Outskirts Press, INC.

GOOD GRIEF — HEALING FOR YOUR HEART AND SOUL!

Good Grief is a “must read” for those experiencing the grief and loss of a loved one, those supporting someone who is grieving, and those who want to start preparing for the inevitable. This book is filled with wisdom, humor, hope and encouragement to empower you through life's toughest journey. It's organized in an easy-to-read format, allowing you to read it cover-to-cover or choose a topic that speaks to a particular issue you need support with: for example, forgiveness, gratitude, depression and more. Grieving is different for everyone, but has a common theme in that grieving shifts the spirit into darkness, twisting it into knots and coiling it tightly with fear until it's difficult to breathe or move. As the spirit weeps a river of tears, the heart shatters into pieces, and the soul screams in agony, exposing the rawness and pain of loss. Many endure the journey through grief and loss in loneliness, suffering depression and despair. You need to remember that you are not alone and that there is hope for healing. Make this book your companion on your healing journey! Enjoy STORIES of successes and failures and learn not to give up. Be inspired by QUOTES and POEMS that provoke reflection. Practice SELF-HELP TIPS for coping and making it through a tough day. Use WORKSHEETS to stimulate engagement in the healing process. Evoke positive intention by stating AFFIRMATIONS and select additional RESOURCES for help.

MY STORY: It’s been over three years since the loss of my husband — but it feels like only yesterday at times. In one sense, time froze that fateful day; and yet, time still passed, 24 hours in each day ticking away as usual. Days moved into weeks, then into months, and now years. I had no control over time. Neither will you — even if you try. I continue to take a few steps forward and then slip a few steps backward in my healing journey. Sometimes, I get stuck for a while. Other times, I make much progress and growth. The growth phase has been scary. I often wanted to stay in the past, more comfortable, and less daunting than moving forward. But, forward I moved each minute, each hour, each day, continually. I asked, “Why?” I wanted one more day. I was angry, sad, confused, lost and lonely. As time passed, the sorrow eased. Then came the holidays, special events, and other things that exposed my feelings of grief and loss again. I keenly felt the heartache and relived the pain, only to work through the healing…yet again and again. You see, I went through the grieving process in my own unique way, as you will, too. Guess what? I learned a lot. I am grateful for my daughter’s invaluable love and caring. Bonnie is a beautiful, empathetic young woman who is also going through this journey of grief and loss in her own special way. You and I, we are not alone. I am not different from anyone else in having to experience sorrow. I have a story of loss. Everyone eventually does. In this book, I have shared some of the experiences that helped me heal on my journey through grief and loss. I hope you find comfort in the stories and use some of tips I discovered to help you when you are stuck on your healing journey and find it hard to move forward.