Facing Grief - The Podcast

“The ultimate in joy now points to sadness.” Something that lasts is rare. When it is a love that lasts for decades it is something beyond special. Now that special relationship stands as not only a testament to something extraordinary - but also as a bitter reminder of what has been lost. In today’s episode - originally released as Facing Grief the Podcast episode 6 on September 16, 2020 - we wil...

“We never see it coming” Throughout our lives we can look back to periods where living just seemed like it would go on in the same pattern we were used to. When circumstances would change those patterns it would be disorienting - frustrating - and there we were - struggling to cope with how what seemed like it would go on forever would now end. In today’s episode - originally released as Facing Gr...

“They just hide what is behind them” What is behind the window? In grief that window is more than just a way to view the outside world - it is a barrier. It separates us from those we left behind when we entered the state of grief. In today’s episode, we present the introduction to Volume 7 "Bridges" and the first essay - written on February 16, 2020 - day 188 of the journey - essay #1 - “Window D...

This final Special Edition is the unimaginable juncture of the state of grief and the promise of a new life. Unthinkable on so many levels - yet as it has appeared - stunning in its reality. From November 29, 2020 - this is the blog that leaves us at the threshold of a new life. Next week we will begin presenting Volume 7 of the Facing Grief Essays. Each of the essays unfolding as the journey occu...

This Special Edition is special indeed. For this episode tells the story of how so much of what grief had inflicted was met with tremendous changes. Changes which the author could have never foreseen. From November 3, 2020, this post-essay blog tells that incredible story. As the blog post states, “..to give them crowns instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of [tears of] grief…”. As the Facing...

This Special Edition builds upon Episode 19 - "Lessons from the Clothes". Please listen to that episode to receive the full impact of this message. In grief we face continual changes - this post-essay blog from August 30, 2020 explains what some of those continual changes represent. As the Facing Grief podcast winds down - these special editions are a fitting ending to something that - in this lif...

This special edition is a blog post that sums up just some of the emotions of the journey. From July 12, 2020 - this is "Remnants of the Precious". May what you hear bless you in your grief journey.

Today we focus on a very special essay. The essay which marked the 166th writing that had taken place over eleven months. As in any transition - it marked crossing a threshold into a new reality - for the author - a threshold into the unknown. Share with us - this special moment. From Volume 8 “Lessons” - written the week of July 15 to July 19, 2020 - Days 338 to 342 - this is essay #18 - Lessons...

As we inevitably reach a season of “completeness” - that season brings with it an interesting reality. The reality of letting go. It is a dreaded cliche yet something that we al will face at some point. In today’s episode, we will learn of the author’s watershed moment. From Volume 8 "Lessons" - Day 286 - This is essay #14 - “Lessons of Letting Go”

Can a commitment last for decades? It can if that commitment has one supremely important element. In todays episode, the author shares one of the most intimate moments of his amazing relationship - and how that moment became an incredible tribute to the love he shared. From Volume 3 “Transitions” - Day 90 - This is essay #20 - “The Decision”

Throughout our lives we can look back to periods where living just seemed like it would go on in the same pattern we were used to. When circumstances would change those patterns we would be disoriented - frustrated - struggling to cope with how what seemed like it would go on forever would now end. In today’s episode we will learn how our lives are but a series of timeless moments - and how that u...

Dealing with our loss is a continual process and is different for each of us. Dealing with our loss is nearly insurmountable because of our inherent inability of dealing with death and all of its repercussions. In today’s episode, we will hear about that day the insurmountable was challenged with the finality of closure - of completeness. From Volume 8 “Lessons” - Day 288 - This is essay #13 - “Le...

Grief takes us to a new reality - a world where what used to fulfill us is now missing. In that emptiness there are moments of fullness - but they do not last. As we struggle to face this reality we are led to the ultimate answer to what appears to have no answer. In today’s episode we will find out what that answer is. From Volume 5 “Waypoints” - Day 149 - This is essay #16 - “Empty Calories”

Dealing with our loss becomes a journey of discovery. As we deal with all the connections that have now been changed - one that can have a profound and disarming effect is dealing with our spouses’s clothes. In today’s episode we will explore this most intimate of intimate moments that we must face on our journey. From Volume 8 - “Lessons” - Day 316, This is essay #16, “Lessons from the Clothes”

In grief we hear it all of the time. The dreaded comment about “moving on”. A comment that while might be sincere in the eyes of the observer - is completely wrong to those of us in grief. In today’s episode we will explore what its behind this well-meaning, but deeply mis-understood comment. From Volume 6 “Parting”, Day 183 - This is Essay #19 - “Moving On”

Why do we love someone? There are many reasons. But for love to endure there is really only one. In today’s episode we will learn of that one essential reason that makes love last. From Volume 4 “Signposts” - Day 102, This is essay #6 - “Why Do You Love Me?”

Welcome to the Facing Grief Podcast. The Facing Grief podcast is a weekly story of dealing with the loss of a spouse. Each week we will focus on one day of the journey. That day being a recollection of a unique experience which may highlight the pain of that day, observations on living in the state of grief or stories of an amazing relationship. Whether you are here for comfort or to know more abo...

Music is a part of our lives in so many ways. In this grief journey, the author experienced an unusual period of time in which the music in his life stopped. In today’s episode we will hear of this paradoxical time when the music just was not in him anymore - despite it being all around him. From Volume 7 - “Bridges” - Day 201 - This is Essay #7 - “The Music”

Surreal is normal in the state of grief. With the context of our life dramatically and forever changed, we face a disorientation that is profound. In today’s episode - the fourth essay written in the journey - we will examine this strange reality. From Volume 1 “The First 30 Days” - Day 16, this is Essay #4 - “Frozen in Time”

There is a moment you may be missing. It is right in front of you - but for some reason we let ourselves be distracted from experiencing all that it represents. In today’s episode we will take a look at recapturing that precious moment we often miss. From Volume 5 “Waypoints” - Day 152, this is Essay #18 - “Now”

In grief we struggle with the finality that we must face in our new reality. When a situation presents itself that enables us to make a small - seemingly insignificant step to declare finality on our own terms - it is an unexpected and surprising moment. In today’s episode we will learn about the hidden finality in a rather mundane task. From Volume 5 “Waypoints” - Day 124 - This is essay #2 - “Sh...

We live our lives - with their highs and lows, successes and failures unaware of what we are really doing. Then one day, we are asked to leave the party, the banquet of our lives. It is unsettling, traumatic and so much more. In today’s episode, we will explore that unexpected moment all of us in grief have had to face. From Volume 2 “One Day at a Time” - Day 49 - This is essay #13 - “The Banquet”

It is a paradox and an irony all rolled into one. Becoming aware of something we have been oblivious to can be quite the revelation. After all - the now revealed brings with it the stunning realization that the newly unveiled situation was right in front of us all of the time. In today’s episode the author recounts one of those stunning moments that emerged during the worst of times. From Volume 4...

Reliving any pain is not desirable - yet in the state of grief we run into this situation quite regularly. And in no other area is this pain more real than in the seemingly simple mundane task of calling to report the extraordinary change in our life. In today’s episode, the author recounts those most awkward and painful of moments.

To some it may seem mundane, but there is no higher calling than to be a caregiver. Many of us in the state of grief have experienced that reality in our past life. In today’s episode, the author recounts his story of caregiving.