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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Take Spring Holiday Flowers to Cemetery
March 23, 2013
Holidays are always hard for widows. We remember those who are missing, and miss them even more, regardless of how much time has passed. But there are ways to include them in the family celebrations — and then share some of that holiday spirit with them afterward. Always talk about those who are gone during all holiday meals and remember special moments you all enjoyed together during holidays past. Then make good use of those lovely spring flowers that decorate your homes and especially the dining tables during Easter and Passover. Don’t let them wither and die. The […]
Laura B. Hayden: Spouse Loss
March 15, 2013
Laura B. Hayden spent her childhood in Brooklyn, NY, and her teens in Enfield,CT, where she went on to teach. She and her husband were raising their daughter and son when she was widowed. Ten years later she began writing Staying Alive: A Love Story. Told with the grit and wit of a survivor, her family’s experience may be considered a quiet triumph. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2013/03/Laura-Hayden.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
In Grief, the Body Never Lies
March 11, 2013
When I lost my husband so suddenly, I just kept going. That was what I thought I was supposed to do, so just like the bunny in that battery ad, I shifted into high gear and I didn’t stop. Of course, doing that didn’t give me the time I needed to process what had happened. Neither did it allow me to take care of my body properly, and my body was really asking for help. All the unresolved stress I was feeling was impacting my body in serious ways. Then one day, when I was about at the point of […]
Episode 2: Handling the Loss of a Spouse-Grief Relief TV
March 8, 2013
Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley invite special guests to the taping of The Open to Hope Show, they discuss how they coped and went on to find hope after the loss of their spouse.
Fighting Bitterness after the Loss of a Spouse
March 7, 2013
After the loss of a spouse, you face so many emotional challenges. For me, one of the most difficult was fighting the bitterness I felt after my husband suddenly died. After the shock wore off, and I plummeted into a deep depression, I found myself in the anger stage. I would obsess over questions like, “Why did my husband have to die?” “Why did this happen to me?” Sid’s death planted some seeds of bitterness that began to sprout. I started to resent other people’s happiness as I only focused on what I didn’t have anymore. I felt so cheated […]
Celebrate Valentine’s Day Everyday
March 6, 2013
First posted by Women’s Voices for Change: www.womensvoicesforchange.org During our twenty-eight years of marriage, my husband and I celebrated Valentine’s Day in various ways. Many Valentine’s evenings involved an elegant dinner at a nice restaurant and flowers with messages like, “Diane, all of my love through all our years.” On Valentine’s Day in 1991, during my master’s program, I arrived home exhausted from my long evening in class. John greeted me at the door dressed in a partially buttoned tuxedo shirt and black dress slacks. After a hug and welcome home kiss, I followed him into the dining room. The […]
Sudden death
February 17, 2013
It takes us by surprise, life changing event to say the least but there is hope, a way to go on and truly flourish after the death of our beloved “everything”. I was widowed over 20 years ago at the young age of 27. I learned the hard and long way to go with the grieving process. It took me almost 15 years to finally feel like life could be joyful again. I did alot of reading, inner work etc., then I met the most wonderful man when least expected. I thought “finally”, the is a payoff for having endured […]
For a Widow, Valentine’s Day Evolves
February 17, 2013
By Katy Hutchison — Over the years, my experience around Valentine’s Day has softened and shifted focus. The first year after my husband’s death I wanted to crawl in a hole the minute I saw that first red and pink heart-shaped display in the grocery store. On February 14th I didn’t answer my phone and avoided the efforts of well meaning friends and family to “get me through” the day. I had every reason to wallow in sadness; and I took the opportunity to feel the pain of my loss head-on. The next year, I managed to create a space […]
Husband’s Valentines Stir Warm Memories
February 15, 2013
It’s one of those rare overcast days in Colorado and I’m working in my home office with nice music playing. I’ve been thinking about Valentine’s Day, realizing it will be here soon. On my walk today, I was remembering when I was a little girl and how I loved every single Valentine I received and truly believed each message was written just for me. As an elementary teacher, I saw young faces light up and smiles appear as each child would pore over every word of each valentine. They were probably thinking just what I used to think. “This was […]
