As I Live and Grieve

Summary:
In addition to posing a new concept of grief, we use the analogy of a caterpillar in its cocoon, or chrysalis. Just as the caterpillar is encased in darkness,  we in our grief often feel shut out, isolated. And like the caterpillar is faced with unimaginable turmoil as it morphs into a butterfly and can only move forward in life by struggling to escape the chrysalis, we in our grief can only progress by inconceivable s...

Summary:
Is there a time in your grief where you have felt guilty? Guilty for a decision you made or didn't make? Guilty because you lived, yet your loved one died? Perfectly normal. Listen to my conversation with Marie Scott. I think it may help.

Notes:
Marie Scott is a bestselling author, Certified Health Coach, Practitioner of Functional Medicine and a fellow widow after 30 years with her husband, Dave. She...

Summary:
It's no secret that discussing grief with children is often awkward and heart-wrenching, so much so that we turn to books for help. Listen in today as I talk with Tom Crice, author of Birds of a Feather: A Children's Story of Love, Loss, and What Came Next . In this gentle story, the topic of grief is subtle, assuming that role in life that our grief takes as we move through the phase of anger and on to accep...

Summary:
It’s my turn to speak - to tell my story in one piece instead a comment here and there. It’s also my turn to let you, the listener, know how much you have helped me. In providing resources for you, I found new and exciting alternatives, curious concepts, and inspirational ideas. It’s time for a break - for introspection, relaxation, and exploration. There will be a gap of 2-3 weeks until the next episode. Until then…

Summary:
With the loss of a loved one, a person feels blindsided, devastated and often very alone, as it appears others around them just don't "get it." If we are lucky enough to find someone who does "get it," their words of support and encouragement make a huge difference in a grief journey. Gary Sturgis "gets it."

Comments:
Gary Sturgis survived the greatest loss of his life an...

Summary:
We've talked before about how you pass someone at the mall or grocery store that might be grieving, but we can't tell -- and how special it might be to quietly acknowledge to them that you empathize with them in their loss. Andre Roupp chats with me about how generations ago you could easily tell who was grieving by the clothes they wore, buntings draped on their houses. Grieving through the generations - lis...

Summary:
What is your first thought if someone suggested there was beauty to be found in our grief? I'm a lifelong skeptic, so I immediately thought "impossible." However, this does make sense. Listen in...

Notes:
Dorian Johnson is author of the book, The View from Above: One Fathers Memoir of Grief Guided to Grace, in which he describes retracing the trails his son hired one year ago to the day -- a...

Summary:
Suicide has a stigma for grievers that only adds to the already horrifying burden. A sense of guilt, shame, and disgrace we cannot imagine makes grief even more unbearable. Alexandra Wyman chats with me today to help me, and you, better understand how complex this issue can be.

Notes:
Alexandra Wyman is an advocate and public speaker for resources in the aftermath of suicide. After she lost her husband to...

Summary:
Every so often you hear or see a commercial reminding you to put your affairs in order for your personal end of life so your loved ones won't have the burden of choosing what they think you wanted. The piece that is missing from this is that should you do it ahead of time, you are giving them a huge gift in their initial grief.  Whether "prepared" for your death or not, the actuality remains devastating ...

Summary:
A recent change in the mental health field has upset therapists and grievers alike, as one type of grief was recently tagged with a DSM-5 diagnosis code, making it an official mental health disorder. Marj and I discuss this and come to a conclusion. See if you agree.

Notes:
Marj Smith, LCSW, has over 15 years of experience  with specialties in grief and life transitions, as well as a variety of challenges ...

Summary:
Join our conversation today as Cindy Burns offers her insight on grief.  She lost her husband 10 years, to the exact day, that she lost her father. Married 31 years, they raised 6 sons. In her grief, she felt alone, leaving her sons to grieve themselves without adding to their worry. Like many, she stuffed feelings, going on as she thought others expected her to. Years later, she was able to sort through many emotions ...