We talk a lot about what we did and what happened to us at the close of a year. But what about what we’ve learned? As I step into 2013, I take with me the lessons I gleaned from 2012. Included below is my personal list of 12 for ’12. But I’m curious: How would you complete … More 2012
Two years ago a lot of people lost their rock, friend, confidant, and biggest cheerleader. One of those people was Mae. Sue and Mae were best friends for more than 40 years. Mae wrote a piece about her friendship with Sue, and it gives me comfort to post it on this two-year anniversary. Mae was … More Best Friends
One evening last week, Szaba, Pavlov, and I were headed out for our evening walk. The sun had broken through the clouds and a fall drizzle hung in the air. I told her, “Keep an eye out for rainbows. They venture out in this kind of weather.”
I usually do a funny, frivolous post on Fridays, but with Dia de Los Meurtos culminating today, I’m inclined to do something a little different, if that’s alright with you. As I wrote last year, fall and the holidays have a particularly poignant shade for many of us who grieve. I use “grieve” in the present tense, … More Dia de Los Muertos
Psychology has long utilized creative exercises as a healing balm for grief. But sometimes an unexpected consequence of grief (as I have personally discovered) can be creativity, or more specifically an intense, driving passion for some vision of the soul that requires you to create it. That’s why I am intimately drawn to Kirsty Mitchell. … More Inspiring Minds: Kirsty Mitchell
I’m not going to lie to you, friends. As fun as Szaba’s 2-year birthday was, it was also … hard. At year 1, we didn’t have Sue. At year 2, we didn’t have Shirley. Perhaps unwisely, I hadn’t accounted for an appearance by Grief, my uninvited guest. I guess I was so deep in planning … More Grief: My Uninvited Guest
I was having a bad day and walking the dog. It was about 7:00pm on a cool and cloudy Monday a couple years back. Oblivious to the world around me and in a deep state of musing (as I am wont to do), something made me look up.
Besides my sister Robin, there’s no one in the world I’ve been friends with longer than Amber. And yet, even I had no idea what to say to her when I found out her younger brother had died in a car crash. Four years later, this Castle Heart project finally gave me the nerve to … More Reach Out
Here are some of the many special people we’re remembering today and a little snapshot as to why. I hope this little project brings a bit joy to your day and spurs you to share a story of a loved one with those around you. If you’d like to add your own memory here, it’s … More Memorial Day Remembrances
Let’s do something together for Memorial Day. Let’s memorialize someone. Here’s what we’ll do: In the comments section below, just write the name (first only is fine) and a memory or two you’d like to pass on about them. Even just a phrase or sentence is fine, though stories are welcome, too! You can even e-mail … More Memorial Day Project
My Castle Heart Publications 