The day of Val's funeral

Ashes to Ashes

FormerMember

Friday 17 Sept 2010 was a pivotal moment in my grieving process for my beloved Val, as I had to collect her ashes from the undertakes. It brought home just how final her death was and the fact I would never ever see her smiling face again.

Since the beginning of recorded time, Hindu and Buddhist faiths have mandated the use of cremation. The underlying belief of these faiths is that the life force that is basic to our…
- 20 Sep 2010
The Deamon Of Despair

FormerMember

Soon after the death of a loved one, in come many visitors to the bereaved. Some arrive early, bearing gifts of food, flowers and speaking words of consolation and comfort. Others appear late in the day, unable to say anything, but still comforting by their very presence. But when the comforters have gone away and we sit through the lonely watches of the night, pondering our loss, the final visitor arrives. He comes uninvited…
- 8 Sep 2010
A Strange New World

FormerMember

When my wife died very suddenly and unexpectedly from cancer the world looked different the next morning. Nothing had changed but the world and everything in it looked different to me. I remember looking up at the sky and the sky looked different. It looked enormous and I felt lost as though I was the only person left on the earth.

The world is lovely, but most things mean little to me now. I feel like I'm sitting behind…
- 7 Sep 2010
It was Val’s birthday Saturday

FormerMember

Some reminders of our loved ones are almost inevitable, especially during the first period after a death. That's when we all face a lot of "firsts" — those first special days that'll pass without our very special loved one.

As the weeks and months go by, I’m sure that I will have to face other significant days or celebrations without my beloved Val and that will trigger my grief again. Some of…
- 6 Sep 2010
How to Talk to the Broken Hearted

FormerMember

After losing my Valarie, my world has completely fallen apart. As I gingerly attempted to reintegrate my new, raw reality with the life I used to know, I often find it jarring. Friendships that used to just work feel awkward. Sometimes words that are meant to comfort feel like sandpaper to my soul, and surprisingly, people I barely used to know became life-long friends.

My loss has made me an outsider to many. While friends…
- 2 Sep 2010

More Content

Ashes to Ashes

The Deamon Of Despair

A Strange New World

It was Val’s birthday Saturday

How to Talk to the Broken Hearted