Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
The signs of the holiday season are ubiquitous: holiday decorations in the stores, piped in Christmas carols, holiday displays at the malls, TV programs focusing on selecting the perfect gift, holiday parties and gift exchanges at work. In many cases, this bustle of activity contrasts markedly with the emptiness and despair of grief. As one grieving person expressed it, “I wanted to crawl into a hole and come out after the holidays had passed.” ...
Giving thanks after a suicide loss can feel nearly impossible. It is a time when we are supposed to be thankful for everything that we have been given. In the aftermath of a suicide it can be difficult to find anything to be thankful for. The pain in our hearts, and the emptiness that remains often overshadows anything that surrounds us. Joy becomes a stranger, knocking at the door less frequently than before. The laughter that fills the air, can ...
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 ...
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 ...
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about." - Plato and Ian Maclaren
Later this summer I will mark six years without my dad, but I am amazed by how often I am still connected to him - and the loss - through everyday life experiences. One of those events was so strong for me that I need to reflect on it.
My dad was a judge in my hometown, having spent more than 30 years on the bench at the time of his death. ...
