by Gary Roe | Death and dying, Decision-making, Grief and Loss, Grief recovery, Holiday grief, Loneliness, Love, Relationships, Stress Management
When grief and the holidays meet, the results are often not pretty. I had my first auto accident when I was 16. It was raining, and I took a curve too fast. I spun out of control, popped up the curb, and slammed head-on into a tree. The impact whipped me around,...
by Gary Roe | Abuse Recovery, Courageous Living, Depression, divorce recovery, Emotional pain, Grief and Loss, Grief recovery, Healing from the past, Healing from trauma, Loneliness, Loss of a Child, Purpose and meaning, Stress Management, Suffering and Pain, Trauma recovery
“I’ll always grieve, but I’ll somehow learn to live again,” Will said. Will’s son Adam had a complicated childhood. His mom left when he was three. He didn’t remember her, but he never got over it. Though Will did a marvelous job as...
by Gary Roe | Death and dying, divorce recovery, Emotional pain, Grief and Loss, Grief recovery, Healing, Healing from the past, Holiday grief, Hospice stories, Loneliness, Love, Relationships, Suffering and Pain
There’s nothing quite like someone’s voice. It’s a signature of sorts. Some voices are like music to our ears. They announce the presence of someone we love and delight in. Just the sound of their voice brings a smile of joy. When someone exits, their voice goes...
by Gary Roe | Abuse Recovery, Anxiety, Death and dying, Depression, Emotional pain, Grief and Loss, Grief recovery, Guilt, Loneliness, Loss of a Child, Physical illness, Stress Management, Suffering and Pain
Grief often gets physical. “I have headaches. My back hurts. My stomach bothers me almost every day. I have dizzy spells. I think my body is falling apart,” Shirley shared. Seemingly out of the blue, Shirley’s daughter Corinne was diagnosed with...
by Gary Roe | Courageous Living, Death and dying, Grief and Loss, Grief recovery, Healing, Healing from the past, Holiday grief, Loneliness, Relationships
Merry Christmas. Not all of us feel merry. Perhaps none of us do. For those in grief, this time will be emotional, hard, and unpredictable. This holiday is uncharted territory. We’ve never been here before, at this particular time and place. This can be...
by Gary Roe | Death and dying, Decision-making, Depression, Grief and Loss, Grief recovery, Holiday grief, Loneliness, Relationships, Stress Management
December is upon us. Ah, the holidays. Halls, houses, and lawns are decked with festive decorations. Kitchens are filled with delightful, savory aromas. The air is laced with laughter, familiar music, and the tinkling of Salvation Army bells. The holiday spirit is...
