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Death and Dying Articles
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- Moving forward with grief! - by Submitted on May 03, 2010 from Sandy BrosamI am a mother – daughter – wife – sister – granddaughter. I love my family deeply, so when I lose a member of my family or a close friend, how do I move forward in my grief? I can share my thoughts with you on this subject as a woman who has lost 2 children in two very different ways, my ...
Views: 4462(4 votes) - Death Bed Thief - by Submitted on Apr 27, 2010 from Julie HallExploitation can raise its ugly head in the midst of unsuspecting situations. Such was the case with the Garvey family (not real name). Mom and Dad Garvey were about the nicest people you'd ever wish to meet. Their three adult children lived nearby; they loved to have all the grandchildren over ...
Views: 1749(1 vote) - Coping With Loss of Pet - 4 Tips to Get Past Feelings of Guilt - by Submitted on Apr 26, 2010 from Deborah RosenbloomHaving a pet is one of the best friendships you can have - a pet is always available and in spite of human flaws, they do not judge and will continue to love you! Coping with the loss of your pet is never easy. Grieving after a pet dies is a completely normal reaction, however, it is easy to ...
Views: 1985 - Mind the Gap: Living in the Space Between Loss and Healing - by Submitted on Apr 25, 2010 from Beth PattersonMIND THE GAP: LIVING IN THE SPACE BETWEEN LOSS AND HEALING One of the most difficult phases in any life transition is the space of the unknown between a loss or change, and healing or new beginning. All life changes, even positive ones, entail a sense of loss or grief. For example, ...
Views: 1983(3 votes) - How to Deliver the Best Eulogy - Five Easy Steps - by Submitted on Jan 16, 2012 from Bernice McLarenExperts in phobias say that, for many of us, the fear of public speaking is worse than the fear of death. This is because most of us need acceptance from others and fear judgment to some extent. Although the event that necessitates a eulogy is the worst emotional experience, delivery of the ...
Views: 5378(4 votes) - Joannie Rochette: Olympic Courage Despite Tragic Loss - by Submitted on Feb 27, 2010 from Phyllis GoldbergJust hours after learning that her mother had died of a sudden massive heart attack, Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette was back on the ice. One of the favorites to win an Olympic medal, she practiced her jumps over and over again while her father watched with tears in his eyes. ...
Views: 1474(1 vote) - What Happens When You Die? - by Submitted on Feb 19, 2010 from Ellen GerstIs there life after death? As one who has experienced the searing loss of a loved one, I have many times pondered about what happens when one dies. Questions I’ve asked include: does a soul go to “heaven” or somewhere else; can we still communicate with a person who has died, even though ...
Views: 2459 - The Haitian Tragedy: Healing after the Death of Loved Ones - by Submitted on Feb 12, 2010 from Phyllis GoldbergDays after a 7.0 earthquake devastated Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti, family members battled for a proper burial of their loved ones. Time and again, tragedy followed moments of hope. Yet, despite the deaths and destruction, the people struggled to survive. And hundreds took to the ...
Views: 1581(1 vote) - Bea On Bereavement - by Submitted on Feb 09, 2010 from Beatrice Toney BaileyThroughout my entire life, I have always enjoyed creative writing and public speaking. As a species, I believe that we write because we have a need to tell our stories and connect with people. During 2005-2006, I began writing my book, “Farewell, My Friend”, which chronicles the illness and ...
Views: 1282(1 vote) - The Importance Of Planning: It Is Not A Question Of If, It Is Always A Question Of When - by Submitted on Feb 09, 2010 from Beatrice Toney BaileyOften, I have been asked why I wrote my book, Farewell, My Friend (FMF), so I have decided to tell you. My husband’s battle with lung cancer was an arduous journey for both Rick and I. It is a journey that many other caretakers have or will have to take during their lifetime. FMF is ...
Views: 1720 - Kubler-Ross Aside. This is a roller coaster ride! The ups and downs of the grief process - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2010 from Gayle LaSalleIt has been said, by those in the know, that the process of grief and loss has stages. While it is agreed these stages don’t necessarily show up in predictable patterns or in specific order, I am hear to tell you there’s much more than stages to the grief process than stages. The work of ...
Views: 1844 - Suicide is Not an Option - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2010 from David SnapeOn December 12th, 1992, my brother committed suicide. The consequences were devastating to everyone involved. Maybe this story will help someone who is contemplating suicide to decide against it. Suicide is not the solution that some may think it is. Problems and unresolved issues will haunt ...
Views: 1259 - Getting to the Other Side of Grief: Sixteen Helpful Guidelines to Help You Navigate Through Your Grief - by Submitted on Dec 31, 2009 from Peggy FergusonYou may be wondering if it is even possible to survive the loss of someone you love. You may be thinking that you are going crazy, or that you will never quit crying. You may think that you will never be the same and will never feel better. Grief is one of the most devastating experiences ...
Views: 1925(3 votes) - Handling Loss – Five Steps To Help Yourself & Others - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2009 from Sharon MikrutPeople often tell me that they don't know what to say when someone experiences a loss. I explain that often times the person experiencing the loss simply needs to talk. You don't need to say anything; just be there to listen and support the individual. However, most people are still ...
Views: 2146(4 votes) - Losing Beloved Pets, Gaining New Ones - by Submitted on Dec 22, 2009 from Rose GarlandThe cats helped me wrap holiday presents yesterday. By 'help' I mean, they hid the tape, wrestled the bows, and left scratches in both the wrapping paper and on the presents. A little vexing, but mostly lots of fun. The presents got wrapped, and in some cases re-wrapped, and we all had a good ...
Views: 1107(2 votes) - A Journey into the archives of my mind. - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2009 from Nigel LewisIsn't it strange when you find an old file that you wrote years ago and do not remember writing it. I recently found this e-male to my philosophy professor when I was preparing to write my dissertation on emotion.It is almost a defining moment without my realizing it! He replied asking what ...
Views: 1689(3 votes) - The Memory Box - by Submitted on Dec 01, 2009 from Bill McLeodWhen the kid’s mom passed away I had so many emotions rushing through me. Anger, anxiety, fear, concern and sorrow were just a few to mention. I was not at all prepared for her passing. My only concern at the time was what the hell do we do now? I believed that I was mentally prepared for ...
Views: 1515(2 votes) - Matter is Not Solid, Time is Not Linear, Death is Not the End - by Submitted on Nov 27, 2009 from JD MessingerOne might think that this article is targeted at spiritual seekers, but you would be wrong. What do I mean when I say matter is not solid, time is not linear and death is not the end, and what does this have to do with your life, business and health? If you have the time, confidence, courage and ...
Views: 4490(6 votes) - Tips for Widows--Surviving The Holidays - by Submitted on Nov 20, 2009 from Sandy ClendenenHolidays can be difficult for widows. Whether it is a birthday, anniversary, Thanksgiving or New Years, the memories of past holidays can keep widows stuck in the past and unable to move forward in their life. It can feel impossible to even consider participating in a holiday without one's ...
Views: 5285(3 votes) - Keeping A Positive Attitude - by Submitted on Nov 20, 2009 from Ellen GerstA woman was shopping when an adorable little statue caught her eye. It was fun, and she had to have it! Once at home, she examined the purchase more closely and realized it was a metaphor for her life. She had bought a “Woo” doll, and the attached tag read: “The Woo is a benevolent force ...
Views: 1706(5 votes) - Coping with a Partner's Terminal Diagnosis - Eleven Survival Tips by Judy Schreiber-Mosher, LCSW - by Submitted on Nov 12, 2009 from Judy SchreiberImagine discovering that your partner, the person you love most in the world, was just diagnosed with a terminal illness. You stop listening: the odds don’t matter at the moment, and medical advances seem irrelevant. All you hear is the collapse of your hopes and dreams with your loved one. ...
Views: 5525(2 votes) - How To Resolve the Guilt of the Suicide Survivor - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2010 from Ellen GerstNo one can know the depth of despair to which a person may sink upon contemplation of suicide. Possibly, the black hole in which one finds him/herself gets deeper and darker as the days go by. Soon, even the smallest sliver of light is blocked from view. And then -- instead of being frightening ...
Views: 5122(5 votes) - Sleep Right or Die Early - by Submitted on Oct 19, 2009 from Jim BlondinPillows: Killing us softly. This is not just a catchy title but a fact. You can not live well unless you sleep well! “We die without sleep”! Our organs shut down without sleep! Proven by a researcher who kept animals awake from 6 months to 30 months and stated “they did not die from not ...
Views: 1704(5 votes) - The Murder-Suicide of Sahel Kazemi and former NFL Quarterback Steve McNair - by Submitted on Oct 05, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsA former NFL football star known for giving back to the community is happily married with four children. He is found dead in his condominium with a 20-year-old Dave & Busters waitress he had been secretly seeing for the last six months, who was also found dead next to him. The man died of ...
Views: 2791(2 votes) - Good-bye, Michael: For the Rest of Us, What Now? - by Submitted on Oct 01, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsMichael Jackson's memorial ended just today in Los Angeles at the Staples Center. Though I was not there in person, I was watching the event on the television screen from start to finish with countless other citizens of this world. Whether you are a fan, a hater, or completely neutral, there ...
Views: 975(3 votes) - Michael Jackson: Another Look at The Man in the Mirror - by Submitted on Oct 01, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsSince Michael Jackson’s untimely death last week we’ve been inundated with stories and speculations about his life. I’m in the generation that grew up with Michael. We watched him as a child singing on TV with his brothers, ABC and Rockin’ Robin, and tried our best to copy his moves. As kids ...
Views: 1075(1 vote) - Good-Bye to a TV Host, an Angel, a Legendary Entertainer, a Quarterback, and a Guru - by Submitted on Oct 01, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsWith the deaths of superstars Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson last week, and Steve McNair on Saturday, it seems we’ve bid farewell to an inordinate number of icons recently. While the losses of Jackson, 51, and McNair, 36, are more tragic and untimely than McMahon, 86, and ...
Views: 1030(2 votes) - 3 Things We Can Learn From Recent Celebrity Passings - by Submitted on Sep 28, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsIf you're like many people, you may be scratching your head, wondering how to make sense of the untimely deaths of three high profile people within the span of a few days. For anyone who has ever carried a Michael Jackson lunchbox to school or taped a Farrah Fawcett poster to your dorm room ...
Views: 1078(2 votes) - The Man in the Mirror is the Man I Choose to Remember - by Submitted on Sep 28, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsMallika Chopra's blog, Bloodsuckers and The World of Michael Jackson (http://www.intent.com/mallikachopra/blog/bloodsuckers-and-world-michael-jackson) hit the nail on the head with a great big smack. I’ve avoided blogging about Michael Jackson because I did not know him personally – only his ...
Views: 985(1 vote) - Bernie Madoff Sentenced to 150 Years in Prison: Let Us Not Forget the Victims - by Submitted on Sep 27, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsOn Monday, Bernie Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison. He ran one of the biggest investor frauds in Wall Street history which spanned two decades and ran up to $65 billion dollars. Now that Madoff will be spending the rest of his life in jail, details of his life--his high school ...
Views: 1135(1 vote) - Bloodsuckers and The World of Michael Jackson - by Submitted on Sep 24, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsIn the aftermath of Michael Jackson’s death, I found myself in a surreal situation that gave me a glimpse into the dark side of bloodsuckers, media and celebrity. In those few hours, I saw a side of humanity that saddens me – where people try to take advantage of vulnerability, confusion, ...
Views: 1319 - Michael Jackson - A Changing Face - by Submitted on Sep 24, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsI never knew Michael Jackson personally, so it is impossible to make any type of comment about him or his self-esteem or anything else, without it being a complete projection of my own psyche. Given the recent and unexpected death of this icon, however, it seems appropriate to discuss the topic ...
Views: 2202(2 votes) - Did Michael Jackson have Cancer? - by Submitted on Sep 23, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsIt’s hard to believe the world lost another cultural icon yesterday. Michael Jackson was so different from Farrah Fawcett, but he mattered just as much, or some would say even more. It depends on what you value, how old you are, and so many other factors. And, really, don't we all matter ...
Views: 2123(1 vote) - Saying Goodbye to Farrah and Michael - by Submitted on Sep 23, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsThe world was saddened by the death of Farrah Fawcett yesterday and shocked by the death of Michael Jackson on the same day. Both celebrities were loved by millions of people around the world. Farrah’s recent documentary about her three-year battle with cancer won critical acclaim, and Michael’s ...
Views: 992 - A Tribute to My Friend, Michael Jackson - by Submitted on Sep 23, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsMichael Jackson will be remembered, most likely, as a shattered icon, a pop genius who wound up a mutant of fame. That's not who I will remember, however. His mixture of mystery, isolation, indulgence, overwhelming global fame, and personal loneliness was intimately known to me. For twenty ...
Views: 1205 - Setting a relaxing space for care-givers and the rest of us - by Submitted on Sep 21, 2009 from Marcus PadulchickRunning here and there, picking up children from after school events, stopping at the grocery store, making beds, dressing and feeding a new born baby, making business appointments, doing bill paying, mowing the lawn… sounds exhausting? These are just a fraction of the daily activities you ...
Views: 1834(3 votes) - The Legacy of Neda Agha-Soltan: A Young Iranian Woman's Death Captured on YouTube - by Submitted on Sep 17, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsI watched a YouTube video this afternoon that made my blood run cold. Someone captured on his or her cell phone camera a 40-second montage of a young Iranian woman dying within seconds of a gunshot wound in her chest. As she collapses to the ground, the people surrounding her try to block the ...
Views: 1555(1 vote) - Challenges: Three Ways of Overcoming Death Three Years Later - by Submitted on Sep 17, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsI never felt that I was close to my grandmother. I was always slightly scared of her because she always had something to say about the way I look, my choices, and any other small detail she could pick up. I loved her - but I never felt close to her. Three summers ago, she passed away from ...
Views: 1275(2 votes) - Such Great Heights: Epic and Everyday Tragedies - by Submitted on Sep 13, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsThe tragedy of a plane crash hits me hard. I imagine the free fall, the shock, the finality, the sadness. Returning to my senses, I follow the hunt for the “Black Box,” wanting answers. What happened? Human error, mechanical failure, a flock of birds, a simple twist of fate? We people need to ...
Views: 1380(1 vote) - Give Back to Come Back - by Submitted on Sep 13, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsFor it is in giving we receive – Saint Francis of Assisi I know something to be true. My friend Jerry White, has built his organization, Survivor Corps, around this same fact -- if you want to fully return to your life after tough times, it is critical that you give back what you have ...
Views: 1185(1 vote) - Moving Through Grief on Foot - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2009 from FSB AuthorsAfter my 16-year-old son Justin died, I learned that some journeys can only be made on foot, and grieving is one of them. You can't fly across it to avoid touching down in the pain. You can't cruise through it by car and watch the landscape through a half-open window. You can't swim through the ...
Views: 1317(1 vote) - Avoiding Unhealthy Grief and Choosing Healthy Bereavement - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2009 from Mary ChamberlinCertain factors can contribute to unhealthy grief, while there are a number of ways to encourage healthy bereavement. Following is a list of bereavement don’ts. Do not avoid emotions - we must not bury how we feel – we must allow ourselves to feel and work through bereavement – “can’t go ...
Views: 2889 - *** Today Is A Beautiful Day, The Preciousness of Each Moment - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2009 from Christine BreeseIf you have fallen into the routine of life, or find it to be a chore, you have fallen asleep to the preciousness that every moment in life is. It is a great phenomena that we are all living in this physical reality, with a body, an identity, and we have people who we love and are connected ...
Views: 3743(12 votes) - Dreaming of Those Who Have "Crossed Over" - by Submitted on Aug 27, 2009 from Laurel Clark"I have absolutely no fear of death. From my near-death research and my personal experiences, death is, in my judgment, simply a transition into another kind of reality." - Dr. Raymond Moody Most people fear death. Although we know that death is inevitable, there is often a difference ...
Views: 7708(4 votes) - The Sweetness of the Leaving - by Submitted on Aug 23, 2009 from Regina MurphyMany years ago, I fell in love with the movie “Pay It Forward” and the theme song “Calling all Angels” by K.D. Lang which was also the theme song of the TV show “Beauty and the Beast”. I really couldn’t understand the meaning of the words at first and was sure I heard the words wrong. As I ...
Views: 1721(2 votes) - Soul On Fire - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2009 from Intent.com AuthorsCNN recently ran a story about the devastating wildfires raging across southern Australia, a natural disaster that may have involved climate change, normal weather patterns, and even arson. 200 people have died so far and the loss of homes and property is stunning. The story included an ...
Views: 933 - How to Know When it’s Time to Say Goodbye to a Pet Cat - by Submitted on Aug 01, 2009 from Pamela MerrittIt’s always a difficult choice to make; deciding it’s time to say goodbye to a beloved cat. The heart of the dilemma is absent when a cat meets their demise through misadventure or a sudden terminal episode. While, being human, we search for ways we could have averted this situation, we did ...
Views: 2284(1 vote) - The Top 10 Ways To Give A Great Eulogy Speech - by Submitted on Jul 31, 2009 from Tracy PhaupBeing asked to give a eulogy can be a daunting occasion to rise to for a countless number of possible reasons. Giving a eulogy for those that meant the most to us means trying to come to terms with our loss enough in order to even be coherent and to also fulfill our deep need to do them ...
Views: 6268 - Learning to Forgive Your Mother - by Submitted on Jul 27, 2009 from patsy yustenIt'll Take Dyin' to Get It Done Story of a 40 Year Forgiveness Sideways, in the back, running away, standing still and about any other way one could get it, I did. Don't be confused here. We're talking mental abuse-not physical, so relax. Messing with the mind is not such a biggee. No one ...
Views: 2012 - Trust and Love: A Dream Journey through Fear - by Submitted on Jul 19, 2009 from Dawn BrunkeSix years ago, just before my birthday, I dreamed of being in an enclosed trailer with three huge elephants. The trailer had room for the elephants to stand and sleep as well as a small living area for humans. Between the elephants and myself, however, were only a few thin wires. As I stood in ...
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