Halloween after a suicide loss can be challenging as you become aware of how much focus there is on death. Everywhere you look, death lingers making it incredibly difficult to put your own loss to the side. What was once a holiday filled with laughter and fun, has now become a living nightmare. If this is your first Halloween after a suicide loss, know that you are not alone in the wide array of feelings that exist inside you. Halloween can be ...
Gone, But Not Forgotten
This week we welcome guest blogger, Kimberly Starr, who reminds us that our loved ones are gone, but not forgotten. Thank you for sharing these beautiful moments with us all.
One of my teaching colleagues, who was also one of Tom’s high school teachers, stopped me in the hall yesterday. She said over the weekend she decided to wear the scarf she wore to Tom’s memorial service, and it reminded her of the beauty of the service and how much she ...
A Walk Down Memory Lane
Why is it so hard to take a walk down memory lane? I spent the weekend immersed in packing, as we recently decided to move out of the house I swore would be my "forever home." I set a goal to go through all of the boxes in storage, swearing I would not have it hauled to another home. I knew exactly what was in the majority of the boxes. Baby items that are no longer needed, house decor that doesn't have a place, sporting equipment that hasn't ...
“Get Over It and Move On”-The Reality of this Statement
So often we are told, "It is time to get over it and move on" after the loss of a loved one to suicide. It fascinates me that we have this notion that in order to move forward, we have to "get over" the person that we have lost. Getting over someone that you have loved is simply not possible. The grieving process isn't about moving on; it's about moving forward WITH the person that you lost.
One busy morning I was crabby and short fused as I ...
An Unexpected Surprise
Guest writer, Kimberly Starr, reminds us of the unexpected surprises that we encounter after the loss of a loved one. It is often the unexpected that knocks us off our feet. In my own experience I have found that it is about embracing these little surprises. They are reminders of the time spent with the person we lost. May we always receive these little reminders, and take a minute to acknowledge the memories we made with our loved ...