Tag Archives: grief
The joy of being alive
It could have been an awful week. Mid-January. Dark mornings. Bleak skies. And the first anniversary of Mum’s death. A week to be endured and quickly forgotten. Instead, it was a memorable and magical week. Why? Because I gave myself … Continue reading
Christmas hurt and Christmas presence
It’s that time of year again, that time of year when I cry bucketloads of tears, that time of year when my emotions are heightened and I get in touch with multiple layers of grief and loss. It’s that time … Continue reading
The many faces of grief
This morning, I swam towards the sun along a shimmering pathway of light. With every stroke, I reached for the distant yellow ball, before pausing to lie on my back and take in the blueness of the sky. The sea … Continue reading
From breakdown to breakthrough
As I prepare to celebrate my 50th birthday on Saturday, I’ve been reflecting on my milestone birthdays to date and the breakdowns and breakthroughs that have accompanied them. On my 10th birthday, I was dealing with feelings that I had … Continue reading
The courage to grieve
It takes huge courage to grieve – to grieve the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, the absence of children, the loss of our health or the loss of the life we thought we’d have. It’s … Continue reading
I celebrate you
I know it’s hard to get out of bed sometimes; that you wake up feeling overwhelmed with grief and fear, with tears in your eyes. I know it often feels like you’re floundering, living the wrong life, or like you’re … Continue reading
The day my mother died
When my phone rang on January 13th, I hoped against hope that it was my alarm waking me up, although I knew, deep down, that it was the middle of the night. That could only mean one thing: Mum had … Continue reading
2021: Your call to adventure
Can you hear it? Can you hear the call to adventure? Can you hear the call to claim your seat at the table. To take up your space. To make your voice heard. To be the person you were always … Continue reading
The danger of ‘if only’ thinking
I spent a lot of my childhood peering through other people’s windows, both literally and metaphorically, wishing that my life was more like theirs. Wishing I lived in their house. Wishing I had their parents. Wishing I had their clothes. … Continue reading
The life that hasn’t gone to plan
I’ve just spent a long weekend in the company of nine wonderful women whose lives, like mine, haven’t gone to plan. These women, attendees on my How to Fall in Love retreat, had expected things to work out differently. Some … Continue reading
From Forty With Love 