November 2011

Journeys Through Grief

As excited and happy as the television and radio commercials would like us to feel at this time of the year, the holidays are often very sad and lonely for many of us. What can we do to survive the next weeks until the new year arrives?

The November/December issue of Journeys Through Grief will focus on Thanksgiving. Christmas, and New Year's celebrations and how we can cope with these difficult days.

Thank you for your continued interest in our newsletter. Please share with a friend!

Peace and HUGS

Peggy Sweeney

Give Thanks!

by Chris Christopherson

While Corrie Ten Boom was living in a German concentration camp, her entire body became infested with lice, making a bad situation worse. She was complaining about it one day, and her sister reminded her of the Bible verse that says "In everything give thanks," and she challenged Corrie to give thanks for the lice. Corrie's response was "How can I give thanks to God for lice?" But she made a choice to offer thanks for the lice anyway. Later, she found out that the lice had actually protected her from the assaults of the German soldiers.

Give thanks! For some of you this is a hard thing to do this time of the year. Continue reading

The First Holidays After Loss

by Elle Fagan

All over the world, celebrations fill our hearts with delight in life, with new lights and powers for the times ahead as we commemorate times past. All of it is endangered when we are grieving. But the holidays can be a fine opportunity to heal and create happy beginnings to the new paths in the life ahead. Now it was time to plan for the Winter Holidays. "I am pretty sure we cannot do this" I realized. But maybe something, just this once. A small trip for the three of us and my Mother might be just the thing!

The lovely drive to the famous old inn in the mountains was a treat in itself with the lovely foliage glowing all around us and the lake. Continue reading...

Surviving the Holiday "Cheer"

by Annell Decker, LPC

Facing the holiday season can be daunting enough on its own. If you are dealing with the additional stress of grief, it may seem almost impossible. You may be experiencing grief due to the death of a loved one or a close friend. Grief is also a natural process with the loss of a beloved pet. As humans, we also go through a period of grief over a divorce, loss or change of job, moving or a big change in your life such as becoming sober. All of these circumstances are stressful, even if you are emotionally, physically, or otherwise stable. The necessary grief work is added to normal life.

Many of the holiday celebrations involve alcohol or other addictive substances as part of the fes-tivities. What can you do differently to make your holiday season harmonious with sobriety?

What is There to Celebrate?

by Peggy Sweeney

Before we know it, the holiday season will be here with many plans to make. Family and friends will fall walk be traveling from near and far to gather around a holiday table a king would surely envy. Extra hours of cleaning house, hunting up traditional recipes, and cooking delicious, once-a-year meals will be incorporated into our already busy schedules. We will be caught up in the hustle and bustle of buying gifts to exchange at Christmas and Hanukah. The ringing in of yet another New Year will complete the festivities. So much excitement and fun! If you are newly bereaved you may ask yourself what there is to celebrate when someone you love has died. Continue reading...

*image from beautiful-portals.tumblr.com

Book Review

Holiday Blues

by Dr. Clarence Tucker

The following pages contain many actual quotes directly from those who've suffered normal grief experiences. Most of the ideas, suggestions and thoughts for relief from the anxiety and pain come from the actual experiences of grieving persons.

Dr. Clarence Tucker has over fifty years in the pastorate with a Doctorate of Ministry degree in Grief and Bereavement from the San Francisco Theological Seminary and a certificate in Thanatology from the National Institute for Death Education and special studies in Grief Counseling. Having officiated at over 1,200 funerals he is often consulted as a grief educator, consultant and counselor.