Photo by Lisa Rose “What could be better than to hold your hand out to people who are less fortunate than you are?” Those are Paul Newman’s words. I’m sure you’ve heard the news by now…on Friday Sept 26, 2008, Oscar-winning motion picture actor and philanthropist Paul Newman died of cancer at his home in […]

Often, we don’t fully appreciate a person until they are gone…in this case, meaning deceased. Take for example the death of a famous person who was also a philanthropist. When they die, it’s all over the news…the movies they made…how they were a sex symbol…the awards they received…or the books they wrote… But what strikes […]

When you are experiencing the pain of grief, it’s common to feel tightness in your chest and palpitations. Even breathing can be a problem—it’s as if you struggle to breath in life when death feels so close! Yes, physical symptoms are normal but it doesn’t hurt to put your mind at ease and stay on […]

“I found a link to your site and was reading one of your Blog posts (actually, a lot of them) and just wanted to say thanks for reminding me how special life really is in so many little ways. I need to slow down, which I find almost impossible most of the time, and remind […]

You can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your sails. ~Yiddish proverb Melanie Hack Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend Read an excerpt now TV Shows and Clips about the Death of Cindy James

“As I near the end of my life, will you seek out information about my disease?” “Will you respect my advance directives?” “Will you embrace your role as my caregiver and be prepared for what to expect?” “Will you respect my wants and my needs…even if they are different from what they used to be…and […]

A few days ago my eleven-year-old son decided to learn how to juggle. He was a bit nervous and overwhelmed but determined to use his apprehension to energize himself. He didn’t worry about if he could do it or not, and he didn’t worry about how long it would take…he just dove in because he […]

One thing I know for certain: my mother knew I loved her – without conditions and without expectations. Oh, I was far from the perfect child – just as she was far from the perfect mother. But she and I had a special relationship and even her death can’t take that away from me. ~J […]

When people ask you how you are doing, don’t always say, “Fine.” Let some people know how terrible you feel. It can help when you talk with a dear friend who listens empathically…or with someone who has “been there” and survived…those people speak your language of pain. And only they can truly say, “I understand…I […]

It doesn’t matter how much time has passed or how much our life has changed, when anniversary dates of a loved one’s death roll around it’s natural that we remember, we mourn, and we feel: Today my thoughts are on —–. He went missing [in September] 35 years ago and then on the 27th [of […]