My question for you… how are you, right now? (All answers accepted!)

Gosh, it’s been a minute! So much has happened in the past month—an art residency in Greece, my completion of two certifications in the past week, and more…

Yet the more pressing question right now is: how are you? What are the elements of your life that comprise your answer?

This can be a challenging time of year. It’s a time of very public celebrations—Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, July 4th, and private celebrations too. And, anniversaries of special and wonderful events, and perhaps death days/anniversaries, too. I know all of these things are on my mind. And grief too, which arrives unexpectedly at times, after reading a poem, putting on a piece of clothing or jewelry, or making a favorite meal.

As I celebrated Mother’s Day, I thought a lot about my mom and her influence on my life. As Father’s Day arrived, I reminisced about my dad’s curious mind, adventurous spirit, and our family travels around the world. And just this week was the second anniversary of the death of our most recent canine companion, Gus… sometimes, I still cry when I think of him. Of course, I remember him with joy too. I think that I am better able to keep continuing bonds with my parents because of how their influence shows up in some much of what I do—they feel present. With Gus, I miss his sheer delight in being loved, and while I keep him in my heart and mind, it is the very visceral experience of his being that has been lost.

I wonder if now is a good time for you to explore the question I posed and to create the nuanced answer of your sense of how you are today… as days and times during the day can be different, right? (I do love the title and the ideas offered up in, Grief is a Sneaky Bitch, written by Lisa Keefauver.)

I know that there are times when I need to decide when and how much I will open up to what’s happening with me… and that’s almost never in the middle of my work day. For me, it’s the early morning with my first cup of coffee in hand—sometimes before, sometimes after meditating. Other times, it’s the late afternoon (with a cup of coffee) or an early weekend morning, when I devote time to creating an altar in remembrance. Other times, it’s part of catching up with a friend—sharing highs, lows, and all that’s in between.

Over the past three years, I have discovered and explored an ever-increasing range of resources for working with our loss and grief—articles, books, podcasts, coaching, and more.  If I can be of service in locating resources for you, a loved one or a friend, please reach out to me.