Dealing With My Grief

100 episodes should be cause for celebration, but unfortunately a tragedy was unfolding in a Florida high school shortly after I released my previous episode of this podcast.

The question I ask myself is, "Why did this young man commit this crime?"

My conclusions may be a little surprising.

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Music provided by Oren Levine ([email protected])

I've had it this week.

In Reddit, Facebook, other podcasts... I've heard people tell others that they should be over their grief.

IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE! PERIOD.

I'ms still so upset, I cam barely type.

Grief isn't something that you get over. You have to learn the deal with the emotions the you get hit with as you go through life as you are constantly reminded that you must live without someone you love dearly.

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twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

web - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine ([email protected])

Shelby Forsythia is an Intuitive Grief Guide and host of the podcast Coming Back: Conversations on life after loss. After her mom's death in 2013, she became what she calls a "student of grief" and now writes, speaks, and teaches others about the transformational power of grief and loss. Shelby is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist® and Reiki Practitioner.

This week I had an opportunity to speak to Shelby about how the loss of her mother eventually led to her helping others deal with grief.

Find Shelby online:

• Web:http://www.shelbyforsythia.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shelbyforsythia
• Podcast: http://www.shelbyforsythia.com/comingback/

Subscribe to this podcast by using ony of the following:

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Contact me using any of following: email - [email protected]

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

web - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine ([email protected])

When I was 10, I lost my grandfather, dad, and an uncle in an 8-10 month time span.

About 3 years later I heard the phrase "Death comes in threes" for the first time. Then in August/September of 1985 it happened again: my grandmother, grandfather and an aunt... followed by the death of a cousin in early 1986.

I used to spend a lot of time following the death of a loved one trying to figure out who was next.

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Contact me using any of following: email - [email protected]

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

web - http:// www.dealingwithmygrief.com

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine ([email protected])

Thanks to the kind words obout last week's interview with my mo.... I appreciate the positive feedback.

A listener asked about how we can talk to kids about grief. Her first experience was a negative one because no set any type of expectations around the funeral ritual in her family.

I believe this stems from society changing from dealing with caring for the sick and dying to at home to the Civil War and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln ushering in the acceptance of embalming. Advancements in medicine and medical technology in later year would make hospitals and nursing home the leading locations for people to die. This would remove the personal touch and connection we have with the dying.

To prepare for death a death experience I think we need to help children deal with loss or at least sadness early in life to help them develop coping skills to deal with tough situations. When they have questions, we need to make sure we answer there questions in an age appropriate manner. If they don't ask questions we need to check in with them and gauge how we might best be able to help them.

Links used to research this episode:

National Home Funeral Alliance: What you need to no for requirements for conducting your own funeral/memorial, and if/when you need to consult a funeral director

HuffingtonPost: Personal stories of the journey to have a more personal do it yourself funeral.

If you are so inclined to share your story of loss, please email me at [email protected].

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Contact me using any of following: email - [email protected]

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

web - http:// www.dealingwithmygrief.com

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine ([email protected])

Two years ago I sat down and pressed record for the first time. I had no idea if anyone would listen and where this journey would take me. Many people thought this topic was either too sensitive to discuss or was just too much of a downer.

I could not be more pleased to prove the naysayers wrong. I found that many others where going through the same pain that I was and it was then that I thought about giving others a voice on this podcast. It started in Episode 55 with Joshua Black from the Grief Dreams podcast and will become a regular feature on this show.

I wanted to start this 3rd year with a conversation with the person who sacrificed all to make sure that I would be OK after my dad's death... my mom.

We had a great conversation... here is part of that sit down.

If you are so inclined to share your story of loss, please email me at [email protected].

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Contact me using any of following: email - [email protected]

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

web - http:// www.dealingwithmygrief.com

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine ([email protected])

I have often been asked how I feel about the subject of gun control. Many people thing that I am anti-gun because my father was murdered by someone with a shotgun.

This week I look at what or who really took the life of my father and how we might truly get away fro all the senseless killing that is running rampant in the States.

Look for a Youtube channel in the near future and email me ([email protected]) if you'd like to share your story of loss on the show.

• Click here to subscribe via Apple Podcasts
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Contact me using any of following: email - [email protected]

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

web - http:// www.dealingwithmygrief.com

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine ([email protected])

Life has continued to punch me in the gut in the month of December. It didn't help that I sabotaged what was this week supposed to be the interview with my mon by not saving the edited version.

I have also had to continuously deal with personal issues in my life.

My resolution for 2018 is to simply go where life takes me - for better or worse

Just some general housekeeping:

Look for a Youtube channel in the near future and email me ([email protected]) if you'd like to share your story of loss on the show.

• Click here to subscribe via Apple Podcasts
• Click here to subscribe on Android
• Click here to subscribe via RSS
• Click here to subscribe via Stitcher
• Click here to listen via iHeart Radio

Contact me using any of following: email - [email protected]

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

web - http:// www.dealingwithmygrief.com

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine ([email protected])

I've been MIA (missing in action) for a few weeks because I needed to take care of a few things back in St. Louis. I didn't have the time it would take to keep up my regular production schedule.

One thing that weighed heavily on my mind was the last conversation I had with my grandfather. He didn't want me to leave home and attend school half way across the country. I told him I'd only be gone for school, but he was still adamant that I should stay home.

I didn't have an opportunity to make things right between us as he died two weeks after I left home... I haven't spent more than a summer in St. Louis since I left for school. That was over 30 years ago.

While I have been tending to some of my mother's needs after a recent hospitalization this final conversation between my grandfather and me has been replying over and over in my mind.

On another note - I did sit down and record a conversation with my mother but did not have time to edit it for this week's show. Look for it next week.

If you have an opportunity, talk to a loved one and record it. You might be thankful you did a few years from now!

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Contact me using any of following: email - [email protected]

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

web - http:// www.dealingwithmygrief.com

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine ([email protected])

No music this week as I'm on the road visiting family for the Thanksgiving holiday (which is why there was no episode last week).

I had the opportunity to pick up some new podcasting gear on Black Friday in the form of two new microphones that' i'm going to use to interview my mother this week and I'm testing them out today.

Anyway, that got me thinking about mu technology background and how I used to teach Microsoft certification classes. Some students only wanted to know what information was covered on the certification exam while other students what to actually learn the products being covered in class.

As I think about how I a reacted to the loss of my father and others in my life, Irrealize I should have been focused on the lessons grief teaches us and not the answers to the questions thay I had/have surrounding loss.

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Contact me using any of following: email - [email protected]

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

web - http:// www.dealingwithmygrief.com

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine ([email protected])