Thanks To Those Who Died for Our Freedom

Remember, by Brian Vaszily ~ Dedicated to those men and women who died for our freedom:

Making the Most of Memorial Day

[Reviewed and updated May 22, 2024]

They fell, but o'er their glorious grave
Floats free the banner of the cause they died to save.
~Francis Marion Crawford

Nearly three million men and women have served in the U.S. military over the last fifteen years, and more than half of them are married with children.
 
Originally designated as a day “to cherish tenderly the memory of our heroic dead,” Memorial Day is held on the last Monday of May each year. The holiday offers us a great opportunity to recognize and honor the sacrifice of these dedicated service members and their families.

We can help our children and grandchildren understand why this holiday is a special one for our country.  See, for example, Celebrating Memorial Day with Children.

In addition, as this holiday weekend approaches, we can make an effort to learn about and support some of the many organizations devoted to helping military families through the challenges they face: 

• Armed Forces Children’s Education Fund supports the education of children of fallen heroes.

• USO – United Services Organization is a congressionaly chartered, nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide morale, welfare and recreation-type services to service members and their families.  

• Soldiers’ Angels Founded by the mother of two American soldiers, this volunteer-led organization provides aid and comfort to veterans, the wounded, deployed service members and their families.

• A Million Thanks is a year-round campaign to show our appreciation to our U.S. Military Men and Women for their sacrifices, dedication, and service to our country through our letters, emails, cards, and prayers.

• Bugles Across America was founded by a veteran to ensure that during a military burial service, every fallen hero will receive a live rendition of Taps, played by a live bugler .
   
  
• TAPS, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors is “the 24/7 tragedy assistance resource for ANYONE who has suffered the loss of a military loved one, regardless of the relationship to the deceased or the circumstance of the death . . .  TAPS provides comfort and care through comprehensive services and programs including peer based emotional support, case work assistance, crisis intervention, and grief and trauma resources.”  

• American Widow Project is a non-profit organization “dedicated to the new generation of those who have lost the heroes of yesterday, today and tomorrow, with an emphasis on healing through sharing stories, tears and laughter--Military Widow to Military Widow."

• The National Military Family Association suggests a number of simple things we can do to help the military families living in our own communities.  At the very least, we can

• Participate in the National Moment of Remembrance which invites us to pause for one minute on Memorial Day, at 3:00 p.m. local time, to acknowledge the sacrifices of our fallen and their families. 

• Fly the flag proudly on Memorial Day. 

• Whenever we see a person in a military uniform, we can say, “Thank you for serving our country and keeping us safe.”

Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.

 Related Articles and Videos:

• A Day of Grief In A Season of Grief 
• A Retired Green Beret's Experience with Guided Imagery
• Amazing War Hero Animals
• America Is Still A Gift to the World
• Forgetting Why We Remember
• Giving Thanks on Memorial Day
• Grief Rituals Can Help on Any Special Day
• Grieving for Our Fallen Soldiers This Memorial Day
• Honor Flight Network
• Honoring Our Troops: The National Moment of Remembrance Act
• Learning to Heal, One Memorial Day at a Time
• Memorial Day
• Memorial Day: A Hidden Audience in Grief
• Memorial Day and Friend Grief
• Memorial Day and the Widow(er)s I Know
• Memorial Day 2019 - Let's Pause in Gratitude
• Memorial Day Tribute
• Memorial Day: Remembering The Fallen, And Those Who Love Them
• Memorial Day: The Story of A Hero Son, A Dad's Grief and a Hit Song
• Military PTSD Recovery Resources
• National Grief Acknowledgement Day....aka Memorial Day
• National Memorial Day Concert
• Reduce the Noise: Help Loved Ones with Sensory Overload
• Resources for Service Members And Their Families
• Retail Savings Guide for Veterans
• TAPS: Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
• Telling Veterans' Stories for the Memory of Others
• Ten Ways to Honor A Deceased Veteran on Memorial Day
• The True Meaning of Memorial Day
• This Is Honor Flight: Video
• Traumatic Stress in Women Veterans
• US War Dog Association
• VA Caregiver Support
• Vice President Joe Biden Discusses Grief and Loss: Video
• What To Say on Memorial Day

© by Marty Tousley, RN, MS, FT, BC-TMH

Using Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) in Grief

[Reviewed and updated May 1, 2022]

When the Crying Won't Stop, Try Breathing - In this interesting article from Open to Hope, Gloria Arenson, MFT, DCEP, expert in using Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), describes a simple technique for lessening the pain of negative emotions in grief -- one that can be used "one or more times a day to calm yourself any time you feel as if your despair is too much to bear."

Guided Imagery expert Belleruth Naparstek offers her opinion about EFT in her response to a reader's question, Does Emotional Freedom Technique Work for PTSD? See also EFT for Combat Veterans and Sue Hannibal's transcript of her EFT session, A One-Session Wonder: EFT Heals Combat Trauma in Sgt. Joshua. (Did you know that EFT is also effective in healing traumatized animals? See Healing Traumatized Animals with EFT.)

In this fascinating video, EFT Master Barbara Smith demonstrates how EFT can help, as she gently guides a bereaved mother in using the tapping technique to relieve the pain and suffering of her daughter's tragic death:



Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below.
If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here. 

Additional Resources:

• Carol Look, EFT Master
• The Tapping Solution
• EFT May Look Weird, But If It Gets The Job Done, Do We Care?
• Navigating Pet Loss (with EFT tapping video)

© by Marty Tousley, RN, MS, FT, BC-TMH     

Selected Tweets, Week of May 16 - May 22

Recommended reading, from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

On Caregiving and Hospice:

• @ElderCareRN: Wonderful! "Hospice" may no longer mean halting treatment http://tinyurl.com/2a4obc9

• Talking with patients about impending death: GeriPal http://bit.ly/c0G1tg

• Stan Goldberg: Helping Those in Pain Requires Acceptance, Compassion | Open to Hope Foundation http://bit.ly/d9oyOD

• @caring: http://bit.ly/auUjQb Should we tell Dad he's sick?

On Understanding and Managing Grief:

• @LZeefe: Excellent sources for books on grief: Centering Corporation and Compassion Books

• Diana Doyle: Memorable Ways To Honor a Deceased Loved One http://bit.ly/9VnYG2

• @ComfortZoneCamp: Samantha Halle on Graduation Day without her Dad http://bit.ly/ay79Dt

• Brave Bereaved Mom! RT @DoyleDiana: "Letting go of fears of the 'What if's' after loss." http://bit.ly/aeds6z

• Mary Jane Hurley Brant: What it Means to Grieve a Loss, via her blog, When Every Day Matters http://bit.ly/ccamDO

• Acceptance Is Not Surrender | via PsychCentral http://bit.ly/aIJA0N

• @caregiving: From Kind Words, Lessons on Condolences (NY Times) - http://nyti.ms/9XhXXe

• On memorializing: RT @Joannefunch: New post "Life After Loss" http://bit.ly/a9Old0

• Research: Bereaved Relatives Helped by Opportunity to View Body After Sudden Loss http://bit.ly/9Otztv

• The Power of Remembering: Grandfather’s Pipe | Open to Hope Foundation http://bit.ly/b44JZK

• Patrick Malone: Bereaved Father Discovers He’s Not Alone | Open to Hope Foundation http://bit.ly/9J9r30

New Beginnings:

• @lovinggrief: Valuable Resource for Divorced, Widowed, Considering Marrying Again http://bit.ly/cOtw30

• @Freshwidow  New post from the always brilliant, self-aware, lovely @Bitterlee : The (Young) Widow’s Dating Game. http://bit.ly/c8DoKE

• @Freshwidow: Excellent piece on Widow / Divorcee Dating Barriers; Common Misunderstandings http://bit.ly/abLxMO 

• Harriet Hodgson: Despite Losses, We Can Be Who We Want to Be | Open to Hope Foundation http://bit.ly/9pfQwf

• Coping with a Breakup or Divorce: Moving on After a Relationship Ends http://bit.ly/9C6dUF 

On Pet Loss:

• @peternity: Help yourself to the next step in your grieving: Post a free online pet memorial http://tinyurl.com/d7fovg

• @SidKorpi: Items For Gift Baskets for Pet Loss: http://bit.ly/c6ZQyv and "Good Grief: Finding Peace After Pet Loss"

• @WorldbytheTail: Male vs. Female: Are There Gender Differences in Vet Med? http://bit.ly/9FAJnx

• @AboutVetMed: @K9Cuisine_Kate Excellent article on Pet Euthanasia Decisions http://su.pr/2yZEvZ #petloss

• @lawgeekgirl: RT @jordandossett: Touching letter to lost friend Irma Cujo http://bit.ly/c1ZHPY

• Do Our Pets Go to Heaven? | Guideposts http://bit.ly/bvbuqI

• @caryn74: RT @utatadotorg: On the Front Page: We Grieve for Our Pets http://bit.ly/9bg3S5

• Dog Left Inside Hot Car – What would you do? « Land of PureGold Foundation http://bit.ly/cY9vkE

Other Recommended Listening, Viewing, and Reading:

• @AAHPM: Bereavement Center Director Blogs about Using Facebook in Grief: http://bit.ly/9ZfqP0

• @realwarriors: Medal of Honor recipients urge stressed troops to get help: http://bit.ly/cQazWx

• @PetsforPatriots: UNACCEPTABLE: disability claims backlogged at VA, 40% wait over 4 mos for decision http://ht.ly/1Nkg4

• @Selfhealingexpr: Good Morning! May issue of "Holistic Expressions" just released http://bit.ly/bAWxqF

• @PetsforPatriots: RT @petinsurance101 How Pets Have a Beneficial Effect on Our Health ~ We agree! thttp://ht.ly/1O7oG

• @afspnational: Survivors of Suicide: Have you seen this amazing video!?! http://bit.ly/overnightvid

• @Selfhealingexpr: NEW! This Month's Featured Color Healing Flash Show http://bit.ly/anV8HU enjoy this Rainbow Meditation!

• @EmotionalLife: Newslttr highlights campaign for military families, http://tinyurl.com/2dkxnwe

• Good News! RT @annecollier: Most teen social Web users well-adjusted http://bit.ly/c36KIW

• @AAHPM: Celebrating life with tales of death: Hospice nurse, daughter go on stage to share stories http://bit.ly/9pSzA8

• @georgiaslegacy: RT @sidewalkangels: Pit Bull in a Wheelchair Inspires, Comforts Kids with Disabilities: http://bit.ly/aIRou6 - AWESOME!

• @pendletonauthor: Healing, one Lesson at a Time, Self Healing Expressions, http://bit.ly/btsLq1

• Belleruth Naparstek:Relax with Guided Imagery: Press 'Play' and Go to Your Happy Place http://huff.to/b1GGJl 

Grieving Children and Adolescents: The Role of Internet Support

As part of its effort to explore how children and adolescents can use the Internet as an additional source of information and support for grief, Hospice Foundation of America will offer an online Webinar, Grieving Children and Adolescents: The Role of Internet Support on Tuesday, June 15, 2010, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM Eastern Time.  Panelists Pamela Gabbay and Cendra Lynn will discuss advantages and disadvantages of utilizing the Internet for bereavement support, as well as innovative strategies for using this technology for education, ritual and support in a monitored, safe way. Registration is open to both individuals and to organizations.

Selected Tweets, May 9 - May 15

Recommended reading, from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

On Caregiving and Hospice:

• @DrDavidBallard: Using vacation time to help w/ #caregiving? Tips on finding balance (via @APAHelpCenter), http://ow.ly/1KIiD

• Hospice and Caregiving Blog: New Caregivers and Veterans Law, http://bit.ly/9KMMR2
  

• @GraceHouseNH: A musical context 'can help people with dementia remember' http://ht.ly/1KEl1

• Helpful Information: Are you seeing dementia symptoms in your elderly loved one? http://bit.ly/9HO0zK

• Laurel Kennedy answers more of your elder care questions, http://networkedblogs.com/3NoO3

• @doclake: RT @taraparkerpope: Telling Patients the Whole Truth http://nyti.ms/doNtXE
  

• A heartwarmer by Claire Perkins: Love Never Dies | Open to Hope Foundation http://bit.ly/a1eig7

• Dr. Michael Warren: Hospice represents a caring alternative http://bit.ly/cVvv9P

• @NHPCO_news: NHPCO releases statement and commentary on Palliative Sedation Therapy, http://bit.ly/d4bsuB

• @AgeWiseLiving: LifeTalks: Strategies to help you have difficult conversations with your aging parents http://ow.ly/1Jfpm

• @ElderCareRN: Elders and Pet Ownership - A Balance of Love: http://bit.ly/aim1g5

• 5 issues to consider before parents and adult children move in together - http://bit.ly/9xQmqn
  

On Understanding and Managing Grief:

• @Selfhealingexpr: The First Year of Grief: Help for the Journey, by @griefhealing, http://bit.ly/dxIVcT Sensitive online support

• @RiseofYourLife: Hospice organizations provide grief services to widows and widowers of non-patients, too http://bit.ly/d1gMUd

• @moyerfoundation: Children often feel isolated in #grief but rarely receive formal grief counseling http://bit.ly/cWYvAI

• Widow Learns Important Lessons from Her Kids | Open to Hope Foundation http://bit.ly/9Eubtp

• Using Movies to Help Move through Grief http://bit.ly/catXFV 

• Lovely Idea! @DianaSebzda: Memorials For Loved Ones http://bit.ly/cgSS9i

• @GrievingDads: From Kelly Farley, founder of GrievingDads.com: Journey Toward Father's Day http://bit.ly/aOtKYo

• @soaringspirits: RT @HelloGrief: Jill Fitzgerald on learning how to surf the waves of grief http://bit.ly/cl6POY

• A beautiful and touching reflection on Being Present: http://bit.ly/aGq241

 On Mother's Day:

• @DoyleDiana: My Mother's Day with Signs from Heaven - some comfort to 'believe' http://bit.ly/aeds6z

• Clara Hinton: Making Amends After Mom is Gone | Open to Hope Foundation http://bit.ly/ccka1G
  

• Diana Doyle: Mother’s Day Brings Sorrow - and Joy | Open to Hope Foundation http://bit.ly/caR5KI
  

• Dempsey Rice: Mother’s Day Transforms After Mom’s Suicide | Open to Hope Foundation http://bit.ly/9rMKIf

• @KSBuckley: Remembering My Mother: http://bit.ly/968mM1

• Connie Vasquez: The First Mother’s Day Without Mine | Open to Hope Foundation http://bit.ly/9AqLOc

• @soaringspirits: Beautiful Mother's Day message to kids from bereaved dad on Widow's Voice http://bit.ly/bk0kWK

• Lovely! RT @Joannefunch: Mother's Day tribute from @jackietrottmann http://tinyurl.com/29ku2hx 

 On Pet Loss:

• @WorldbytheTail: Is Grief Different When a Pet Disappears? http://bit.ly/c9aqzL 

• @HospiceTweets: Pet hospice provides care for dying pets http://bit.ly/ct0xbM

• @peternity: Help kids mourn loss of pet with Kidoodlyrock, engraved with their own drawing of their pet http://tinyurl.com/pzlm6c 

Other Recommended Listening, Viewing, and Reading:

• Gail Sheehy: Passages in Caregiving | The Diane Rehm Show from WAMU and NPR http://bit.ly/dBbzxH

• @PetsforPatriots: Clueless: most Americans ignorant of issues facing Iraq/Afghanistan #veterans http://ht.ly/1JP2E

• @soaringspirits: Set your DVR NOW: Memorial Day concert (@PBS) - featuring military widows then and now, thanks to @americanWP

•  @Joannefunch: Wow, check out 80-year-old's performance on Britain's Got Talent- never too late to shine, http://tinyurl.com/29hs4e6

• @PetsforPatriots: Shelters, groomers donate pet hair to help #oilspill cleanup, http://bit.ly/bz0Li9 

• Important! @PetsforPatriots: #Veterans react to #AP story on #PTSD fraud, http://bit.ly/9HEoAh 

 Helpful Web Sites:

• Widow Match: from Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation, free widow and widower match programs to connect you with others who understand

• GrievingDads.com: Kelly Farley's mission is helping other bereaved dads, http://bit.ly/ajydAt

• Interregnum: Grief support, education and outreach - "providing meaningful service to all who grieve and to all who care about them."

• The Checkout Line – Daily online advice for both the terminally ill and their friends and relatives - "Every week day your questions about dying - how it affects you, how to deal with it - will be answered."

National Nurses Week, May 6-12

I am proud to join with my nurse colleagues in celebrating National Nurses Week.  Today's nurses fill important roles in many different settings, including homes, schools, shelters, clinics, and hospitals -- but the nurses with whom I am privileged to work in hospice are among the most dedicated and compassionate.  It's no exaggeration to say that I am blessed to be working with angels.

Selected Tweets, May 2 - May 8

Not to be missed reading, from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week,

On Caregiving and Hospice:

• @myOH_AgingWell: RT @DelObispo 10 Things You Don't Know About #Caregiving - But Should, via Prevention.com, http://ow.ly/1HQmK

• Hospice in 5 Words: Family, Caring, Kind, Competent and Professional, http://bit.ly/bfxVU5

• @AgeWiseLiving: Something to Consider: Aging Parents and Air Travel, http://ow.ly/1Ij0t

• @ElderCareRN: Interesting Worksheet to Assess Elderly Relative's Need for Long-term Care, http://bit.ly/adIsdj

• @LifeBridgeSolns Budgeting For Caregiving, http://hub.am/9yyOaE

• Excellent! Jeanne Dennis's Guide to Visiting One Who Is Dying, http://huff.to/dwYREa

• Outstanding Video! Please RT @NHPCO_news: Choosing a Hospice, http://bit.ly/cDJvuT

• HFA Blog: Daughter's Personal Experience with Hospice, http://bit.ly/9GnZ6n

• Stan Goldberg: Understanding Chronic and Terminal Iillnesses: A Guide for Healthy People, http://bit.ly/ahZ77d

• @AgeWiseLiving: Where Should Mom Live?  The Rest of the Story, http://ow.ly/1GgTZ

• Hospice Offers Pet Therapy Program, http://bit.ly/cUeK7c

On Understanding and Managing Grief: 

• Lovely! RT @Joannefunch: Mother's Day Tribute from @jackietrottmann  http://tinyurl.com/29ku2hx

• @arttxalliance: Art Ttherapy Helps Kids Cope Creatively with Loss, http://bit.ly/bMwDSS

• @soaringspirits: Camp Widow: Updated List of Inspiring Presenters: http://bit.ly/cl5cKs

• @hospice_news: HFA Presents Webinar on Grieving Children: Role of Internet Support http://bit.ly/9FgLs1

• @NAGCnews: Camps for Grieving Families: You Have Questions. We Have Answers http://eepurl.com/uo2d

• @TAPS4America: TAPS National Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp, http://bit.ly/9Egk7l

• Mother's Day, Father's Day: Bereaved Children in the Classroom | Hello Grief http://bit.ly/cot5ug

• @opentohope: "Where Bereaved Parents Don't Feel So Alone" http://bit.ly/c0qXzC

• For Widows, Widowers and Those Who Care about Them: LOST MY PARTNER blog http://bit.ly/59efl

• Will Meecham on The Value of Sorrow | PsychCentral http://bit.ly/9GEpcm

• @KSBuckley: Top Ten Tips for a Grateful Life, http://bit.ly/9RjQ7p

• Alisha Krukowski: What Can Bereaved Daughters Do on Mother's Day? http://bit.ly/c3jgOz

• @soaringspirits: SSLF has added a State-by-State List of Grief Support Centers to Our ResourceP age http://bit.ly/aI5hcy 

On Pet Loss: 

• @peternity: We have a Grief Support Link on our website to help you through Grief of Losing a Beloved Pet http://tinyurl.com/nu4lad

• @animalspiritnet: Join Teresa Wagner for free teleclass, Finding the Grace in Grief, on May 11th http://ow.ly/1DIHp

• Offering a Safe Place to Mourn Beloved Pets http://bit.ly/aMH4cv

• @peternity: A Pet Memorial Company to "Hold Your Hand." Read testimonials, http://tinyurl.com/y8hr4hv

• Turning Tragedy into a New Direction through Pet Loss/Grief Support: Goodgriefpetloss's Blog http://bit.ly/9XiLYX

• Terminally Ill Pets, Grieving Families Find Comfort in Hands of Hospice http://bit.ly/aCPddP  

Other Recommended Reading:

• RT @angelanimals: One of saddest, most touching clips ever! Cat Gives CPR to Injured Girlfriend. Have hankies ready. http://bit.ly/d04bTO

• Healing Doc Carl Hammerschlag shares his wisdom on RealitySandwich.com http://bit.ly/a1NMhq  

Selected Tweets, April 25 - May 1

Recommended Reading, from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week,

On Caregiving and Hospice:

• Alert! On CBS Sunday Morning - A Segment on Palliative Care This Sunday, May 2, with Interviews with Dr Meier and Robert Pardi 

• @caring: Signs That the End is Near, http://bit.ly/brdUd4

• Idea worth spreading! RT @DianaSebzda: RT @ForCaregivers Respite Care Offered on Demand, http://bit.ly/dCuEBG

• Great article! Adult Children Learn to Become Parents to Their Parents, http://bit.ly/9Rl1Ic

• @ElderCareRN: Wonderful Tips for Caregiving of Dementia Patients, http://bit.ly/aQxq5y

• @ewidera: RT @Pallimed: Pallimed Arts Post: You Don't Know Jack

• Debating the Ethics of Rationing End-of-Life Care | PBS NewsHour, 4/26/10, http://to.pbs.org/d2ce0w

• Helpful article! RT @AgeWiseLiving: How to Help Family Members with Denial, http://ow.ly/1DUjG http://bit.ly/d0I1fJ

• This is a must read! RT @nursingpins RT @tlomauro Death at 25: Blogging the End of a Life - http://bit.ly/aqAbao

• Enlist Support of Extended Family Members and Adult Day Care Services to Alleviate Stress of Caregiving: http://bit.ly/9OUSbo

• Man With Cancer Seeks Father Figures for His Daughters in 'The Council of Dads' http://bit.ly/d9wFqh

• @ElderCareRN: Taking Care of The Folks http://aweber.com/b/iBDL

• @hfahospice: Before and After the Death, Online - http://tinyurl.com/25kjqxo

• @Caring: Resentment: The Emotion Nobody Talks About http://bit.ly/bdRteB

• Barbara Friesner @AgeWiseLiving: Elder #Caregiving: Oy, The Guilt Already! http://ow.ly/1FfAR (via @EvanCarmichael)

On Understanding and Managing Grief:

• @soaringspirits: Camp Widow, Amazing Community for Those Who've Lost a Life Partner. Come and Be Inspired! http://bit.ly/ajXDcO

• On Widow's Voice Blog, Bereaved Dad Describes Efforts at Rebuilding http://bit.ly/bjcVI1

• @ShareWIK: What Are the Right Words to Say to Someone after Losing a Spouse? http://ow.ly/OUhU

• @daanwesterink: Movie,The Boys Are Back: Widower Must Raise His Sons Alone http://tinyurl.com/lmv3xz

• @DianaSebzda: RT @Echostone Young Christian Widow: 10 Lessons I've Learned About Grieving, http://bit.ly/cSHpjw

• Kelly Buckley: Healthcare Professionals Need to Ask: Is It Depression? Or Is It Grief? http://bit.ly/9C19FM

• Alisha Krukowski: When Grief Sneaks Up On You Without Warning | Hello Grief http://bit.ly/cf6n4c

• The Power of Remembering: My Grandfather's Pipe, http://bit.ly/8XETie http://bit.ly/bVKKwO

• @LegacyConnect: Talk about Death is Alive and Well, says new LegacyConnect obit blogger Susan Soper http://bit.ly/bhw7NU

• Beautifully written: Grieving Daddy's Death http://bit.ly/aBxcLA

• @BethSPatterson: Teens and Grief: A Guide for Parents http://bit.ly/athLFN

• @TAPS4America: Friendship is born when one person says to another "What! You, too? I thought I was the only one." http://bit.ly/dfe3m9
  
  
• Beautiful Comfort for Grieving Hearts! RT @MISS_Foundation: http://bit.ly/9UYqlT See also http://bit.ly/mVHgn

• RT @AgeWiseLiving: Very touching post via @nytimes: My Mother’s Watch http://ow.ly/1DONj

• Kelly Buckley on Learning to Embrace Life's Joy as You Grieve: http://bit.ly/9J3O1t 

• Bill Hayes shares a touching story of Love, Loss and Sleeplessness: http://nyti.ms/cvW4LY

• Ligia Houben on Dealing With Loss in the Workplace | Open to Hope Foundation http://bit.ly/cItxIs

• Research Demonstrates: Conscious Focus on Gratitude Has Emotional, Physical and Interpersonal Benefits -- and It's Free! http://bit.ly/dBW9dn

• @DrWeil: Loneliness May Raise Blood Pressure: http://bit.ly/bNiYHG Being Part of a Community Is Vital to Good Health

• Kelly Buckley on The Power of Gratitude: http://bit.ly/aTj7LW
  
• Selfhealingexpr Sensitive Online Support: The First Year of Grief: Help for the Journey, http://bit.ly/pyebF

• Nice Playlist! @HelloGrief: Teens Use Music to Express Feelings, Hopes, Fears Related to Loss: http://bit.ly/c4z6gm

• Kelly Buckley on Writing Your Own Fortune, via Gratitude In Grief: The Fortune Cookie http://bit.ly/cGKnPg

• How Grief Feels: @soaringspirits: My Personal Earthquake on Scribd http://bit.ly/9jHBMa 

On Pet Loss: 

• Beautiful Account of Pet Hospice, At Home Euthanasia | STLtoday.com http://bit.ly/cIlNjX 

• @animalspiritnet: Finding the Grace in Grief, Free Teleclass May 11 with Teresa Wagner: http://ow.ly/1DIFd 

• @WorldbytheTail: "It's Okay To Cry...You Want To Know Why?" http://bit.ly/b33mHd

• Coping With Depression When Your Pet Dies | http://bit.ly/9fRd8B

• Others May Not Understand; Find the Compassion You Need Anyway: http://tinyurl.com/d7fovg

• We Have Much to Learn from Dogs, @Selfhealingexpr: Dog Hero - Youtube Video http://bit.ly/9ZjYmm

Other: 

• The Power of Mutual Support Groups: Mental Health Patients Turn to Each Other | Seattle Times http://bit.ly/bCqW2i

• There's an important lesson here for all of us. Thank you, Amy, @parmfarm! http://bit.ly/df256v
   
• Thoughts on Disability | GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Care Blog http://bit.ly/dfEdUe