My amazing granddaughter, Katie Thiroux, is a fabulous Jazz Singer and upright bass musician and is loved by all-time jazz great Quincy Jones who calls her “Katie-Toes.”. Quincy told her “Be prepared for the opportunities you want. Don’t wait.” Her response to this sage advice is “It’s not about perfection, it’s about being ready IN […]
When I was in high school, the Vietnam War was raging. I lived in my small hometown of Porterville, California. Our town had more war deaths per capita than any other community in the country. When a model of the Vietnam Memorial was created to take around the country, that journey was started in Porterville. […]
Sometimes out of the blue, you’ll hear a song or smell a fragrance that reminds you of your loved one and the tears start. You may find yourself saying “Am I ever going to get over this? Will a time come when I don’t get blindsided by a remark someone makes that reminds me of […]
A new pet has adopted me. I probably wouldn’t have chosen him. He just ended up in my yard and decided it was the place for him to be. My son even named him Rodney the Rooster. Roosters are ubiquitous in Hawaii. You’ll see them at airports, in parking lots, and at outdoor restaurants. Unfortunately, […]
My family lived through the Depression, yet I never would have known that had I not taken a US History class in high school. People just didn’t talk about those days. Actually, my family didn’t talk much about the past at all. I was a curious child, but there were no answers for me. […]
Do you pay attention to the universe? In my younger years I lived in a bubble of paying attention only to what was directly around me. There was so much I had to focus on: Would I be able to pay the bills? Would I be able to find childcare I trusted and could afford? […]
I spend time online each day with the social media I do to help people deal with grief, and lately I keep hearing the same theme. People say that things will never be the same, that they have lost so much, and they feel lost. I’ve had times that I have felt that way too. […]
How would you describe the path for your grief? Does it seem like there should be a map or a guidebook or a plan that says “First you do this. Then that. Then you go through something else. And after a while it’s done.” When you look at it like that, it sounds silly. And […]
I ran across a quote by Michael Bernard Beckwith: “It’s not the world’s job to make you happy. It’s your job to bring happiness into the world.” I’ve been thinking lots about happiness lately. When I feel happy, I can relax and enjoy all that’s good in my life. After Jacques died, I read Marci […]
I wrote an Instagram post this week that said, “I have heard that the death of a spouse is the number one stressor in life.” I realize now that I inspired anger and comparison, and that was not my intention for making this statement. Each experience of grief is unique and any comparison in grief […]
Subscribe to our mailing list
The Grief and Happiness Alliance
A membership program where you can find comfort, support, happiness, and friends.
When you sign up here we will send you all the information you need to join the Grief and Happiness Alliance.