Strong People Grieve

Can Small Sadnesses Make the World a Better Place?

Posted: June 30, 2017

My adult son just visited us for a couple of weeks. He grocery-shopped for us. He cooked his own breakfast when he awoke later than we did. He picked up the pooch from doggie-daycare. During the day when I was seeing clients in my home office, the only way I could tell he existed was by hearing an occasional padded footstep or two as he gently moved about upstairs. When I did see him, he greeted me with a smile and a hug. Three days ago, he loaded up his van with his quirky possessions, including his newly purchased used […]

Mother’s Day Grief and Gratitude: Notice and Remember to Make a Difference

Posted: May 13, 2017

Part of the “Strong People Grieve” Series I recall my first Mother’s Day with tenderness. My baby boy was six weeks old, still waking to nurse throughout the night. I squealed with gratitude when my husband sent me back to bed for a nap. Later I woke to the smell of sizzling bacon, and discovered flowers next to my plate when I walked into the kitchen. My husband beamed with pride as he served breakfast with one arm and held the baby in the other. Mother’s Day calls to mind scenes like this one. We imagine bouquets of […]

Everybody Eventually Loses a Loved One: Do We All Grieve in the Same Way?

Posted: March 23, 2015

Part of the “Strong People Grieve” Series Recently our family was hit by a series of losses. In quick succession, we lost three uncles—three different men who lived and loved and died within three unique worlds. Two of the uncles died at age 90 from causes related to aging—one died suddenly; one lingered. The third uncle was only 61 when he died of pancreatic cancer. Being intimately close to so many different loved ones who are grieving the deaths of these three incomparable men makes it particularly fitting for me to write about aspects of grief that are close […]