loss

Feeling Overwhelmed? Wander Under the Stars

If you read my last column, you know that my Thanksgiving was eventful, to say the least. Well, it looks like Christmas is shaping up to be another banger. My father-in-law is back in the hospital, still trying to kick the infections that have knocked him flat recently. We…

To Love Living Things, and to Let Them Go

In her poem ā€œIn Blackwater Woods,ā€ Mary Oliver concludes with 10 breathtaking lines: ā€œTo live in this world/ you must be able/ to do three things:/ to love what is mortal;/ to hold it/ against your bones knowing/ your own life depends on it;/ and, when the time comes…

Grieving Loss in a Year of Change and MS

Dealing with bundled change,Ā loss, and multiple sclerosis (MS) has turned out to be more of a challenge than I could have Ā imagined, and I have not been very good at it. Coming to terms with the loss of a loved one is overwhelming on its…

Still, I Am Grateful and Giving Thanks

I canā€™t believe Thanksgiving is only a few days away. Time truly passes quickly. The holidays are bittersweet for me; I experience both joy and unrest. I believe there are others who can relate. The holiday season can be stressful and I always try to pace myself. In…

Lessons Learned from Loss: A Tribute

Why me? Why us? What have I done? How much loss can I endure? Weā€™ve all been here. This was one of my weeks. The unexpected death of my nephew hurled me into this episodic gloom. I asked ā€œWhat else is going to happen? Is life trying to…

Losing Our Independence Due to Multiple Sclerosis

Losing our independence due to multiple sclerosis is a profound loss. With that loss comes the grieving process and inevitable change. On Grief.com in “A Message from David Kessler,” he discusses the fiveĀ stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. I have experienced all of these…