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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When a Loved One Uses Drugs to Deal With Grief
August 21, 2009
Glenna writes in: How do I help my partner with the loss of his dad? This happened back in January, and now my partner needs drugs to help with the pain. Someone, please help! Pamela Gabbay, M.A., FT, responds: Dear Glenna, I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your partner’s dad. When a parent dies, it is so painful, and the range of emotions that one experiences can be overwhelming. January wasn’t that long ago and it’s no surprise that your partner is feeling a lot of pain. For many grievers, the intense pain doesn’t subside during the first […]
Wedding bells…
August 19, 2009
I am getting married in October and frankly the myriad of details that goes into planning a wedding are unbelievable. I have been in 11 weddings and I thought I knew everything, but as I am finding out, you can always learn something new in every situation. It really is an exciting time. I could get married tomorrow. I am ready and I say, “Bring it on.” But there is one thing that is going to be extremely bittersweet for me and that is not having my Dad there. I am trying to think how it would be different if […]
The little things…
August 10, 2009
Sometimes it is those little things in life that can just drive you crazy when you are going through them but oddly enough those seem to be the things that you miss the most when that special loved one is not around anymore. I could give you dozens of things that used to drive me nuts that my Dad did. He used to slurp his soup, clang his spoon against the bowl when he ate ice cream, wore white tube socks with dress shoes and shorts, used to say “Give em’ hell” to me all the time (I think he […]
The Bucket List…
August 7, 2009
Believe it or not last night was the first time I actually watched the movie The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. What a great movie. Two total strangers, one deadly killer that they shared between them and a lifetime worth of memories rolled up into a 3-6 month time frame. I could relate to that movie on so many levels. It was especially sad to see the part where Morgan Freeman’s character Carter returns home to his wife after all of his adventures on the bucket list were completed. They had a great dinner and his wife […]
Another birthday…
August 2, 2009
My birthday was yesterday and I love my birthday. I think it is the one day of the year where you should be able to celebrate the way you want to and call your own shots all day with no questions or suggestions from anybody. It is a day to celebrate life, to be thankful that you have again arrived in a place where you get to start a whole new adventure in your life. My birthday, like almost all of my birthdays past, was absolutely wonderful. I started off with breakfast being made for me by my mom and […]
Kimberly Rose Carolan: Understanding Life After Loss
July 30, 2009
Kimberly Rose Carolan explores how death affects our whole lives. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2010/10/Kimberly-Rose-Carolan-073009.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
A culinary genius…
July 17, 2009
I used to laugh when my Dad used to make stuff for us in the kitchen. I can tell you it just was not something he was very good at. Thank God, most of us are fortunate to have two parents if for no other reason than not to starve. My mom thankfully made sure we were always well fed. But I have to tell you three and a half years since my Dad’s passing of an unexpected heart attack, I miss some of the stuff he used to make. A culinary genius he was not, but what he made […]
Janice Ervin: Holistic Healing and the Physical Aspects of Loss
July 16, 2009
Holistic suggestions on how to slow or hault the negative health effects of loss. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/audio.opentohope.com/2009/07/Janice_Ervin_071609.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Losing Your Role Model
July 13, 2009
I love watching Tiger Woods play golf. Now, I can’t stand watching golf particularly, because to me it’s boring. I think I would rather watch paint dry on a wall, but when Tiger is playing I tune in. I like watching excellence in motion. The very way he carries himself both on and off the golf course is something to be admired and duplicated. You get the sense that no matter what situation Tiger is in, he always gets it and understands the broader scope of his actions and how they influence both young and old. Tiger will say himself […]
