Silent Suffering By Linda Donart YoungOn the inside, I’ve wanted to write this for years. On the outside I continue to smile and ignore the knot inside of me screaming “you must tell.” The knot continues to scream, this story must be heard! The knot continues to ask me why am I “uncomfortable” sharing? Do I think I’m the only one suffering in silence? Why is the topic of becoming a young widow taboo? Yesterday the knot won.I’ve shared being raised in a small community. My life lessons ca ..read more

By Pamela Hoopes, LCSW"Missing" is a feeling associated with some kind of loss. It is an aspect of grief that is inevitable. Missing typically is a quiet, personal, private emotion. For me, it is a difficult and sometimes lonely one. I have learned to embrace what once was with appreciation. Have you ever thought about this before?It may seem like an action, a verb, "to miss" – but, if you really 'feel' the word, breathe in the word, it is so much more. The feeling can be heartbreaking, heavy an ..read more

Dealing with grief while learning a new way to love.By: Whitney SirekI was 26 years old when my mom died in 2019. I never imagined living a life without her, she would warn me of this day. Often saying things like “One day I won’t be here”, and “You’ll miss me when I'm gone”. I never felt what she meant until the day I lost her. The world around me turned from vivid and bright to dull and slow.My mother’s name was Lois she had me at the age of 42. She was an old-school Italian American ..read more

by Bridget Bagely and Hogan Hilling On August 28, 2023 Time Magazine published an article “America Has Reached Peak Therapy. Why Is Our Mental Health Getting Worse?” It stated “As more people flock to therapy, U.S. mental health is getting worse by multiple metrics. Suicide rates have risenby about 30% since 2000. Almost a third of U.S. adults now report symptoms of either depression or anxiety." This information reveals that traditional therapy isn’t working.Are you tired of the way our c … by Bridget Bagely and Hogan Hilling ..read more

The last day I saw my father alive was the day before he died. On a chilly, late autumn day, my father’s dog and I drove to my parents’ home for our “normal” visit. As always, when we exited the highway, Murphy paced in the back seat and barked with his usual anticipatory excitement. My father Jerry loved dogs…as a young boy…as a teenager…as a man. He had Rollo and Dardy, Leo, and Prince, and he always took good care of them. As Jerry got older, so did his dogs, and each one died of old a ..read more

Despite the sympathy, concern, and comfort I received from my husband, Bill, Preston’s three brothers, relatives, and friends to help me grieve Preston’s death, I wanted to be alone. I didn’t want to see anyone outside of my circle because if they asked how I felt or how I was doing I didn't want to have to explain what I was feeling over and over again.I also thought the sooner I ended my life, the sooner I’d be with Preston. However, it meant I’d leave Bill, Brandon, Austin Levi, and fr … Bridget Bagley and Hogan Hilling ..read more

StoicLoss has left an indelible imprint on my life; a reality I have not come to easily. Grief is certainly not a linear process; bereavement takes us on many side routes, eventually arriving at a better place of understanding and healing. During my early years of grief there was a steep learning curve, a reckoning in a way. Often, looking in the rear view mirror is a more comfortable place to process. Sometimes it’s harder to recall how you felt on the day of a monumental event, the death ..read more

The emotional terrain you navigate after losing a loved one can often feel like an uncharted wilderness, fraught with pitfalls of sadness and uncertainty. Yet, even in the bleakest moments, there's a path that can lead you toward renewal, peace, and eventually, a new understanding of life's intricate tapestry. How you walk this path varies from person to person, but certain steps can provide critical waypoints to guide you along the way. In this article, courtesy of Centering, we offer a ..read more

REWIND:I wrote a similar article many years ago, but since the recent death of my husband, I have a new perspective now. I thought I learned so much about grief that I could recite what’s normal about it in my dreams (and sometimes I did.) However, grief has a way of teaching us, molding us, and preparing us for something greater in life than what we have already experienced. So, this is a “rewind and relearn, on my journey through new grief. It includes an enlightening new outlook on fri ..read more

As I walked into your bedroom last night I noticed a bright light on the floor I know it was you shining down I laid my hands on the light The light was translucent I could see it shining through my fingers For a moment I felt the warmth Of your body that once rested there I know you were telling me That your spirit is still here Combining your spirit with mine In the only way you can Not wanting to release my touch Pressing harder and longer As if fearful that you won't Vis ..read more