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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Make Time Matter: A Lesson from My Dad
June 2, 2014
My father died from complications of bowel cancer, and I held his hand as he took his final breath. Being there, as hard as it was to experience, was a gift to me, and he told me that it was also a gift to him. He endured some very real physical pain and also the spiritual anguish of ending a life he loved living. Two years have now passed since we said good-bye. In the days leading up to his passing, my dad prepared us with lovingly chosen words and promises of eternal love. When the moment of death came, […]
Playwright Ann Randolph on Writing about Grief
May 28, 2014
How is a performance and a post-show creative writing workshop sparking a national discourse on grief? This and more when memory artist Nancy Gershman sits down with playwright and comedian, Ann Randolph to talk about her one-woman show, LOVELAND – and the transformative and healing power of writing about grief. Learn more about Randolph’s week-long “Write Your Life”workshops, by visiting Ann at www.AnnRandolph.com. “When you’re dead jokes” can be conversation starters Ashes exposed can bring strangers together With nothing left to lose, liberated behaviors surface Writing about grief in a group setting forms “community” Turn your inner critic into a character you can stand up to We […]
Beth Marshall: Getting Unstuck from Grief
May 22, 2014
When Beth Marshall lost both her parents within a few short years, she searched for light at the end of the tunnel… hoping it wasn’t a train! Surviving loss, recovery and ultimately finding new purpose led her to write A Time to Heal, a grief journal. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/Beth-Marshall.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
3 Ways To Find Hope After Loss: Interview with Dr. David Meagher
May 18, 2014
At the annual ADEC Conference, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. David Meagher and discuss with him ways that people can find hope again after loss. Dr. Meagher is a pediatric surgeon who practices in Ohio, but he is originally from New York. I’m a fellow New Yorker as well, and as we all know, New York has been through a lot. After 9/11 especially, it took people many years for people to find hope again. I asked David to share three ways people can find hope after loss. Hear his advice in the video below: Here […]
Childhood Grief: An Interview with Chase Roberts
May 17, 2014
In this video, Jesse Roberts, the author of Katie the Ladybug: Explaining Emotions of Grief to a Child, speaks of his own experiences and encourages those who are helping grieving children to be honest, concrete, and sensitive when discussing the topic of death. Losing both of my parents before the age of 16 inspired me to immerse myself in the field of death and dying in hopes that I may be able to help others who are experiencing grief after the loss of a parent. I did not want these experiences to be wasted, and through helping others have been […]
Grieving for Dad: Interview with Lara Rogers-Krawchuk
May 17, 2014
By Lara Rogers-Krawchuk In this video, I will share lessons learned from my long time work as an oncology social worker, therapist, adjunct professor, and lover of the contemporary concept of meaning making along a grief journey. I will also offer personal insights from being the daughter of a dad who died much too young and at the totally “wrong” time. Life as a griever with two young children was very hard, but I found hope every day in their smiling faces and exploration of a world still worth living in. I believe my father continues to live on as […]
Write Your Mother A Letter
May 13, 2014
Many of us are missing our mothers who reside in Heaven. Because God provides that they still see and hear us, it is never too late to talk to them or write them a letter. For Mother’s Day, please consider writing your mother a letter and then reading it out loud to her. Have a photo of your mother smiling in front of you when you do. It will bring your mother to you and you will have the comforting sensation of expressing your feelings to her. God bless you all.
Beth Rotondo: Hope For Those Who Grieve
May 8, 2014
Beth Rotondo has worked in the bereavement for 20 years. She has lost an infant, parent, and sibling. Her losses and expertise have made her a comforting companion for those who grieve. She is the author of Threads of Hope and The Big Chair. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/Beth-Rotondro.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Walking with Grief, Living with Purpose
May 1, 2014
Yesterday while walking in my neighborhood, I realized how alive and present my father’s spirit is in my life. He was an avid gardener and life-long admirer of nature, and I feel his presence reflected in the beauty and wonder of the outdoors, the sounds and sights of Spring. He was a daily walker and I feel extra close to him when I am walking. With each step I recall memories of the times we shared and “converse” with him on a heart level about new topics and issues that arise in my life. In life, I talked with him […]
