Other Love

In grief we are very suggestible. Sometimes we take our emotional cues from the relationship of others to the one we grieve who has died. When “should” takes on larger than life or larger than death proportions, often we set ourselves up for an experience of grief that feels neither personal nor authentic. read more »

The Love of God

In grief there's a kind of fluid balance between fear and love. read more »

No Fear in Love

Love and fear share a kind of polar opposite kinship. When we grieve, most of us experience the kind of fear that has little to do with love. Some of us live with a kind of chronic fear that feels like quiet desperation. Some of us live with low-grade fear that causes us to be constantly on the defensive. Though some of us live through grief with a fair amount of equanimity, unexpectedly we may be waylaid by episodes of fear that threaten to unhinge us completely. Grief, fear, love—strange bedfellows indeed. read more »

Commonwealth Grief

Beyond its accustomed use to designate a federation of states, a commonwealth is also defined as any group of persons united by some common interest. In the face of senseless violence, tragic death, and random injury, as occurred in recent weeks and days especially in London and Manchester, those of us who are helpless bystanders are most certainly part of a commonwealth. read more »

Pause to Grieve

This week as we again commemorate the events of 9/11/2001, many of us will pause to grieve the people and places and ideals that were lost to us on that horrible, fateful day. read more »

Occasions

Earth Day, Arbor Day, yet another wedding Anniversary - the occasions of April that, for me, are heavy laden with beauty, joy, and sorrow. read more »

On Love and Grief

The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately 190 million valentines are sent in the United States each year. read more »