FacebookTwitter

An Attitude of Gratitude

By on Apr 27, 2019 | 2 comments

Have you ever practiced Gratitude? There was a time when I thought gratitude was reserved for times when great things happened like birth announcements, a new job, the sale of a house, or perhaps an engagement. The other occasions were simply ordinary life. After a devastating life event such as loss of a loved one, a home, or a job, the occasions to show gratitude change in direct proportion. Gratitude might then be a roof over your head and a working heating and air conditioning unit. Gratitude might look like the people who show up in your daily life in ordinary ways to have conversation. It might look like a simple lunch with a friend. It might be gratitude for good health. It might be a job. Any job. When one has lost a big chunk of their basic foundation, bells and whistles lose their meaning. The past two Christmases my family has requested a wish list and for the life of me I...

Where is Home for Gentle Souls?

By on Oct 28, 2018 | 26 comments

I had a visitation dream from my son a month ago.  The message in this dream was so profound for me I don’t think I will ever be able to go back to thinking about this subject in the way I have in the past.  The message was powerful to the extent that I got up out of my warm bed at 2:00 am to write it in my journal and date it. I will try to set the stage for the dream.  The dream felt very ethereal, almost as if I were viewing it through a veil. As I glided effortlessly through a soft and gentle atmosphere, I saw a building that looked rich with history, much like a charming hotel from another time.  As I strolled outside the hotel, the windows to the rooms were open. The rooms were dimly lit, soft, and hazy.  There were delicate lace curtains fluttering gently with the breeze at the windows. The sound of music billowed peacefully from each room,...

What Bereaved Parents Want You to Know

By on Jan 10, 2018 | 4 comments

There is a common set of frustrations that seem to be shared by many bereaved parents. Before the loss of our child we believed the Five Stages of Grief were steps to be completed and checked off.  Denial, checked. Anger, checked. Bargaining, done.  Depression, completed. Acceptance, we are healed.  Then our child died.  Over time, we realized that this was an antiquated way of thinking of grief.  However, our friends, extended family, and co-workers may not be aware of this.  They may wonder why we are not moving on.  They may wonder when will we be finished with the first four stages of grief and finally reach acceptance so that everything goes back to normal. We will never be back to normal. Over time, we may learn to function.  We may be able to return to work and activities that we once enjoyed, but we will never be the same as we were before. If a length of time passes that our...