Saturday will be two years since my husband died, giving me a good reason to provide you with a grieving update. To summarize, I’m less distressed, but I’m still not through. Being trained in the stages of loss: Denial, Bargaining, Anger, Depression, and Release has helped me track my progress but has not necessarily speeded up recovery. This week, a song by Irving Berlin, … [Read more...]
How are you doing?
Today I’m feeling guilty because I have no good reason to be sad and worried—my family is well; I have food to eat, adequate toilet paper, and the internet is working. But, I’m sad and worried anyway. Like the rest of the world, I’m ready for covid 19 to be contained or at least held at bay. I don’t want another day to begin with news of higher death numbers and health workers … [Read more...]
Learn to grow through loss
Loss, at varying levels, is prevalent in every person’s life. There is no elitism or prejudice in the world of loss; it attacks everyone. Loss involves not only death, but illness, jobs, financial security, relationships, home, personal belongings, or privacy. Having skills to work through loss is vital. People who have a protected, sheltered upbringing develop few tools to … [Read more...]
Serendipitous meeting with gracious and candid woman
Waiting for our room to be cleaned at the Ellerbeck Bed and Breakfast in Salt Lake City, a woman came from an adjoining room and greeted us with a big smile and high energy. We returned niceties, and she sat down to visit. Enthusiastically, she said, “I retired yesterday from twenty years of teaching, and after my retirement party, I said to myself, 'I am retired, and can do … [Read more...]
Sad hummingbird story
I know little about this blog topic, hummingbirds. I admit though I know more now than a year ago because I have seen their little nests and eggs. We also went to a hummingbird banding and presentation by the San Pedro River in Southern Arizona. The speaker told us twelve different species of hummingbirds migrate through their area, and most are Black Chinned. They usually lay … [Read more...]
Rural women’s strength and resiliency
Rural women’s strength and resiliency What a great week. I had the opportunity to reconnect with women I have not seen in a long while. Enjoy my brief synopsis: Opal finally had the courage to leave her husband of twenty years and to build her life without the man who chose to have multiple women. She spoke of the pain and the damage to her self-esteem. She was naturally … [Read more...]
When there is loss there is grieving
When there is loss there is grieving Loss is a hurtful condition that occurs when we lose someone or something. Grief is the emotional response to loss. Loss can be personal, such as losing a job, income, or freedom. Loss may also have to do with significant life events such as death of a loved one, divorce, chronic illness, drug addiction, infertility, disasters, or … [Read more...]