In the early months and years, I found myself spinning around in a whirlpool of anxiety, fear, sorrow, and depression. In a word, grief. Some days I felt okay, like “I’ve finally got this.” I enjoyed time with friends and ...
Your birthday was 3 days ago. You’d be 42 years old now. Instead, you’re forever 40. September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. I know I talked about it last year. But I am reiterating my point because I ...
Riley, Lizzy, Ashley, Sonney, and JD on a camping trip at Sue-meg State Park. Photo Credit: Penelope Ray, 2008 It was 2008 when we found them. JD and I were particularly broke that year after losing our home in the ...
It's not that I enjoy making people uncomfortable but I can't stop saying your name. To people around me, outside of the bubble, you were a nothing that became a something and are now a nothing again. To ...
My grief began the day my soulmate and love of my life was diagnosed with inoperable small cell lung cancer. It was March 5th, 2021. I knew there was a possibility that there would be no coming back from that. ...
No one asks to be part of the reason that there is a day dedicated to grief awareness, especially widowhood. You won’t see “Black Friday”-like lines ensuing chaos to be the first ones to claim the deal of “widow riddled ...
Grief Awareness Day always falls close to the anniversary of Tony’s death. The day Tony died, August 29, 2014, was the day everything changed - hopes, dreams, people in my life - all of it. I can’t help but reflect ...
TW: Suicide method Very early on, after Bret died, I couldn't dream about him. I couldn't feel his presence at all. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to dream about him--I knew that when I'd wake up the next ...
Five years ago, my daughter was still in diapers when her dad died.Today, she put on her backpack, kissed me goodbye, and walked into kindergarten. Five years ago, my son was ten and barely tall enough to ride the big ...
Honoring the journey of a widow as she navigates her grief and its persistent presence is one of the most precious gifts you can give. Saturday, August 30, 2025 is National Grief Awareness Day. It is a special day set ...