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“See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth
A song of tribute to a man who died too youngWhen Paul Walker tragically died before filming wrapped on Furious 7, the actors, crew, and fans of the franchise collectively mourned his loss. Walker had been the star of all seven franchise films, and his character was a fan favorite. On November 30, 2013, he and his friend, Roger Rodas, left an event organized by…
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The World’s Oldest Person Has Died at 119
Kane Tanaka died in Japan on Tuesday, April 19For the past three years, Japan’s Kane Tanaka held the title of the world’s oldest person. In early April, she became widely recognized as the second longest-lived person in known history, after Jeanne Calment, a French woman who reportedly died in 1997 at 122 (though this claim has been disputed). Tanaka had hoped to live…
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Our Monthly Tip: Release Bubbles Not Balloons
Loving the environment like your loved one didOur Tip of the Month The practice of releasing mass balloons at memorial services or celebrations of life has been around for ages. However, when your loved one adored nature and believed in good stewardship of our land, releasing balloons in their honor would be the last thing they would want. Thankfully, there is a…
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Three Cheers for Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents
A child creates joy with small thingsRuby Kate Chitsey is not your typical teenager. At 14, she has already created Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents, a charity that provides elderly nursing home residents with simple gifts to stave off loneliness and isolation. Having already raised $400,000 since 2019, Three Wishes is a bona fide charity based in Harrison, Arkansas, with a…
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Ancient Europeans Likely Reopened Graves for Heirlooms
Researchers say community members, not robbers, claimed special belongingsAnyone who’s watched Indiana Jones or Lara Croft explore ancient cities to claim buried treasure won’t blink twice at the concept of a grave robber. After all, what else would motivate others to dig up the dead, ransack their tombs, and leave them lying in disarray? But while archaeologists have long attributed the disturbance of…
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The Grieving Brain and How Our Minds Are Changed by Loss (Interview)
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry, Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor explains how the brain copes with bereavement and lossMary-Frances O’Connor has studied the brain for over 20 years, and is an associate professor of clinical psychology and psychiatry at the University of Arizona and the director of clinical training. Her new book, “The Grieving Brain,” was released earlier this year; however, her journey to understand grief began much earlier. When Dr. O’Connor was…
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“When Great Trees Fall”
Maya Angelou’s poem reassures its readersWhen great trees fall,rocks on distant hills shudder,lions hunker downin tall grasses,and even elephantslumber after safety. When great trees fallin forests,small things recoil into silence,their senseseroded beyond fear. There is an enormity to death, especially that of a loved one, that we humans can’t exactly comprehend. Maya Angelou illustrates that magnitude beautifully in this poem…
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Death’s Encore: The Woman Who Accidentally Faked Her Death
A language barrier becomes a bridge toward closure.This is the story of Charlotte, as told by Irena. Our “Opening Our Hearts” stories are based on people’s real-life experiences. By sharing these experiences publicly, we hope to help our readers feel less alone in their grief and, ultimately, to aid them in their healing process. In this post, Charlotte tells the story of…
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“How We Die”
After winning a National Book Award in 1994, Nuland’s groundbreaking treatise on death still holds weight todaySherwin Nuland, an accomplished surgeon, wrote “How We Die: Reflections on Life’s Final Chapter” in an effort to reveal the grim realities surrounding death; the fact that “by and large, dying is a messy business.” He was motivated to do so by witnessing how medicine’s drive to prolong life often enhances suffering; how the futile…
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