• ”The Snow Sister”A heart-shattering Christmas movie about loss, family trauma and letting go

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    ”The Snow Sister”
    A heart-shattering Christmas movie about loss, family trauma and letting go



  • “Ghosting” Is a Frightening Form of Identity TheftUnscrupulous thieves steal the identities of people who have died

    “Ghosting” Is a Frightening Form of Identity Theft
    Unscrupulous thieves steal the identities of people who have died

    Identity theft is an agonizing burden that affects millions of people around the world every day. Unfortunately, identity thieves can also deal this cruel blow to bereaved families. Criminals use a practice known as “ghosting” to open new bank accounts, apply for loans, file false tax returns and reap health care benefits using the identity…

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  • Monday Hearts for Madalene
    Page Hodel creates beautiful hearts as an ongoing celebration of love

    It’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,…

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  • “To An Athlete Dying Young”The benefits of living a short life

    “To An Athlete Dying Young”
    The benefits of living a short life

    Alfred Edward Housman’s poem “To an Athlete Dying Young” was published in 1896. Housman was a professor of Latin at the University of London and, finally, at Cambridge. His sad, pessimistic poems spoke to a generation on the brink of and in the midst of World War I. Housman was fascinated by the young men…

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  • A Community of Cremation Vessels: Cloud of Stars by Zhufei ZhufeiChinese architecture blends technology with tradition in this columbarium

    A Community of Cremation Vessels: Cloud of Stars by Zhufei Zhufei
    Chinese architecture blends technology with tradition in this columbarium

    Today, social media pervades our culture, setting the tone for the way we choose to experience life. So why not tailor technology to accommodate the ways we choose to experience death? Design for Death finalist Zhufei Zhufei is one of the pioneers of this concept. Zhufei’s design for a columbarium called, “Cloud of Stars” is…

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  • Our Weekly Tip: Make the Most of a EulogyUse our tips to create a unique eulogy to commemorate your loved one.

    Our Weekly Tip: Make the Most of a Eulogy
    Use our tips to create a unique eulogy to commemorate your loved one.

    Our Weekly Tip: Whether you’re writing one or listening to one, eulogies are never easy. While it is definitely important to recall memories of our loved ones after they have died, eulogies have a bad reputation as being long, upsetting and uncomfortable. But do they need to be this way? Why can’t we commemorate our loved…

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  • How Does Reiki Help With Healing? (Interview)
    A Reiki practitioner and trainer talks about using Reiki to help with death and bereavement

    In this second part of our interview with Jennifer Brinn, the Master level Reiki practitioner discusses how she uses Reiki to facilitate healing and help clients have a peaceful and comfortable death. She also talks about using Reiki to comfort someone who has had a loved one die. Debra: Hi, Jennifer, welcome back. I really…

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  • “Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself”A young Jewish girl learns to cope with life’s problems in this novel

    “Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself”
    A young Jewish girl learns to cope with life’s problems in this novel

    I found “Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself” by Judy Blume in my stocking the Christmas before my 10th birthday. Over the years, it has become one of my favorite novels. Although marketed as a young adult book, Sally as much to offer grown-ups as well. The book is written in the third person from…

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  • Studies Show Differences in Quality of Palliative CareBlack patients and patients with organ failure report poor levels of palliative care

    Studies Show Differences in Quality of Palliative Care
    Black patients and patients with organ failure report poor levels of palliative care

    Palliative care is designed to provide comfort to people who have terminal illnesses. Yet multiple studies show that not all patients receive the same quality of care. In one study of Veterans Administration hospitals, black patients were less likely than white patients to receive basic services such as chaplain consults. What’s more, many black patients said that…

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  • Standing Rock Land and Water Protectors Defend Burial Grounds From Desecration by Big OilNative American graves excavated for pipeline construction

    Standing Rock Land and Water Protectors Defend Burial Grounds From Desecration by Big Oil
    Native American graves excavated for pipeline construction

    The standoff on and near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation between indigenous-led resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline project and security and police forces is currently making global headlines. At issue are the land rights of indigenous people, the human right to clean water and the need for sustainable energy solutions, among other matters. The…

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