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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Hope is a Muscle
October 28, 2024
Hope is a Muscle Nicholas Kristoff doesn’t look away. He is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who writes about people all over the world who experience great loss. He interviews people in the middle of their suffering and shares what he has learned with the rest of us. And despite witnessing some of the worst of what humans can experience, he is not a pessimist. In a recent podcast episode of “Everything Happens with Kate Bowler,” he was asked if his family had a motto, and if so, what would it be? His response, in part, was this: “I think that […]
Does It Matter That She’s Drunk? The Grief of Alcoholism
October 28, 2024
She’s Drunk “Wait! What am I supposed to be doing now?” from my mother during a board game. “So you don’t like gumbo?” […from my mother to a relative for the 10th time in the last 30 minutes] While solemn remarks are being shared about a matriarch of our family, an unsolicited and loud, “And you used to beat me!” […an untrue statement from the side of the stage in an effort to be funny, followed by uproarious laughter from her singularly.] Leaning over to pick up a Christmas gift from under the tree, down she crashed like a fallen […]
Keep Child’s Memory Alive Through Words and Celebrations
October 27, 2024
Keep Child’s Memory Alive Four years ago, I lost my beautiful 23-year-old daughter, Keren. Therefore, I know firsthand how painful it is to lose a child. At first, I really didn’t think I would survive, and almost didn’t. I knew I needed help and reached out through the internet to find other grieving parents, who would understand my pain and grief. I needed to know that I was not alone. At that time, I couldn’t bring myself to attend a grief group, or even leave my house. I felt that I could barely stand up because I was so weighed […]
Grieving Through the Holidays
October 24, 2024
Grieving Through the Holidays I know I’m not the only one who is feeling the effects of the season. Grieving during “normal” times is a full-time job. Throw in 2 or 3 holidays back-to-back and whatever milestones we might have in the middle…well…we’re all working on nervous breakdowns of epic proportions. I think one of the cruelest things about the holidays (and this may just be me) is that we’re dealing with something we used to look forward to so much. And it’s turned into something we can barely get through. My first Christmas without my husband was definitely the hardest. […]
You Know You’re a Widow When…
October 22, 2024
You Know You’re a Widow When You know you’re a widow when… At the end of a good day, you bust out crying for no particular reason. At the end of a bad day, you burst out laughing for no particular reason. And at the end of every day, you crawl into bed and sleep on His side. You refuse to throw away His toothbrush, His razor, His bar of soap. Because you think He’ll need them. The sight of His bathrobe hanging on a hook on the back of the bathroom door reduces you to tears, but you refuse […]
Five Myths About Crying
October 15, 2024
Five Myths About Crying Myth #1: Crying is a sign of weakness. This is truly a cultural attitude, not a truth. Crying is an individual response to a physiological, emotional, or spiritual state of being and is neither a sign of weakness nor strength. Crying for some requires great strength and courage while for others, not crying requires the same things. For some, crying or not crying comes easily. Myth #2: Crying shows you care. Tears are often used as a measure of how much a person cares. Because people don’t cry, does this mean they don’t care? Some […]
An Introduction to Crying
October 14, 2024
An Introduction to Crying Crying is a mysterious and often misunderstood phenomenon. As an introduction to crying, it can be defined as a way to express grief, pain, anger, joy or other emotions by tears, voice or both. We humans secrete a host of fluids that no one wants to see. Tears are pretty much the only secretion that people around us will tolerate; and even then, their acceptance of our crying behavior depends upon many complex factors. You’ve heard people say, “Crying is normal.” Yet, every day people are chastised, criticized, ridiculed and put down for their display of […]
Finding Light in the Darkness
October 14, 2024
Finding Light in the Darkness: A Message of Hope and Healing In times of profound struggle and emotional turmoil, it’s easy to feel isolated and overwhelmed. However, Sue Frederick, a renowned spiritual guide and author, offers a powerful message of hope and reassurance for those experiencing what is often referred to as “the dark night of the soul.” She helps us in finding light in the darkness. The Dark Night of the Soul: Understanding Your Journey The concept of the “dark night of the soul” has its roots in spiritual and mystical traditions. It describes a period of intense spiritual […]
New Normal After a Son’s Suicide
October 13, 2024
New Normal After a Son’s Suicide Five years after my son’s suicide, I stood at my picture window and smiled at the snowbirds that hovered around the feeder. They spit fluff from the seeds and it floated down, scattering hulls on the ground. A flit of wings and a brown sparrow darted along the grass. After the snowbirds left, I became surprised the sparrow didn’t fly to the food. It continued to eat what fell from the other birds’ beaks. I pitied the feathered creature. It had failed to see there was now room to eat from the bird feeder. […]
