-
Terminal Illness Ties Bring Death into Fashion
An artist creates stunning neckties designed to educate and make us smileWe often think of fashion as a fun distraction from the stress of daily life. Most fashion designers celebrate lighthearted youth, beauty and vitality, with brands claiming to shave 10 years off of your appearance using only a well-tailored dress or suit. Only avant-garde designers explore the messier, darker sides of life. Terminal illness ties do…
/
-
“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”
Schnabel’s award winning film show us we can endure and overcomeHow expansive is the human mind? How resilient is the human spirit? These are questions few of us ask ourselves as we go about our daily lives. Yet when tragedy strikes, the answers may be crucial to our ability to survive. “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” is a film that answers both of these…
/
-
Sharing Grief During the Holidays
A pastor in Wisconsin held a special service to acknowledge parishioners’ griefThe holidays come with a host of expectations. Perhaps the most ubiquitous of these is the feeling that we must put a smile on our faces no matter how we feel. This “forced cheer” can be difficult for anyone under any circumstances. After all, life doesn’t stop throwing you curve balls because the holidays arrive.…
/
-
Our Monthly Tip: Ease Grief by Volunteering
Acting as a volunteer can help heal your grief and painOur Tip of the Month: The “post-holiday blues” is a common phenomenon. Although many people feel relieved that the hustle and bustle is over, the let-down is often very hard for those dealing with grief. Volunteering is great way to ease feelings of sadness by focusing on the needs of others rather than your own pain.…
/
-
Funeral Home Weddings Are On the Rise
“‘Til death do us part” could come full circle for some couplesThe appeal of funeral home weddings is easy to understand. A Pew Research study released in 2015 found that a growing number of U.S. adults do not identify with a particular religion. Thus, the need for secular wedding venues is on the rise. And funeral homes are starting to see how they can benefit from…
/
-
Monday Hearts for Madalene
Page Hodel creates beautiful hearts as an ongoing celebration of loveIt’s an honor for SevenPonds to share with our readers the story of the Monday Hearts for Madalene project, a true account of the power of love in the midst of death.The project’s origins take us to 2005: the moment Page Hodel encountered Madalene Rodriguez and fell “instantly, dizzyingly in love with her.” The couple’s first meeting was electric,…
/
-
A Holiday Album: The Gift of a Life Review
A Heartfelt Holiday Tradition That Celebrates a Life Well LivedWorking with and being the student of those facing the end of life for many years, I have witnessed what really matters in living and in dying. Prompted to examine the life I was living and the legacy I would be leaving, I took action on the lessons the dying had shown me. I put together…
/
-
-
How Can Caregivers Support Patients Without Suffering Themselves? (Interview)
A hospital chaplain discusses how to both protect and open our hearts to loved onesToday, SevenPonds speaks with Judy Long, an educator and chaplain at UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco. In her role as a chaplain, she communicates with patients, families, caregivers, physicians and nurses to find the best possible care plan. Judy leads patients and their caregivers through guided meditations designed to ease suffering, and helps them…
/
Want an Easier Way to Plan a Memorial Event? Get our FREE guide
“7 Ways to Create an Amazing Celebration of Life”
