Sunny guilt is a funny thing. It’s something that may come from within you or possibly from those around you. It’s about feeling happy or laughing while you are also sad. Sunny days can be a bit of a minefield, as they are the days we feel more like we can get things done. We might meet up with friends … Read More
Good Questions for Being Green
As with so many aspects of ‘being green’, there is a lot of greenwashing about. This is when a product or a business tries to look better than it really is. The only way to be really happy that you are choosing an environmentally positive option, is to do your research. Find out about who is selling that thing, and … Read More
Grief & Assumptions
This is a rant. It will happen from time to time, a topic sends me into mental overdrive. So, here’s a stream of consciousness about gender, grief and assumptions. Boys & Girls One of the aspects of our son dying, is that we now have all girls. We already had a larger family than average, and people would often comment … Read More
Stormy Self Care
On days when getting out of bed seems impossible, our self care abilities are likely to be VERY low. That doesn’t mean that they should be zero… Allowing others a role in our self care on these days can be the most important. Using a checklist can be a helpful way to monitor the basics e.g. drinking water regularly, or … Read More
Sources of Support
There are so many organisations that offer care during end of life, death and funeral planning. Where possible, go for the most specific support for your individual situation. Start with www.thegoodgrieftrust.org this is an umbrella organisation that lists almost every support organisation in the UK. Many will have a free helpline, some are 24hrs. You can also contact your GP … Read More
Peopling
After a death, you will have to deal with people. Some you know, and some you don’t. Depending on what has happened, you may have uniformed services involved as well as family, friends, neighbours, the list can go on. Dealing with all the talking, explaining and repetition is likely to be exhausting. Here are a few ideas for dealing with … Read More
The only thing we can’t avoid…
Apparently Benjamin Franklin said the only two certainties in life were Death and Taxes. As it seems not everyone pays their taxes, I guess that leaves us with Death. It’s the only common experience, one we cannot avoid – humans, animals and even trees that may live for thousands of years. Given all this certainty, and that everyone we know … Read More
Environmentally Positive Planning
I have learnt SO MUCH about this in the last three years, not all of it very easy to talk about. What I do know is that some very small changes can make a HUGE difference to the impact of cremations, funerals and generally at end of life. There is really too much information, so I’m putting a book together … Read More
Daily Diary – Free download
Here is a free download that can be used as a daily, weekly, or ‘as needed’ prompt. Print it out and fill it in, or just read and ponder your answers. Taking time at the end of each day, to celebrate any small victories, to plan ahead or just make a note of something to free some brain space can … Read More
Stormy Days Planner
These resources and posts are for the worst days, the ones where you worry you may not make it through, when self care is no longer a nicety but a life or death. Those days. You are not alone. It’s always best to be prepared for storms, we never know when they might come, but you do sometimes have a … Read More