You chose to react.
You chose to feel insecure.
You chose to feel anger.
You chose to fight back.
You chose to have hope.
Shannon L Alder
hope
Navigating the Storm of Grief: Finding Hope after Loss
In this heartfelt episode of Journey from Grief to Healing, we explore the complex emotions that arise when we lose a loved one. Grief strikes like an unrelenting storm, leaving us navigating a maelstrom of emotions. Drawing from the poignant words of Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poem Ashes of Life, we delve into the universal longing and despair that accompanies loss. Yet, as poet James Whitcomb Riley reminds us, there is always a song of hope somewhere, waiting to guide us toward healing. Join us as we discuss how to embrace the adventure of living, rediscover joy, and move forward with courage and resilience.
The Sun is Going to Shine Again
But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. ~ J. R. R. Tolkein
Hope ~ A Poem by Czeslaw Milosz
Hope
Czeslaw Milosz
Hope is with you when you believe
The earth is not a dream but living flesh,
that sight, touch, and hearing do not lie,
That all thing you have ever seen here
Are like a garden looked at from a gate.
You cannot enter. But you’re sure it’s there.
Could we but look more clearly and wisely
We might discover somewhere in the garden
A strange new flower and an unnamed star.
Some people say that we should not trust our eyes,
That there is nothing, just a seeming,
There are the ones who have no hope.
They think the moment we turn away,
The world, behind our backs, ceases to exist,
As if snatched up by the hand of thieves.
Choosing Life After Grief: Rising Like the Phoenix
Choosing Life: Rising Like the Phoenix
In this powerful episode, we explore the courage it takes to rise after life’s darkest moments. Grief can leave us feeling beaten, bruised, and lost in shadows, but within each of us lies the strength to choose life and joy. Drawing on the wisdom of French philosopher Voltaire, the poignant poetry of Theodore Roethke (In a Dark Time), and May Sarton (The Phoenix Again), we reflect on how to break free from despair, embrace resilience, and rediscover the light. Learn how to climb out of fear, like the mythical phoenix, to live fully once again.
Join us as we delve into the transformative power of hope, healing, and the determination to never give up.
Keywords: grief, resilience, hope, healing, overcoming loss, choosing life, Theodore Roethke, May Sarton, phoenix, embracing joy, finding light, inspirational podcast, personal growth, self-reflection, rebirth, never give up,
Hope Propels Us Toward Tomorrow
Just as plants need the sun to shine on them, we need hope to shine on us. Hope gives us the strength to make it through the toughest times because it infuses us with the belief that tomorrow will be better than today. In my experience, and it’s all based on hindsight, tomorrow (figuratively speaking, it may be a week, or months, or years) is always better. Things work out if I keep working for things to work out. I like to have a hope-filled mind and two hands working 24/7. It’s a wonderful partnership. The Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh wrote, “Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”
Today’s Thought: Hope is Our Energy
We all have occasional periods of darkness where we slip into a pit and begin to lose hope. When this happens to you, fight it with all your strength. In many ways you’ll be fighting for your life. Hope fuels our belief that today will be good and tomorrow holds the promise of something better. Hope provides the energy to tackle the work we have; we know deep in our heart our work is important. Hope is the fire inside us that lights the way for others who are struggling. When disappointment hits, never quit, continue to hope things will improve. Then, turn, face the challenge, and grab your life out of its hands. Press on.
Poetry and Healing: Holding On to Hope in Tough Times
In Episode 149, we explore resilience, healing, and the challenges of grieving in a world that keeps moving forward. What if there was a simple remedy for grief, much like the antibiotics we take for strep throat? Unlike physical pain, the wounds of grief don’t come with a set prescription or timeline. Through a story of illness and recovery, we reflect on how emotional pain also demands patience, courage, and hope.
Drawing on the poetry of James Wright, Derek Mahon, and the timeless lines of “Don’t Quit,” this episode delves into the power of holding on and moving forward despite setbacks. We discuss how enduring grief is a journey of growth and discovery, where each day builds a foundation for strength, and brighter days await if we persevere.
Listen as we discuss how to stay the course through pain, find hope even in darkness, and build resilience. If you’re seeking comfort, strength, or just a reminder that everything is going to be alright, this episode will resonate. Remember: never give up, and hold on to the faith that all will be well.
Keywords: resilience, healing, grief, hope, strep throat, staying the course, emotional pain, James Wright, Derek Mahon, Don’t Quit, perseverance
Today’s Poem: Morning Land by George Essex Evans
Morning Land
George Essex Evans
Around and beneath, the dull grey mist and the sullen roar of the sea,
Scant footing-place on the sheer cliffs face—with death for a penalty;
But afar and above there is rest and love, there is hope for brain and hand,
The valleys fair and the crystal air and the peaks of Morning Land.
Around and beneath are the mists of toil and the sullen roar of the world,
And the sneer of scorn for a foothold gone and a climber backward hurled;
But afar and above are the hopes of men with the heart and will to stand
On the thin rift’s edge and the slippery ledge that lead to Morning Land.
They slip and fall from the sheer cliffs face; ah, God! they are falling still!
But another leaps for the vacant place, and another his place will fill.
’Tis little they fear the coward’s sneer, or the scorn of a selfish band,
Whose eyes are set on the parapet and the heights of Morning Land.
Hark to the ring as their rock picks swing, and bite for a foothold there!
Grip by grip they are straining up that others may travel fair.
The world will follow them all some day, the men it has shunned and banned,
The gallant hearts that hewed the way that leads to Morning Land.
