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Welcome to 2014! I am thrilled to have you as a subscriber.
I am very excited to introduce an extraordinary group of artists who design memorial art and condolence gifts for the bereaved. I have personally selected each artist for the quality of their work as well as their compassion for those who are grieving the death of a loved one or cherished pet. Please read their stories, view their creations, and if you are interested in having them design a special piece of art for you tell them you read their story in the Road Less Traveled or Bereaved Parents newsletters. Our first artist is Nancy Gershman.
Please visit and LIKE our new Facebook page, The Sweeney Alliance, a central location for our newsletters, updates on resources, and postings on upcoming events and conferences where we will be in attendance. Interested in writing an article for us? Is there a topic you would like to see featured in an upcoming issue? Drop me an email! I would like our content to be current and interesting for all our readers.  And as always, thanks for your support! |
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Beginning with this issue, I will occasionally feature artists who design memorial art and condolence gifts for the bereaved.
 Some call Nancy Gershman a digital collage artist; a legacy portrait artist; one client calls Nancy "her private mythologist". But really, the best way to describe Nancy is that she is a healer who uses your photos, memories, stories, and insights from therapy or bereavement support groups to create a picture which speaks volumes about those we have loved and lost.
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In this video, Carole Geithner, author of a book for bereaved children (If Only) and a social worker, is interviewed by Tessa Smith McGovern BookGirl.TV about coping with grief,
what to say and what not to say to a bereaved person.
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The Irony and Inconsistency of Grief
by Rabbi Akiva Feinstein and Charles W. Sidoti
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When life turns difficult, a common way of trying to get around the pain is to try to think our way out of the situation. The problem with this is that it assumes the process of effectively dealing with emotional upset and spiritual challenges is linear, sort of like a Betty Crocker recipe, in that one step necessarily follows another in order to get the desired outcome. The truth is that the process of inner healing is inherently non-linear and is often contradictory. When things do get better and our inner struggle eases for awhile, we often don't know how or why we feel better, we just do. Have you ever gone to sleep with a problem on your mind and awakened not troubled by it anymore? As the saying goes, "What a difference a day makes!" Nothing about your problem changed, you just went to sleep.
~ Read More ~ |
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Journaling The Unsayable
by Sheila Bender
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Editor's Note: Sheila is a bereaved parent and the author of several instructional books on writing. She has graciously written this article to help you learn how to journal as a way to cope with grief and loss issues.
How can we overcome the inertia we experience concerning writing about our experiences when we are processing difficult ones? How can we see if writing helps us continue to invest in our lives and the lives of those we love by living authentically and experiencing joy as well as sadness, love as well as sorrow, allowing dark feelings to inform and enrich brighter ones?
~ Read More ~
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Since the Spring of 2011, The Sweeney Alliance has published over 250 articles and resources about coping with grief and loss. Click HERE to view the Archives
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The plan for January 8, 2011, seemed simple enough: I would get a haircut before we attended the Congress on Your Corner meet-and-greet sponsored by Representative Gabrielle Giffords in front of the Safeway grocery store, and then go to the Home Improvement Show at the Tucson Convention Center. We arrived early, met several of the congresswoman's staff, and signed the registration list. My wife, Doris, was number two and I was number three, so we would speak with the congresswoman and then be on our way.
We had just started talking with Giffords when there were some loud bangs and a whirlwind of air. The first two shots were a blink of an eye apart, then a flurry of shots began and I found myself lying flat on my back, looking up at the roof under which we had been standing.
~ Read More ~
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Dealing With Traumatic Events
by Bruce Lacillade
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We have recently experienced a seemingly large number of tragic events  in the U.S. These include, but are not limited to, wild fires, the Oklahoma tornadoes, rail transportation accidents, the Boston Marathon bombings, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, Super-storm Sandy, and hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and just recently the Colorado floods, and the shooting at the Navy Yard in Washington.
These events are devastating, not only to individuals and entire communities, but also the society as a whole. Such events are difficult to process and challenge our resiliency, both as individuals and as a people. However, let us remember that we have overcome past tragedies, and with faith, optimism and action, we will overcome our present tragedies.
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First Step Hope: Not All Wounds Are Visible
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Beyond the Veil
by Brenda McBride
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 Beyond the veil, a whole new existence awaits you. A dimension that has endless possibilities with no limitations. You are a part of all that is good.
Within this new dimension, you'll be able to connect to those you've loved and have lost, due to physical death. You'll realize that your family and friends who are in spirit never really left you. All those special people who you thought were gone, are very much a part of you, and you are a part of them. The deep love and appreciation you feel for your loved ones is felt by mere thought. Your connection is endless to all of Gods gifts that you cherished.
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Seven Steps To Surviving Suicide Loss
by Catherine Greenleaf
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Losing someone we love to suicide can be devastating. The combination of sudden loss, shame and stigma can make the process of grief look like a long and lonely road. But there are things we can do for ourselves that will develop and increase our resilience, and make that road a little easier to travel:
~ Read More ~
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 Running With Vince by Jonathan Kuiper
This book was years in the making after the death of my twin brother. Inspired by his love of his life and his personality, I wanted to create a story that would share his personality with the world. More importantly, I wanted to create a book that allowed others to see that after losing someone there are ways to continue that relationship.
Look for an article by Jonathan Kuiper in a future newsletter!
Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times
by Rabbi David J. Wolpe
A theologian with the heart of a poet, Rabbi David Wolpe explores the meaning of loss, and the way we can use its inevitable appearance in our lives as a source of strength rather than a source of despair. In this national bestseller, Wolpe creates a remarkably fluid account of how we might find a way out of overwhelming feelings of helplessness and instead begin understanding grief in all its forms and learn to create meaning in difficult times.
 When Your Honey-Do Done Gone
by Lorraine Neeley Fortunati
With the last exhale, your life changed indelibly. Time has passed. Friends and family have gone back to living their same lives. You don't have that option but you have survived. Now what? Where do you go from here? These are just two of many questions the author posed to herself as she navigated the unknown waterways of her widowhood. Thirteen survivors share their stories of love, loss, and life after survival. Each faced challenges, missteps, opportunities and eventually, gained wisdom.
Going Home: Finding Peace When Pets Die 
by Jon Katz
In this invaluable guide and touchstone, New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz addresses the difficult but necessary topic of saying goodbye to a beloved pet. Drawing on personal experiences, stories from fellow pet owners, and philosophical reflections, Katz provides support for those in mourning.
Be sure to visit our Good Grief book section on our blog
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 The Sweeney Alliance began in 1996 in rural West Tennessee. It had been of dream of mine to start a company to provide support services and educational programs and resources for the newly bereaved in our local community. Little did I know where that dream would lead me. Find out about our journey since then. ~ Read More ~HOW YOU CAN HELP Your donation helps provide all three of our newsletter free of charge.
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