November Newsletter  
 
Open to Hope Radio
Your Weekly Oasis for Hope

November 6

Topic: Changing the Way We Die

Guest: Sheila Himmel

 

November 13

Topic: Soaring Spirits

Guest: Michelle Neff Hernandez

 

November 20

Topic: Support Network For Grieving College Students

Guest: Dr. David Fajgenbaum, MD, MSc


 

November 27

Topic: Aftertalk

Guest: Lisa Bogatin

Article
Preparing for the Winter Blues
By Harriet Hodgson

Fall has come to Minnesota. The trees are turning gold and orange and red. White-winged Juncos, birds in the sparrow family and harbingers of winter, have returned to the backyard feeders. Nights are colder, and there is frost on the lawn in the mornings. Much as I love fall, I'm always a bit uneasy because I know winter is coming. Living in this changeable climate requires preparation and courage.


Winters can be beautiful. We usually have several ice storms that glaze the trees with ice and turn the town into a fairy land. Fierce wind chills, however, and temperatures of 35-40 below zero, must be taken seriously. Radio programs tell parents to cover their children's faces and hands. Old, worn, unfashionable coats are pulled from closets and donned with pleasure. Minnesotans don't care how they look as long as they are warm.

Brutal weather and dark winter days can awaken my grief. My daughter was born on November 23rd, Thanksgiving that year, and the holiday is always difficult. She died on February 23, 2007, an odd coincidence. Three other family members, my father-in-law, brother, and my twin grandchildren's father, also died. Experience has taught me that I have to prepare for anniversary reactions.

These reactions - reminders of a loved one's death - can be anywhere. According to a Mayo Clinic website article, "Grief: Coping with Reminders After a Loss," reminders can ambush you. "You might suddenly be flooded with emotions when you drive by the restaurant your partner loved or when you hear your child's favorite song," the article explains. It goes on to say these reactions can trigger sadness, loneliness, anger, anxiety, sleep problems, fatigue, and pain.
What do I do? What can you do?

Read More Here

Grief Relief Television
Grief Relief with Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley-Handling Death and the Holidays
Grief Relief with Dr. Gloria and Dr. Heidi Horsley-Handling Death and the Holidays

Book
OPEN TO HOPE, INSPIRATIONAL STORIES FOR HANDLING THE HOLIDAYS AFTER LOSS
Short Stories Contributed by Open to Hope Authors

Getting through the hectic holiday season can be especially tough when you're grieving the loss of someone you love. How do get through the busy days ahead, filled with social gatherings, gift shopping, and Christmas cheer you may not be feeling? You'll find practical advice and encouragement from these heartfelt stories and articles contributed by the wonderful writers at the Open to Hope Foundation. They have navigated many of the same confusing, anxiety-producing decisions you may be coping with now, so let them guide you. They have been there before you and made it, and you can, too.
   Order Yours Today