One of the things I always struggle with is figuring out something good or meaningful to write on sympathy cards or sympathy flower arrangement cards. Here are a few suggestions that might spur some creativity or that can stand on their own should you choose to use them.Messages for Cards on Funeral Flower Arrangements: Sleep…… Continue reading Sympathy Messages for Flowers or Cards
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How the Dutch Memorialize Their Lonely Dead
I have always found it heartbreaking when someone dies alone. To be buried without anyone at the cemetery is just as sad. In Amsterdam, roughly twenty people die alone every year. No one to plan the service, speak, grieve, or attend. The people who are without family and friends are from all walks of life.…… Continue reading How the Dutch Memorialize Their Lonely Dead
The Afterlife Bucket List: Keeping Your Spirit Alive
If you want your loved ones to help carry out your bucket list after you die, you can set things in motion beforehand in creative and meaningful ways. Here are some ideas: 1. Write an Afterlife Bucket List Letter Leave a letter detailing the experiences or acts you’d love them to do in your honor—whether…… Continue reading The Afterlife Bucket List: Keeping Your Spirit Alive
Tips for Writing an Obituary
Why do obituaries feel so important to us?They serve as a tribute, a record of someone’s life, and a way to honor their legacy. What makes a well-written obituary stand out?It’s personal, engaging, and captures the essence of who the person was. How have obituaries changed over time?They’ve become more personal, sometimes humorous, and often…… Continue reading Tips for Writing an Obituary
The Unexpected Ways Grief Shows Up—Because It’s Never Just Tears and Sad Music
Nobody warns you that grief isn’t just crying at the funeral and missing them on anniversaries. No, grief is a sneaky little bastard that shows up when you least expect it, hits you like a freight train, and leaves you standing there like, Seriously? Right now? 1. Triggers—A.K.A. Grief’s Favorite Party TrickYou think you’re fine.…… Continue reading The Unexpected Ways Grief Shows Up—Because It’s Never Just Tears and Sad Music
What Happens in Your Brain as You Die
𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗗𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 During a routine EEG scan, an 87-year-old man unexpectedly suffered a fatal heart attack—giving researchers a rare look at the brain’s final moments. In the 30 seconds before and after his heart stopped, brainwave activity surged in patterns similar to those seen during dreaming, deep meditation,…… Continue reading What Happens in Your Brain as You Die
The Ugly Side of Dying
Understanding what happens to someone at the end of life is crucial for several reasons. It helps to demystify the process of dying, alleviating fear and uncertainty for both the person dying and their loved ones. Death is often treated as a taboo topic, leaving many unprepared for the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of…… Continue reading The Ugly Side of Dying
The Simple Purpose of Being Here
We spend so much time searching for meaning, as if life is some great puzzle we need to solve before our time is up. But what if the answer is simpler than we think? What if our purpose here is simply to be—to live, to learn, to enjoy this place, and to be good to…… Continue reading The Simple Purpose of Being Here
BOOK: The Rest We Deserve: Grief and the Lessons of Winter.
Grief has a way of making us feel like we must keep moving, as though stopping for even a moment might let it consume us entirely. But that’s not how nature works, and it’s not how we work either. Just as the seasons shift, there’s a time for everything – even rest. Especially rest. Winter…… Continue reading BOOK: The Rest We Deserve: Grief and the Lessons of Winter.
Confronting Fears with a Terminal Diagnosis
Confronting fears amidst a terminal diagnosis may seem daunting, but it holds profound benefits. Not only for individuals facing this challenging journey, but also those grieving from a loss. First, let’s look at how confronting our fears can help those with a terminal diagnosis: Empowerment Through Acceptance: Accepting the reality empowers individuals to shape their…… Continue reading Confronting Fears with a Terminal Diagnosis