Happy Thanksgiving…A time to be thankful. I never realized how many holidays had the words “happy” or “merry” attached to the day or the season prior to taking my current job as bereavement counselor. I soon became aware that these words frequently have a hollow ring for many during the holidays. But as we begin this stretch of the holidays, I encourage you to focus on the true meaning of Thanksgiving, for there are many things for which we can be thankful. Memories are precious. Share some of those with a friend this holiday season. It may mean that you must make the choice to be thankful. But I do believe as you do, you will feel it in your spirit.
If you are struggling this season, we at hospice will be glad to help in any way we can. We are offering a holiday memorial service on Tuesday, December 3 at 5:30 at Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center. It is located at 7033 Glenn Highway in Cambridge. It is open to the public. Feel free to bring someone with you to honor your loved ones. I invite you to come and share the evening with the hospice staff. It will be a short service, including a candle-lighting. A time of refreshments will follow. Hope to see you there.
Many other activities are lined up for the upcoming month as well.
November 12-Lunch group at 12:00 PM at the Barnesville Library Annex. Bring your own lunch and we will eat together.
November 14-“Lunch Bunch” at 12:00 PM at Mr. Lee’s in Cambridge. An informal time to eat and share with others who have experienced a loss.
November 21-Breakfast group at 9:00 AM at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley. NOTE DATE CHANGE DUE TO HOLIDAY
November 27-Coffe with Chris: Men’s coffee/support group at 9:00 AM at Wendy’s on East Wheeling Ave in Cambridge.
Feel free to contact me with any questions at 740-432-7440.
Fall is now upon us! Fall forces us to reevaluate some things. Our wardrobe is one of them. It is time to pull out the heavier insulation! We need extra protection from the elements and surrounding environment. This may also be true for you at this point in your grief journey. Extra or additional precautions must be taken for you to get through this season of life. It is important for you to take care of your emotional needs as well as your physical needs. This is a time in your life when it is vital for you to express your feelings, ask and accept help, and be kind to yourself. You also need to get plenty of rest, eat healthy, and be alert for physical problems. You may also begin to set short term and long-term goals. You may want to try a new activity, such as joining a club or organization, take a new course, do some volunteer work, or evaluate your career goals. Whatever the case may be, find a purpose for the season in which you are now living. We at hospice will be glad to help in any way we can. Many activities are lined up for the upcoming month. It would be great to see you at some of them. Check your calendar and plan ahead.
Upcoming Events
October 8-Lunch group at Barnesville Library Annex at 12:00 Noon. Bring a sack lunch.
October 10-“Lunch Bunch” at Mr. Lee’s in Cambridge at 12:00 Noon. Everyone welcome!
October 24-Breakfast support group at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley at 9:00 AM.
October 30-Men’s “Coffee with Chris” at East Wheeling Avenue Wendy’s at 9:00 AM.
It’s hard to believe that we are heading into fall. The days are getting shorter, and the evenings are cooler. Change is in the air. For many of you, change took place days, weeks or months ago. Life changes forever when you lose a loved one. It’s as if you are forced to join a club in which you want NO part! Just as we have no control over the calendar and the seasons, we also had no control over the death of our loved ones. The only thing we do have control over is our attitude and how we are going to live with the hand we have been dealt. I can only say to you that things will get easier. in the meanwhile, it is important to surround yourself with positive people, let the tears flow as needed, and remember to live your life as to honor your loved one. Seasons come and go, but memories will live on forever.
I am grateful that I can speak words into your life each month. I only hope that some of them bring you hope. Many of you I have never met, but I want you to know that you are precious to us here at Hospice, and we are here to help in any way that we can. Along with one-on-one time, we offer many group activities. I hope you will take advantage of any that sound interesting or helpful. If you have any questions about anything, feel free to call me at 740-432-7440.
September Activities
September 10-“Lunch Bunch” at Belmont County Library Annex in Barnesville at Noon. Bring your own lunch.
September 12-“Lunch Bunch” at Mr. Lee’s in Cambridge at Noon.
*Note-Date Change*
September 19-Breakfast Support Group at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley at 9AM.
September 25-Coffee with Chris Dyer (former hospice chaplain) : Men’s coffee/support group at Wendy’s on East Wheeling Ave., Cambridge at 9AM. Please call for more information.
The summer is quickly slipping away. Summer will soon turn into fall. And whether it has been a week, a month, or a year since the loss of your loved one, you will soon realize that life still goes on. As much as we feel that the whole world should stop when our loved one dies, (for ours certainly did) the seasons continue to come and go. And we are forced to adjust.
All the feelings that overwhelm you when a loved one dies deserve your attention. They are important openings to greater awareness: about the relationship you shared, your own needs, the meaning of life. And they take time!!! They are also the steps to your recovery, for there is no way out but through. Only by letting yourself experience grief can you move beyond it. Beyond-not to your old way of being or what once was “normal”, but beyond to fully integrating loss into your life, to richer understanding, renewed purpose, and deeper spirituality.
Grieving is painful and demanding. But healing does come. The deep pain will subside, and you will find yourself able to reflect on your loved one, how your life was and how it is now, and begin to think about how your life will be in the future. Personally, I have lost some very good friends. The void still exists when I can no longer share the excitement and pictures of my grandkids or just pick up the phone and talk about my day! A big sigh…but I can testify that the pain has lessened in intensity. It no longer consumes me, but I will ever forget them. They, in many ways, helped shape me into how I respond today. They will always be present in my life.
You don’t have to go through this time alone. As part of our Hospice family, please take advantage of the services we offer. I am also available by phone or appointment.
Upcoming Events
August 8: “Lunch Bunch” at Mr. Lee’s at 12:00 Noon. Lunch is on your own. It is a time of food and fellowship with others who have suffered a loss.
August 13: Barnesville Lunch Group at Georgie’s House…734 Bond Ave at 12 Noon. Bring your own lunch.
August 22: Breakfast Support Group at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley at 9:00 AM.
August 28: Coffee with Chris: Men’s coffee/support group meets at 9:00 AM at various places in the community. If interested, please contact us for details of the upcoming month’s location.
The month begins with a BANG-a strong reminder of freedom. For many, the July 4th celebration means a picnic and fireworks. Sometimes the real meaning of the holiday is lost. Freedom can mean different things to different people. For some it does have the meaning of being able to live as we do in this country. For others, it may take on a new connotation. At this time in your life, you may view your loved one as having been set free at last from their suffering. The hardships and illness that led to this time in your life are past, and now you must find a way to go on. Freeing yourself from living int the past is sometimes very difficult. Establishing a new norm for your life is essential and often requires energy you may not feel you possess. Others may be needed to help you along the way to healing. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. We are also here to help in any way that we can. We offer various programs that I hope you will consider.
July’s Upcoming Events
July 9 Barnesville Lunch Group Noon at Georgie’s House-734 Bond Ave. Barnesville. Bring your sack lunch.
July 11 Lunch Bunch at Noon at Mr. Lee’s in Cambridge
July 13 Flamingo Memorial Run-Sometimes doing something tangible is a special way to honor your loved one…You can do that with us in a one mile walk or a 5k. All monies benefit patient care and bereavement services. (Check out our Facebook or Website)
Remember that I am also available for one-on-one time. I hope this season in life has you choosing to focus on the positives.
I just now looked ahead at the weather forecast for the week. It promises to be warm and sunny on the outside, but I know that all of you are not feeling its warmth on the inside. Because it may be stormy in your present circumstances, you may have to dig deep to find some hope of sunshine. But without hope, our spirit withers and dies. I am here to remind you that there is also hope in the stormy season of grief. The following sums it up for us:
The Hidden Power of the Heart
When the heart is enlivened again, it feels like the sun coming out after a week of rainy days. There is hope in the heart that chases the clouds away. Hope is a brighter heart frequency and as you begin to reconnect with your heart, hope is waiting to show you new possibilities and arrest the downward spiral of grief and loneliness. It becomes a matter of how soon you want the sun to shine. Listening to the still, small voice in your heart will make hope into a reality.
-Sarah Paddison
I particularly like the line that says: “It becomes a matter of how soon you want the sun to shine.” We do have control over much of it. I pray that you will listen to the small voice in your heart as you move towards healing. And remember, we are here to help.
June Events
June 11:***The Noon support group that meets at the Barnesville Library Annex will be meeting at the park this month due to conflicts of scheduling of their summer reading program. Hope to see you there!
June 13: “Lunch Bunch” at Mr. Lee’s at Noon. Come share lunch with others who have suffered a loss, and make a new friend.
June 24-26: Kids Kamp at Deerassic Park from 10AM-2PM each day. The Kamp is free and open to kids ages 6-12.
June 26: Coffee with Chris Dyer (men only) at Wheeling Ave. Wendys at 9AM
June 27: Breakfast support group at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley at 9AM
I pray God’s blessings on you as you continue to “reconnect with your heart”.
Just as we have always heard that April showers bring May flowers, it is also true that we grow as we walk along the path of grief. Buried inside each of us is the potential to blossom into something beautiful after we have come through the rain. As I write this, I am taking time to look back over the last few years and reflect on the losses I have experienced. You see…I have lost my mom, dad, and my dearest friend since working here at hospice; BUT I have learned the I must leave the rains and storms of yesterday behind me and move into a new season where there can once again be flowers in bloom. My life must go on, and I have concluded that my loved ones would want that for me. It is my desire for you to learn the meaning of this as well.
May brings with it Memorial Day and a time for honoring those we love. For the average person, Memorial Day means a three-day weekend, and a time of rest and relaxation. But you probably do not feel like the average person at this time in your life, so I encourage you to do something that will honor the one you love in a different way than might be the norm. You may choose to plant a tree or shrub in your garden…one that will remind you of the one who is no longer with you. In time, it will be a comfort and a joy to behold. It is a living, breathing thing-something with life…just like you will remember your loved one as it ushers in precious memories of your times together. Plant it and water it with love! Enjoy it for years to come!
Upcoming Events
May 9: Lunch Bunch Support Groups at Mr. Lee’s at 12:00 Noon
May 14: Barnesville Lunch Bunch at Barnesville Library Annex at 12:00 Noon. Bring your lunch.
May 23: Support Breakfast at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley at 9:00 AM
May 29: Coffee with Chris Dyer (Men only) at Wheeling Ave. Wendy’s at 9:00 AM
I hope to see you soon. And as always, I’m available by phone at 740-432-7440.
April showers bring May flowers…March excites me for it brings with it the promise of spring. Then comes the rainy season! April, for me, is the tunnel through which I must pass to reach the other side of winter. It may be dreary and cold, and at times a little tiresome; but it is necessary to get me to the warmth and joy that summer offers. So, here I go. Follow me if you will.
As you move into the summer of your grief journey, you will have left behind cold and rainy days. You will experience hard times before experiencing the joy and sunshine of tomorrow, and those times will change the person you are. They will mold you into the person you are to become. I pray that as you begin that journey and continue to walk along the pathway, you will have a hope of better tomorrows and sunshiny days. Allow someone else to walk beside you and be your friend. Let them hold your hand or cry with you. Allow someone else to be your strength if needed. Allow yourself to change. Also, remember we are here if you need us in the months to come. There are always events offered to lend support. Feel free to take advantage of them. We want to help you on your journey towards healing.
Upcoming Events:
Women’s retreat at Salt Fork. Call if interested
April 9: Support group meeting at Belmont County Library Annex in Barnesville at Noon (Bring your owln lunch and we can eat together)
April 11: Lunch Bunch at Mr. Lee’s in Cambridge at Noon
April 24: Coffee with Chris Dyer: Men’s group at Wheeling Ave. Wendy’s at 9:00 AM
April 25: Breakfast group at Patty’s Place in Belle Valley at 9:00 AM
As always, if you have any questions or if you need to talk, I am available at 740-432-7440.
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