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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Mother’s Terminal Diagnosis Teaching Daughter to ‘Live While Dying’
October 3, 2012
When my father died unexpectedly and traumatically, my brother and I entertained a philosophical discussion on whether it’s easier for family members if death is sudden or if it is anticipated. At the time, we agreed that while we would wish a swift death for the sake of our parents, we would prefer to have the gift of time, to be able to converse openly about their wishes, and to mine their memory for family history. You may have heard the cliché “be careful what you wish for.” Here I am, 5 years after my father’s death, facing my mother’s. […]
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 […]
Writing about Mother Helps Turn Pain into Gratitude
September 17, 2012
For an adult, the role of your parent in your life changes greatly from when you were a child. As a child, you depended on them for everything-food, shelter, clothing, guidance and love. As an adult, you don’t rely on your parents to care for your basic needs any longer; but their role in your life is more as a consultant than a direct care giver. Per Wikipedia, Consulting Guru Peter Block defines a consultant “as someone who has influence over an individual or group, or organization, but who has no direct authority to implement changes.” In the consulting role […]
Wendy Lipton-Dibner, M.A.; Death of a Mother
September 13, 2012
Wendy Lipton-Dibner’s mother Doris died in 1994 from lung cancer. She was only 59 and her untimely death underlined the fact that life is far too short. After her death Wendy vowed to spend her life helping others by providing concrete tools so they’d never have to settle for less than they truly want – in business or in life. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2012/09/Wendy-Lipton-Dibner_01.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Michael Nunley: Healing Family Losses With Music
August 16, 2012
Michael Nunley’s father’s diagnosis of terminal cancer was like losing an anchor for the Nunley family. A second blow came when Michael broke the news, that his sister Cyndy had taken her life. Michael shares how the loss of his sister enabled him to craft the song for a Compassionate Friends Candle Lighting bringing him greater healing. Follow Kim’s Blog at listenforthewhispers.com https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2012/08/Micheal-Nunley_01.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Cathy Spear: The Healing Power of Grief Camp
August 9, 2012
Cathy Spear, LICSW, is Director of Camper Services at Circle of Tapawingo, a week-long overnight camp program in Maine for girls who have experienced the death of a parent. Circle was founded in 2002 with 32 campers ages 8-12. This August, Circle will enroll 145 girls, now including a Teen Program, as well as a CIT program for Circle’s own graduates. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2012/08/Cathy-Spear_01.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Donna Marie Thompson Ph.D.; Topic: Bouncing Back From Loss Guest:
July 26, 2012
Donna Marie Thompson, PhD is a speaker and best-selling author who through her own personal experiences has helped thousands of people. Her recent book, BOUNCING BACK FROM LOSS teaches how to not only survive but to come back better and faster. Donna Marie has earned a PhD, MBA, and CPA. She is a Certified Professional Coach, a Certified NLP Practitioner, and a Master Practitioner of the Energy Leadership Index. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/www.opentohope.com/files/2012/07/Donna-Marie-Thompson_01.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Anger, the Undeniable Feeling
July 14, 2012
One of the most difficult things for me to deal with when my mother died was the anger. I was angry at the doctors for their failure and I was angry at her for not trying harder to live. As children, we look at our parent and see pillars. They are not supposed to be weak. They are supposed to have all the answers to all the questions. They don’t feel pain like a child does. They are supposed to comfort us, not the other way around. This is the greedy little kid in us all. When my mother first […]
A Son in Hope that someone can help me
July 3, 2012
My mother died 6 years ago, to be exact febuary 4 2006. Me and my mother went through a abusive relationship with my father, and my mother would always use herself as a sheild and protect me at all cost, she was my hero, best friend and my mother. She was diagnosed with cancer of the brain in 2000, and it was a very slow down hill slope for her ( going through two different operations on the brain, , somehow forgetting how to speak english and only being able to talk spanish to only lose the ability to talk […]
