Blog | Grieving Together

What was his name? What to actually say to the grieving

June 16, 2019

What was his name?: What to really say to the grieving.

I just read the most beautiful article about how to grieve. However, although the author possibly doesn’t even know it, it was also about what to really say to the grieving. The article, posted online by The Irish Times, was titled “Message to a heartbroken widow: embrace your grief“. The author, Michael Harding, describes a chance encounter with a young widow. He uses her story, along with his observations of how his mother grieved following

Making Grief Visible – To Tatoo or Not To Tatoo

April 23, 2019

How to Make Grief Visible – Tattoos and Other Ideas

Jen Mallia Leave a Comment

As tattoos have moved from the purview of sailors and subcultures like bikers into the mainstream, memorial tattoos have become more and more common. If you are considering commemorating the life of your loved one in a permanent way, you have probably already taken a lot of time to plan the design and decide where you want to place it on your body. There is significant healing to be found through the process of visible

March 11, 2019

Why Grieving People Feel Guilty

Julie Mjelve Leave a Comment

Survivor’s guilt is a term that’s used in traumatic situations. It describes the feelings of guilt felt by someone who survives a situation when others did not. Often it refers to a situation such as a car accident or suicide. The surviving individual struggles with feelings of guilt, either as to why they survived instead of their loved one, or why couldn’t they save them. Recently however, I was introduced to an expanded meaning of

January 18, 2019

January – A time to breathe again

Jen Mallia Leave a Comment

The holiday season is over. Kids are back at school, decorations are packed away (or getting there!) and eating habits are returning from holiday free-for-all to a semblance of healthfulness. For many people, it can be very anti-climactic after the excitement of the festive season. “Post-holiday slump” can feel grey and disappointing. For people who are grieving though, it might feel entirely different. January feels like the month when you can breathe again. January is

December 19, 2018

I don’t know what to say…

Jen Mallia Leave a Comment

I don’t know what to say… A common thought after someone you know has lost a loved one. What are the right words, what should you say? Just outside of Edmonton, AB in the town of Leduc, a workplace accident on November 15, 2018 led to the death of three workers. The tragedy was felt by many who work in similar industrial settings and many people mourned the men who lost their lives, even if

I am always saddened by the death of a good person. It is from this sadness that a feeling of gratitude emerges. I feel honored to have known them and blessed that their passing serves as a reminder to me that my time on this beautiful earth is limited and that I should seize the opportunity I have to forgive, share, explore, and love. I can think of no greater way to honor the deceased than to live this way.”

Steve Maraboli

“Unless you have been very, very lucky, you have undoubtedly experienced events in your life that have made you cry. So unless you have been very, very lucky, you know that a good, long session of weeping can often make you feel better, even if your circumstances have not changed one bit.”

Lemony Snicket, Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid

I am always saddened by the death of a good person. It is from this sadness that a feeling of gratitude emerges. I feel honored to have known them and blessed that their passing serves as a reminder to me that my time on this beautiful earth is limited and that I should seize the opportunity I have to forgive, share, explore, and love. I can think of no greater way to honor the deceased than to live this way.”

Steve Maraboli