Heartache to Healing Grief Support » Hope http://heartachetohealing.com/blog Coping with grief stages, grief and loss, providing grief support Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:00:51 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 2006-2007 joanne@circleofstrength.com (Heartache to Healing Grief Support) joanne@circleofstrength.com (Heartache to Healing Grief Support) 1440 http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg Heartache to Healing Grief Support http://heartachetohealing.com/blog 144 144 Discover How To Live Again After The Loss of Loved Ones Heartache to Healing Grief Support Heartache to Healing Grief Support joanne@circleofstrength.com no no Spring Restores Hope http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/hope-and-inspiration-stories-of-living/spring-restores-hope/ http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/hope-and-inspiration-stories-of-living/spring-restores-hope/#comments Tue, 05 May 2009 03:24:24 +0000 JoAnne http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/?p=414 daffodilsEveryone loves spring. It’s the season which awakens our senses with its exquisite colors, transporting fragrances, bird whistles, chirps and additional daylight. Spring’s breathtaking beauty doesn’t just elevate our mood, it restores our hope. Here’s how.

For kids hope is staring out a window and counting the days until summer. For teens hope asks, “Where will the girls be; where the boys will be?” For young adults hope wonders, “Where will I find my soul mate?” For middle age adults hope finds extra daylight after work and cleans up the St. Francis statue in the vegetable garden. For elder adults hope prays the next family gathering is a happy celebration.

However, it’s harder to feel hope when we have lost a loved one, our job, our home or our marriage. But, my Friends, do not despair. We can change our moods and circumstances. Yes, of course we must acknowledge our painful losses, but we must not believe we will always be this way; that we will never feel happy again. I’ve seen many difficult lives and situations change and sometimes even transform. Yes, my Friends, I have witnessed miracles.

I like to think that the hope of springtime is a companion of our pilgrim soul. Just as our garden needs tending, so does our soul which absolutely has the strength to heal, find comfort, and discover a new light of hope. So let us nourish our souls with the presence of loving, sensitive, and kind people. And let us remember to eat healthy food, exercise daily, and meditate on the line from St. Francis of Assisi’s prayer, “Where there is despair, hope.”

Yes, hope. I believe in it and clearly this gentle saint did, too. I have a statue of St. Francis in my garden. It’s my favorite piece because it was a Mother’s Day gift from my children many years ago. Do you know it was said that when St. Francis died an exaltation of singing larks came down low and whirled about over his monk cell? My dear Friends let each of us be ready for the singing larks over our cells. Let each of us live our lives with hope. Let each of us make Every Day Matter.

Mary Jane Hurley Brant, M.S.,CGP Psychotherapist and
Author of When Every Day Matters: A Mother’s Memoir on Love, Loss and Life
Simple Abundance Press, Oct. 1, 09 http://www.WhenEveryDayMatters.com
Foreign Rights St. Paul’s and Better Yourself Books, Mumbai, India for publication/distribution for Summer 09

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Jane_Hurley_Brant http://EzineArticles.com/?Spring-Restores-Hope&id=2166279

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]]> http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/hope-and-inspiration-stories-of-living/spring-restores-hope/feed/ 0 Miracles in the grieving process http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/hope-and-inspiration-stories-of-living/miracles-in-the-grieving-process/ http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/hope-and-inspiration-stories-of-living/miracles-in-the-grieving-process/#comments Sat, 21 Feb 2009 03:48:39 +0000 JoAnne http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/?p=101 Each day miracles are operating around us and within our lives, even during the grieving process.  When we are most in need and we are open to receive they will appear. Allow your needs to be heard by the universe today and awaken a sacred invitation for a miracle.  This will allow you to receive and be open to love, hope, inspiration along your journey through the grieving process.

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]]> http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/hope-and-inspiration-stories-of-living/miracles-in-the-grieving-process/feed/ 0 Grief can cause stress in a marriage http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/grief/grief-can-cause-stress-in-a-marriage/ http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/grief/grief-can-cause-stress-in-a-marriage/#comments Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:03:11 +0000 admin http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/grief-can-cause-stress-in-a-marriage.htm Grief can cause stress in a marriage particularly if a child dies because often the husband and wife grieve differently. Often women will cry and hide away at home alone and men will bury themselves in their work.

It is important to acknowledge each others grief and support that path.  At the same time it is easy to lose sight of the need to support the marriage because your grief can become so debilitating.  This is the time to seek help from a professional  who is can give you tools to support the grieving process and the marriage.  Some couples have told me the loss resulted in a closer relationship with their spouse, in either case know that you are together to support one another through good times and the bad and provide each other with hope.

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]]> http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/grief/grief-can-cause-stress-in-a-marriage/feed/ 0 How Will Your Life Look in 2009? http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/life/how-will-your-life-look-in-2009/ http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/life/how-will-your-life-look-in-2009/#comments Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:15:15 +0000 JoAnne http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/how-will-your-life-look-in-2009.htm Now that we’ve gotten through the holidays we are probably contemplating how will our life look in 2009?

As with most people January is a time for goal setting and planning for the coming year, well I believe if you are experiencing some sort of loss transition you too are wondering what the new year will bring. I believe finding hope, inspiration and the will to move forward in order to set those goals requires you to make the decision that you can and desire to move forward. Living on purpose really is about deciding to find purpose in your life and then taking the steps and getting the tools to do just that.

We certainly should wake up in the morning with the intent to have a day filled with joy and optimism and that positive attitude is the first step. The second step in to have a plan as to how you you will accomplish something. If you need more tools to accomplish your goals, then invest in yourself and get the tools you need. If you need support I encourage you to seek it out, whether it is from your family and friends or a professional. Most often professionals will catapult your progess much faster than your going it alone.

Here are some quick tips to get you started on a plan for 2009;

1. What goals do I have both short term and long term for 2009? (you can list both personally & professionally)

2. What are the obstacles that may be in the way of achieving these goals?

3. Who can help me achieve my goals? (list people and tools that will aid in the success of your goals)

A new year is for new beginnings, I wish all of you wonderful new beginnings. Contact me if I can help.

JoAnne Funch

2009

“And now let us welcome the new year–full of things that have never been.”

–Rainer Maria Rilke

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]]> http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/life/how-will-your-life-look-in-2009/feed/ 0 Merry Christmas! http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/hope/merry-christmas/ http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/hope/merry-christmas/#comments Thu, 25 Dec 2008 16:48:39 +0000 JoAnne http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/merry-christmas.htm As I sit with my morning coffee and look outside on the blanket of glistening snow I recite all that I am grateful for this Christmas morning. At the same time I remembered all the Christmas mornings with my husband and Mom who are no longer here, but I choose to find and feel the joy in today. Soon all the family that will gather for a wonderful dinner and we celebrate that we are here, together in this moment in time. I think there is nothing better than sharing a meal with those you love.

This morning I received an email from a friend who lost her husband about 15 months ago and I don’t think she will mind if I share her Christmas thoughts of hope -

“Nights are quiet and dark and our imaginations explode with images, we wonder, we question, we think, we ponder. What does all this mean, is it real or just the dark playing games inside of our brains.

And in the morning as the sun rises and reality is clear to us again… We thank the night for all the possibilities, the dreams, the fantasies. And we come to the conclusion that we can make the dreams come true if we believe them to be possible and life becomes exciting and full. Open your heart and let the light in and dance to the beat of hope.” PK

Yes, there is hope and Christmas is that time filled with hope if we choose to see it. If you are Christian the Lord is born today and his coming has filled the world with joy and hope. So I leave you with a wonderful quote and my wish for a day filled with hope, love and lots of good eats!

Merry Christmas with love, JoAnne

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”-Hamilton Wright Mabie

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]]> http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/hope/merry-christmas/feed/ 0 Putting Sorrow in Perspective is Healing http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/hope-and-inspiration-stories-of-living/putting-sorrow-in-perspective-is-healing/ http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/hope-and-inspiration-stories-of-living/putting-sorrow-in-perspective-is-healing/#comments Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:38:00 +0000 admin http://773757023 I was thinking how healing it has been for me to do volunteer work because it puts my grief of loss in perspective. Particularly during the holiday season as I wrote about before, we regress back to the good times we had with someone who has died and in my case I miss my husband even more during this time because we I have such great memories of the Christmas’ we spent together.

So yesterday I volunteered at my favorite local charity providing work appropriate clothing to women getting back into the work place. Most of the women that are referred to us are low income or have come upon hard times and can’t afford to buy appropriate clothing for the job they acquired. I worked with a woman who got a pair of boots in addition to some other outfits but as she left she turned to me and said “You don’t know how much these boots mean to me, I knew I didn’t have the extra money to buy boots this month” as I bid her a Merry Christmas and watched her walk away in her new boots, I was comforted by knowing we had really helped someone in need today and it put my sadness in perspective.

boots

Death has taught be about life and the hardest thing I have learned about love is loss. I bet you are experiencing similar feelings right now. But also know, that others can inspire hope in us and that is my wish for those suffering grief, I wish you inspiration to feel hopeful and be blessed by the joys of the season and those people in your life that you treasure most.

Here’s a touching video on hope and inspiration. Take a few moments to watch it.

with hope & inspiration, JoAnne

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]]> http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/hope-and-inspiration-stories-of-living/putting-sorrow-in-perspective-is-healing/feed/ 1 Are You Open To Receive? http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/healing/are-you-open-to-receive/ http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/healing/are-you-open-to-receive/#comments Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:51:19 +0000 admin http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/are-you-open-to-receive.htm Today I was thinking about how being open to receive relates to those going through any type of transition, I usually talk about loss as it relates to death but today I am thinking of anyone going through transitions. Being open to receive means putting yourself – your mental state in a place to receive love again, to receive kindness from others, to be able to simply say thank you when some gives you something. The act of being open to receive will open you heart to healing.

My thought for today….yesterday is gone, tomorrow is yet to be. Go out an start a new day and be open to receive whatever comes your way. Start here by receiving the gift of a brighter more hopeful tomorrow from me.

aug-2-hermosa-beach-002.jpg

enjoying the day at Hermosa Beach, CA

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]]> http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/healing/are-you-open-to-receive/feed/ 0 Feelings of Loss and Isolation http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/hope/feelings-of-loss-and-isolation/ http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/hope/feelings-of-loss-and-isolation/#comments Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:00:45 +0000 JoAnne http://heartachetohealing.com/blog/feelings-of-loss-and-isolation.htm I spoke with a dear friend this past weekend who lost her husband 11 months ago, she was feeling sad and alone, steps we all go through as we walk the journey of loss. We as women go through stages of fear relating to finances, keeping our household together, loneliness, relationships old and new, our children’s well being and a myriad of other emotions that bring us fear.

As my friend related, someday’s all you can do is sit and cry and you know, that’s OK. Crying is a way of letting go and really we need to let go of our fears and with time comes hope and certainty that tomorrow will be better. So if today was a day of sadness that may have brought tears, know that’s OK, be good to yourself by doing some self-care, maybe a hot bath or treat yourself to a pedicure or a dinner out. You know what feels good, give yourself permission to say YES.  And don’t forget to ask for help, we all experience days when we feel greater sadness, perhaps a little depression sets in, this is the time to reach out to those who love you. Be honest, tell them you are having a bad day and ask for what you need.  From my experience what I often needed most when I was sad was just a friend to listen, let me cry and hold my hand. Remember, friends want to help and often they don’t know how so we need to tell people what we need.  Isolating ourselves from others because we don’t want to “dump” on them is the worst mistake you can make and let me say you need to get over that!  We are not meant to be alone in our suffering nor our joys, we are meant to share, so be brave and reach out to someone today.

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