only’s”. On top of everything else, our aching heart, our desperate longing to have our loved one back, our sleepless nights, our lost sense of […]
