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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Widower Reflects on Grief Thirty Years Later
September 23, 2024
Widower Reflects on Grief One evening in my bereavement support group, a couple of months after my wife Susan died, a woman spoke about how comforting it had been to be able to cry for her first husband in the presence of her new second husband. I told her that I hoped I might meet someone so tolerant of my love for someone else. She replied, “You won’t settle for anything less.” I have been married for twenty-eight years to a woman I became friends with a few months after Susan died. Yvonne was patient and giving enough to let […]
Widower Shares Emotional Journey
September 23, 2024
Someone Died Today No matter how prepared or unprepared we are for death, no matter how old or young we are, no matter how much we say, “I love you,” no matter how “good” or “bad” a death it was, no matter how relieved or anguished we feel, no matter what our spiritual or religious beliefs are, the death of a loved one shocks us with its finality. They are gone forever from this world, and our lives will never be the same. The Raging Storm Emotions tumble over us—intolerable pain, rage at our loved one, ourselves and God, terror […]
Widower Finds Poetry Healing
September 23, 2024
Widower Experiences Consuming Grief My wife Susan died unexpectedly in April 1991, the Sunday after Easter. I could never have imagined beforehand how transformative an experience that would be. Nothing was true anymore but the truths of her death and my continued existence. I was shaken to my foundations, forced to decide what I would keep of myself and what I would throw away. Every aspect of my life was subject to review, from my occupation to my spiritual beliefs, from my choice of friends to my choice of doctors. Although some friends were very supportive, for about a year […]
Christopher Mendez: Love Never Dies
September 18, 2024
Christopher Mendez shares his journey at the Helping Parents Heal conference. Helping Parents Heal is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting parents whose children have passed. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/content.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/Christopher-Mendez-Love-Never-Dies.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Marci & Brian Peister: Afterlife Connections
September 13, 2024
Marci & Brian Peister share their journey at the Helping Parents Heal conference. Helping Parents Heal is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting parents whose children have passed. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/content.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/Marci-Brian-Peister-Afterlife-Connections.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Fara Gibson: Unbreakable Bonds
September 13, 2024
Fara Gibson shares her journey at the Helping Parents Heal conference. Helping Parents Heal is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting parents whose children have passed. https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/content.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/Fara-Gibson-Unbreakable-Bonds.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Episode 225: Turning Grief Into Growth
September 12, 2024
Early on in grief, it’s often impossible to believe that there will ever be any growth. Join host Dr. Gloria Horsley and her daughter and co-host Dr. Heidi Horsley, along with their guests, Maria Georgapoulos, Elizabeth Devita-Raeburn, Dr. Frank Powers, and Jordon Ferber to discuss how their grief has changed and transformed over the years. Maria Georgapoulos is a licensed mental health counselor, and founder of Roulas Kids, a place for grieving children and their families. Elizabeth Devita-Raeburn is a journalist, and blogger, and the author of, “The Empty Room, Understanding Sibling Loss,” and “The Death of Cancer.” Dr. Frank […]
Episode 224: Healing Guilt, Anger, and Regret After A Loss
September 12, 2024
Dealing with guilt, anger, and regret after loss is often difficult. Join host Dr. Gloria Horsley, and her daughter and co-host Dr. Heidi Horsley, along with their guests Jordon Ferber, Dr. Frank Powers, and Maria Georgapoulos for a candid conversation about this topic. Jordon Ferber is a comedian, host of “Where’s the Grief” podcast, and co-founder of the Russel Ferber Foundation. Dr. Frank Powers a licensed psychologist, has been in private practice for over 40 years, and is the author of “Finding Love After Loss.” Maria Georgapoulos is a licensed mental health counselor, and founder of Roulas Kids, a place […]
Dr. Shirley Harvey: Moving Forward After a Loss
August 17, 2024
Dr. Shirley Harvey shares her journey at the 47th National Conference of The Compassionate Friends; an enriching and supportive event for many newer and long-time bereaved parents, grandparents, and siblings. https://www.compassionatefriends.org https://media.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/content.blubrry.com/open_to_hope_1/Dr-Shirley-Harvey-Moving-Forward-After-a-Loss.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
