grief

My Family Doesn't Celebrate Holidays, But I Do 

Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa are nearly here. So, what do you do when your family doesn’t celebrate any holidays whatsoever?

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The term "everything happens for a reason" does not apply to a parent has lost a child. There are no answers.

10 Ways I Changed After The Death Of My Child

Without a doubt, the death of a child is one of the most traumatic events one could ever experience.

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Mandy and Rory. (image credit: Mariah Aro Sharp @mightymooseart)

My Toddler Son Died. How Does An Awareness Month Help?

Where is my loss awareness month? The greatest gift you could give to the parent of a child who has died is to speak of their child when you think of them.

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Every time I tell a story about her, I’m keeping our memories alive, one leaf at a time.

Surviving Autumn Without My Mom

We think of holidays and big moments first when we think about death. What we don’t talk about are the little moments in between, like surviving Autumn.

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Image credit: Christopher Flynn via Unsplash

Navigating The Trauma Of Moving

Moving can be a traumatic experience. We often forget how many remnants of the past we hold onto—whether intentionally or accidentally, just because we put a letter away in a drawer and forgot about it.

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Photo: Lilly Dancyger

Wearing Dead People’s Clothing

Three of my favorite t-shirts used to belong to dead people. I wear them when I want to feel my departed loved ones close to me.

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Loneliness was the hardest thing I faced when I lost my husband. The people who reached out to me when I was newly widowed probably saved my life.

What I Want You To Know About Widowhood

More importantly, when we lose our spouses, even if we’re at our worst, our friends and family need to come closer, not leave us to ourselves. Try reaching out to a recent widow even if you don’t know her very well.

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In his death came the “this is no joke” realization that — cliché as it is — life is short.

The Death Of My Father Is Helping Me Live A Better Life 

I’m not sure I would have persisted with such ambition prior to my father’s death. I’ve found that a loved one’s passing does more than nudge you forward; it can catapult you towards exciting opportunities.

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