One question that I have been asked by many survivors is, "When will the guilt end?" I see the desperation in their eyes, and remember the overwhelming weight that I carried on my own shoulders following the loss of my father. We question what we could have done differently to prevent the tragic outcome that has become our reality. I have spent a great deal of time thinking about the element of guilt. I have written many posts on the topic, ...
Archives for July 2015
The Weight of Judgement
This is definitely a different kind of quote than our usual Monday motivation message. I chose it, because it is a good reminder for us all. It is so easy to judge. As a survivor I have felt the weight of judgement. Whether it was how I grieved, or how my father's life ended, judgement was felt. At the end of the day, we never know what journey another person is on. Maybe it is easier than ours, maybe it isn't. We don't know. For our ...
What I Learned as a Newly Bereaved Survivor
This week, I heard the troubling news that someone I know has become newly bereaved to a loss by suicide. My heart aches to hear this and I’m immediately taken back to those early moments in the wake of losing my dad. I wanted to share some of the most helpful things I learned during those initial days.
My family and I weren’t alone. We were immediately surrounded with support, encouragement and offers to help – from those we knew and even ...
Get Over It! What Grief is and What it Isn’t
I hate when I hear people say, "Get over it" and I try not to use those terms in any of my posts. I will never "get over" the loss of my dad, but I have been able to move forward. Through my own grief journey I have found how to live happily in my new normal. I have become a stronger person, and a person who has a stronger appreciation for my life and the people in it. I did not get there by getting over anything. I got there by moving ...
The Importance of the Semicolon Tattoo
In a matter of days, the semicolon tattoo has become an overnight sensation. For those who have not heard of the The Semicolon Movement, it was created on Tumblr "to restore hope and confidence in people who are troubled by addiction, depression, self-harm, and suicide." It is a way to tell the world, "my story isn't finished yet." Since its introduction, many have chosen to permanently place the semicolon tattoo on themselves as an everyday ...