A few months ago I discovered a website filled with beauty & love and offering peace.

Finding peace of mind or regaining peace in the family might be goals for some in grief. Love for the person who has died is the reason for the intense pain in grief. Fearing you will never love or be loved again is part of many grief experiences.

Recognizing the beauty that is always surrounding us is a task important to the grief healing process.

Flowers Photo Gallery from Japan is the site of photographer Ikeda,Shoji. These beautiful photographs show flowers in blossom and bloom. The quality and presentation of these images shows me the photographer’s love of nature and color. The great variety in the images tells of an appreciation for the natural process of growth and change.

What strikes me the most, however, is this artist’s love for people.

This photo gallery website originated in 1999 in the native language of the photographer, Japanese. Two years later, in 2001, it was translated into English. It is in the translation of the Japanese words and sentences into English that, for me, great love emanates from this artist and website.

The website visitors are welcomed by the photographer to “my flower photo galleries”. Then this message is offered; “They give you the peace of mind”. For me the slight translation error into less-than-perfect English gives the message more authenticity and makes it more dear. I feel more connected to the photographer and the images become more colorful, animated and beautiful.

As a visitor to the site you have the opportunity to “Send a Free Flowers Photo e-Card to Someone You Love”. On this page this sentiment is offered; “Peacefulness is given to you and your recipient heart”. Again, for me, the slight translation error adds more meaning to the already heartfelt message. I definitely feel the beauty, love and peace here.

I encourage you to join the over 800 thousand people who have been drawn to this website. Feel and enjoy the beauty of the flowers and their color in this moment of your grief. Open your grieving heart to the love you feel and see in the images.

Accept the peace of mind that is so humbly offered you. Accept the peacefulness that is given to your heart.

Sincerely sending you Peace, Love & Creativity,

Tricia

There is encouraging information in my Guide To Grief Recovery: How To Survive and Thrive about the power of the human instinct to survive dangers and difficulties in life. To be a survivor in grief you must tap into your inner resources.

Your own creativity is one of the resources you can rely on to help in your grief process. When you experience creativity you touch, within, a place located between your heart and your soul. This is a sacred spot where you can rest, rejuvenate and continue healing. Creativity and grief recovery have a strong relationship.

Every person, including you, is a creative being. Creativity is part of being human and is about:

Beauty, Imagination, Intellectual Inventiveness, Spontanaity, and Relaxation.

In your experience of grief so far you may not have been able to notice the beauty around you, like the sun sparkling in a puddle of rain or the sparkle in the eyes of someone you meet.

Your imagination might be limited, right now, to trying to picture life without your loved one. Your mind and thinking process might still be fuzzy and you may not have the extra energy to be spontaneous.

True relaxation might be eluding you. When you are worried, afraid, or angry it can be hard to relax since these states usually produce tension in your body. Yet, peacefully relaxing while feeling the beauty around you might feel very good right now (even if only for a few moments) and positively affect your grief work.

Engaging your creativity will automatically and easily stimulate you in a positive way. While experiencing your creativity you may pick up some extra energy.

Being creative is not limited to those of us who are artists, musicians, or poets. We all have many opportunities daily to experience our creativity. Engaging your creative self is natural and can happen simply and easily. I will suggest a few ways for you, or you may have ideas of your own. I encourage you not to be intimidated. Be courageous and try something new.

These two activities will include your creative self:

* If you are going to the post office to purchase stamps, ask to see all the available choices. Spend a moment (don’t worry about people in line behind you) really looking at the different stamps. Tune into and enjoy the various designs, sizes, shapes, and colors. Get the ones you think have the most beauty.

* When you are outside in nature look closely at the leaves on trees and bushes. Notice the different colors. See the different shades of green, red, orange, yellow and etc. Pay attention to the different textures and shapes/sizes. How does the sunlight affect the colors? Is the shadow of the leaf the same shape as the leaf itself? Allow yourself to enjoy the natural beauty you are experiencing.

These are simple creative activities that won’t require much of your time or energy and can be helpful. Your creativity is a path to the states of mind that are supportive and healing in grief.

Sincerely sending you Peace, Love & Creativity,

Tricia