We didn’t choose the loss of our loved one. How do we proceed in this ‘new normal’ of our life? “Living with a life-changing loss”. The clue is in the name: life-changing. We are forever changed by the losses we experience in our lives. A child, a partner, or a close friend or other relative who…
If your child were alive today, how old would they be? There are many types of bereavement. As years go by we lose parents, siblings, aunts and uncles, grandparents and friends. And some of us outlive our children. It seems to me that of all these types of bereavement, it is the bereaved parents in…
This poem I’m adding to my collection of the poetry of grief (read more here) isn’t about grief specifically, but it does speak to those difficult seasons we experience when we’re bereaved. It brings a picture to mind – a long walk on a windy cold day, and the relief of being able to take…
Whether you’re just about surviving Christmas or you’re actually enjoying it, I hope that this season is the best that it can be, under the circumstances. But if you do find yourself struggling and need someone to speak with, here are a few places that could help. If you are grieving following bereavement… The Cruse…
In my younger years, I used to hitchhike quite a bit. It was much safer in those days (1970s). Though I did have a few close calls, mostly I disregarded the risks, as is typical of youth. (And I would add here that I definitely do not recommend hitchhiking in this day and age!) I remember…
Reflections for the days when there are more hours of darkness than there are of light. For the bereaved, it might seem that all joy and hope have been extinguished. But hold on… the light will return… We are approaching the 20th/21st December, the shortest day of the year in this hemisphere, with the fewest…
Christmas might be a Christian festival, but it is also an all-inclusive social celebration. This is a season when we dress up, share gifts, eat and drink our favourite treats. A good percentage of family photos are taken during these happy events. Things are again different this year, and at the time of writing this,…
I caught an octopus the other day. Actually it was a small cuddly toy octopus that I picked up on a walking path. A young couple with a baby in pram, from where it had been dropped, were 50 metres ahead. I rushed along to catch up with them and return it. They were ever…
A Valley Journal 
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