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

A big worry for some grievers can be summarized in the questions “who am I without my loved one”, “what will my life be like without my loved one” and “how will I change now that my loved one has died”? It’s possible that any one person’s answers to these questions will change a time or two during grief.

As your grief process progresses your thinking will become more clear & refined and you may find yourself changing your mind often. This is one of the reasons it isn’t necessarily a good idea to make big decisions or big changes during grief. Grief is, however, a great time and space to research and consider possibilities.

Right now may or may not be the best time for you to research or consider future possibilities. Currently you may need absolutely all of your energy to survive one day at a time. If so, reserve your energy for living now. You can return here when you are more ready to approach your future.

The Internet is a marvelous resource for researching and considering all sorts of possibilities for your future. So many wonderful & knowledgeable people communicate with one another via the Internet to share what works in their lives, what they have learned to improve their own life and how the lives of others might become better. Specifically, there is a group of blog/site owners whose mission is to share and help other people in the area of personal development. A list of these blogs and sites relative to personal growth has been compiled for you.

The Personal Development List may have some important information and ideas for you. As you look over this very long list, let yourself be drawn to particular entries. You may be attracted to an entry because it uses words you understand or your intuition may lead you to click on a site/blog describing a concept totally new to you. Open your mind and heart to spend a few minutes or a few hours considering possibilities.

Sincerely sending you Peace, Love & Creativity,

Tricia

We all have times in our lives when we do or say something we consider unforgivable. At those times we probably are filled with guilt and regret. When we become uncomfortable enough we most likely go to the person, apologize and ask for forgiveness.

Also, we all have times in our lives when we deem the actions and words of others as unforgivable. As you mourn the loss of your loved one, you can feel especially vulnerable and your emotions can be fragile. During grief many things might happen to upset you, hurt your feelings and make you angry. Some of these things are seemingly impossible to forgive.

When you are unforgiving of another you may think you are getting back at or hurting that person as they have hurt you. You may hope to feel better because, at least, you think you have balanced the situation. The truth is, though, you are only harming yourself by choosing to be unforgiving. As you harbor resentment, revenge or anger you have less light and color around you. Your natural sparkle and shine are dimmed.

Forgiveness is a necessary part in the process of grieving your loved one. When you are ready, you will want to forgive the person/s who hurt you. You owe it to yourself and, especially now as you are grieving, you deserve and need the relief.

Do you remember the relief you felt when you were forgiven? The relief you will feel when you forgive will be at least that much and probably more. You’ll have your light and color back.

Everyone has experience with the challenge of forgiving and, for many of us, the act of forgiving is not easy. We may need help.

With Forgiveness is a wonderful place on the Internet devoted to helping all of us forgive more easily. The site is owned by two professional women, Sheri and Susyn, who provide specific techniques and practices to help people learn forgiveness. A newsletter, emails and teleclasses are also offered.

Through this forgiveness site almost eight thousand people all over the world have been assisted to:

* Move past pain, hurt and internal suffering,
* Recognize your divine nature,
* Develop greater respect for those different from you,
* Transcend selfishness and embrace generosity,
* Change the way you envision yourself and
* Cultivate a deep sense of self-love, self-esteem and self-respect.

Take action in caring for yourself by taking the time to visit this jewel of the Internet. Take action in caring for YOU by forgiving yourself.

Sincerely sending you Peace, Love & Creativity,

Tricia

Support groups can be helpful as you journey through your grief. Many report that participation in a grief support group brought them significant healing.

A major tenet of any type of support group is confidentiality. This means that whatever is said in the group “stays in the group”. All members of the group agree not to tell anyone (including spouses and close friends) anything that is shared in the group. This promise of confidentiality even includes the names of other group members.

So, as a member of a grief support group you have the opportunity to share your feelings freely. For example, you can talk about your deepest fears or anger, use whatever terms or language will help you express yourself, and know your comments and feelings won’t be repeated outside the group.

This freedom of emotional expression is an important part of the healing process. Also important is the fact that no one in a grief support group is ever judged for the content of their feelings and comments. The environment of the group will be accepting, warm and safe.

Each group member is in their personal process of grief with unique problems and concerns but, in the general sense, everyone knows about broken hearts, debilitating sadness, fear and feelings of isolation & aloneness. The grief group is a place where you will be understood, which is a major aspect of the support.

Extreme emotions and tears are expected and welcomed in a grief support group. It will be one place where, when you cry and automatically say “I’m sorry” everyone will respond with “you don’t need to apologize”.

Usually members of the group won’t know each other in the beginning. They also probably won’t have known your loved one. Consequently no one will have pre-conceptions or make assumptions about you. This objective environment encourages individuals to speak freely and share deeply which is helpful to all. Because of this I suggest family members grieving the same loss attend different grief support groups.

In your grief support group you will learn much from others and, at the same time, you will be a teacher for the other members. Often lasting and supportive friendships are formed in a grief support group - don’t be afraid of this possibility.

Sincerely sending you Peace, Love & Creativity,

Tricia