If you are like me, the thought of renovating a house brings excitement. Renovations mean newness, new paint colors, new furniture, and perhaps new room configurations. Have you ever considered that in order to renovate, we first have to deconstruct the space? Demolition and deconstruction are messy. It is during this time that we may [...]
This chapter foreshadows the birth of my work with clients. As I read about my experience of early grief, I get a sense of going through that time with blinders on. From where I am today, I can see a bigger picture. Back then I felt lost in a maze, not knowing which way to [...]
As I reread this chapter, I immediately saw the roots of my intuition playing out in my life. I saw the tentative way that I mothered my children, and the fledgling awareness of my inner voice making itself known to me as I faced the so many losses. My inner knowing was strong, yet it [...]
This year as I sat with my feelings, I noticed them circling around me, waiting for their turn. It’s almost like they trust me now, so they can wait quietly until I am ready for them.
When I said yes to beginning this project of revisiting my book and sharing insights from where I am today, I didn’t consciously know that I would be rereading my words. I am sure I knew it on some level, and if those thoughts had made it to the surface, I may not have said [...]
Recently we took a family vacation with our son and his family. We went to northern MN, to the boundary waters. The lake we were at was at the Canadian border. As a matter of fact, the border was in the middle of the lake. Here are some photos of our trip. I think they [...]
Every year when August hits I am reminded that the holidays are right around the corner. The holiday season can be stressful on it own without the added layers of grief. Grief is a difficult emotion to describe because it is made up of so many other feelings such as sadness, anger, devastation, and so [...]
Grief is not linear I used to think that I would move through each stage of grief progressively. When I completed one stage, I would move to the next, never to return again. Grief is nothing like that. It is messy and chaotic. Especially in the early days, we can be all over the place. [...]
After I began helping others to navigate their grief, I thought to myself, “This is the life I was meant to live”; referencing the message I heard shortly after Leah died that said, Losing Leah is too high a price to pay to not live the life you were meant to live. About this time, [...]
I’m often asked what it means to heal from grief. It’s a question I’ve pondered for over 20 years, and I’m not sure even now I know what it means. We hear often that “Time heals all wounds.” Time by itself isn’t the only factor; it’s what you do with that time that makes the [...]
