Lights of Life 2015
This holiday season, we invite you to remember someone who has been special in your life by attending our Lights of Life Holiday Remembrance Service. This indoor service will feature moments to honor and remember as well as connect with others in similar situations.
For your convenience, we are having a Lights of Life Holiday Remembrance Service both in Longmont and Boulder. RSVP’s are appreciated. For more information or to register, please click here.
Halloween Blues
As it gets darker earlier, it gets colder and Halloween is just around the corner, there are so many fall activities that time can feel compressed or over scheduled.
How do you cope with the holiday blues if this is an important holiday to you? How do you have the emotional energy to face this holiday without dread? Each person handles their grief differently. Here is one idea for Halloween. On the holiday, set aside five minutes to check in with your senses. What do you:
SEE? SMELL? TASTE? TOUCH? HEAR?
This helps you if you are feeling anxious or sad. Take a pause and acknowledge where you are in the moment. This is a way to know how you are on this holiday, without too much effort or energy. If you want to, jot it down. For example this Halloween, I might see the birds in the sky flying over. I hear the sound of traffic, etc.
If you want to spend some time reflecting about your loved one, do the same thing again.
SEE? SMELL? TASTE? TOUCH? HEAR?
What sounds do you think of when you think of your loved one? Or smell? Is it the food he/she made or something that he or she used? For example, when I think of my mother, I remember the smell of cold leaves before going trick or treating, or her popcorn balls that smelled of hot sugar.
Sensory memories are quite unique for each person and special. We often can associate those sensory memories in our present life. It gives us connection with a loved one that is no longer here.
On Halloween, I will set out a pumpkin, plug in some lights, order take out because I don’t have energy to cook and I will remember her when I smell the cold leaves on Halloween night.
Be gentle with yourselves in grief.
On the Same Page
Earlier this year, we shared that several of our TRU employees will be participating in Lafayette and Louisville Public Libraries and the Town of Superior’s On The Same Page program this year. This program will feature two books, Atul Gawande’s, Being Mortal and Kent Haruf’s, Benediction. The first of several presentations and discussions are just around the corner:
Coffee Cup Conversations: Tough Talk Made Easy
Sunday, September 13, 2 – 4 pm
Louisville Public Library 951 Spruce Street, Louisville
Facilitator: Darla Schueth
What Matters in the End: Critical End-of-Life Conversations
Wednesday, September 16, 7 – 8 pm
Louisville Public Library 951 Spruce Street, Louisville
Facilitators: Shirley Huang, MD, & Samantha Barrow, MSW
Knowing Where to Turn: The Basics of Hospice & Palliative Care
Wednesday, October 7, 7 – 8 pm
Lafayette Public Library, 775 W. Baseline Rd., Lafayette
Facilitators: Darla Schueth & Patricia Mehnert
For the full schedule of events, clicke here: On The Same Page Schedule.
Click to read the original article announcing this series in the Sunday Daily Camera: http://www.dailycamera.com/news/ci_28324857/same-page-aims-collectively-rally-readers-lafayette-louisville.
Grief Services Fall Newsletter 2015
Our fall Grief Services newsletter has arrived & is available to download and share. Click the link below to read helpful tips for the grief journey, recommending readings, and fall grief group offerings:
Grief Services Newsletter Fall 2015
For more information on our Grief Services, click here.
Moments of Gratitude – ABC Kids Climbing
This moment of gratitude is inspired by the wonderful folks at ABC Kids Climbing in Boulder. They have graciously offered to partner with us and make our Healing Circles Nature Adventure Day possible. We look forward to spending an awesome day in Eldorado Canyon for this fun day!
For more information on the Healing Circles Nature Adventure Day or to register, click here.
Surviving Father’s Day
How do you manage your grief on Father’s Day? Here’s a simple version of surviving Father’s Day without your Dad.
You will experience feelings. You may not like them, but you will have them. It very well may be painful, empty, lonely, loving, connecting, sad, happy, meaningful, numb, disconnected, or all of the above. Feelings are an important part of our life.
Make a plan. Do something. If you do something, it will feel as though this day matters, and that your dad, uncle, or grandpa are being meaningfully remembered. Try doing something that your dad would have enjoyed doing with you. Rituals and family gatherings are popular. Think about activities that would be meaningful to you.
Believe that the day will pass and that the feelings will pass as well. At the end of the day, it will be over for another year. It might help to remember that in nature, there are no special days or national holidays. The birds don’t know it is Father’s Day. It is just another day for them.
Do what helps you best when you feel stressed. Whether it is being outside, doing an activity, watching a show, being with friends or being alone, taking a bubble bath, or reading a book, just do it, as long as it is comforting and not destructive. Take care of yourself.
Rest, slow down, take a pause, breathe and allow time to check-in with yourself even if it is in the midst of activity. Let people love and support you in a way that works for you.
Grief Services Summer Newsletter
Our Grief Services summer newsletter has arrived & is available to download and share. Click the link below to read helpful tips for the grief journey, recommending readings, and summer grief group offerings:
Grief Services Newsletter Summer 2015
For more information on our Grief Services, click here.
Join us at our Sidewalk Sale!
We are excited to let you know that we have received a large inventory from the Fresh Produce storefront in Boulder. We have styles and selection for women, men, and kids clothing in all sizes and for all seasons. All items will be $5 each. Our Sidewalk Sale will be throughout the weekend and pick up your new favorite summer pieces. Come early to get the best selection!
Friday, June 5th 6-8 pm
Saturday June 6th 4-7 pm
$5 each piece
*Cash/check preferred
Our Thrift Store is located at: 5565 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80303. For directions or more information click here.
Healing Circles Grief Group Update
A couple of months ago, we began a brand new grief support group for kids and teens. This workshop is for those who have had a death loss and want to remember their special person by creating glass art. The Spring Session of this group recently ended and was a success! We have had several participants sign up for the summer session and all of the parents said that this group had a positive impact.
Our summer session of the Healing Circles Glass Grief Group begins next month and will go through August. For more information or to register, please click here.
Download the flyer: Healing Circles Summer Glass Group 2015
Many thanks to our instructor Michon Davies for facilitating, our wonderful volunteers for assisting, and to C&H Glassworks & Ambrosia Glass for partnering with us and making this group possible!
