I guide you through your grief so you can make peace with your pain.
The Dad You Had, Have, or Didn’t
The day to celebrate fathers is round the corner. But so many are mourning the dad who’s gone missing from their lives. Dad died. Dad disappeared from your life. Dad was physically present but emotionally absent. Dad was awesome, amazing, a one-of-a-kind Dad — but he was next door. As a hospice companion and Grief… Continue Reading
Grieving Is A Form of Self-Care
I’m big on self-care. I’ve come to realize that the work I do — holding space for the grieving, listening to stories of loss, researching, reading, and writing on topics related to the end of life — requires that I indulge in down time. The more I invest in me, the more I have to… Continue Reading
How To Find Your Way Back Through Grief
It was a few weeks ago that a women’s networking group I belong to decided to hike in a nearby forest preserve. It was a gorgeous seventies day, sunshine and breeze in perfect balance. My sacred intention for this hike was a meditative and restorative experience. I wanted to be companioned by silence. Some of the… Continue Reading
Traveling to Heal Grief
I’m always deeply touched by a well-written grief memoir. Traveling With Ghosts is definitely one of them. The year is 2002. 28-year-old Shannon Leone Fowler, a marine biologist, is backpacking through Asia with her fiancé Sean–when the unthinkable happens. Its evening and the two are kissing on a beach in Thailand when a box jellyfish–the most… Continue Reading
Grief Healing Tip #10: Transform Pain Into Purpose
When grief is fresh and raw, you simply need to attend to your pain. Over the months and years, grief goes through an alchemy. How you respond to your grief is what opens up the space for change. There are innumerable examples of people who have suffered devastating losses, but are living their best lives… Continue Reading
Grief Healing Tip #9: Find A Safe Container
Since ancient times, sharing stories has been a way of bonding with fellow humans, learning, and making sense of what happens to us. When we lose a dear one through death or the end of a relationship, when our last child leaves home, we’re caring for an aging parent, or feel empty and yearn for a… Continue Reading
Grief Healing Tip #8: Capture Moments of Joy
The human heart doesn’t function like an office floor layout where separate cubicles house different people. The human heart houses a variety of emotions: anger, sadness, joy, fear, elation, excitement… When we’re in the midst of deep grief, we’re often waiting for it to be over. And we put off things that may help us feel better… Continue Reading
Grief Healing Tip #7: Creativity Heals
When we’re grieving a loss, we move away from life. Healing is a process of turning toward life. We have to crawl our way out of the dark and find the light. This is where creativity plays such a vital role in healing a broken heart. If the pesky voice in your head is going… Continue Reading
Grief Healing Tip #6: Be Your Own Spokesperson
You need to get out more. I’m taking you shopping. Being alone isn’t good for you. Advice, advice, advice. You get a ton of it when you’re grieving a loss. Most of it comes from people who care about you and mean well. But here’s the thing. No one but you knows how you feel.… Continue Reading
Grief Healing Tip #5: Cleanse Your Heart
Remember the time your father promised to take you to the movies and then didn’t come home until late in the night? Or your mother’s ongoing comments that you could never do anything as well as your sister? Maybe you feel sad every time you recall how you were overlooked for the perfect job you had your… Continue Reading
