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…
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,…
and other seasonal celebrations, with New Year as the bookend – and wondering how you will cope with your grief at this time? If so, this post is for you.
Grieving creatively is the name of this series of articles. Today’s idea is quite simple: Sit and be. Focus on nature for 2, 5, 10 or 20 minutes. Really observe, really listen. Imagine the scene. You’re sitting on a bench after walking through woodland for about 20 minutes. The bench is on a hill part…
(Grieving Creatively, Part 1) When I smell candyfloss, I am transported in memory to my childhood by the sea. When I pass someone walking on the street who fairly reeks of tobacco, I am reminded of my daughter Catherine, who loved her hand-rolled cigarettes. I smile. Johnson’s baby shampoo? That has to be a reminder…
A Valley Journal 
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