Vicki Paris Goodman's Blog, page 2

Your Comfort Zone: How You Treat It and Why It Matters

My dad was not one to dole out insightful advice. Indeed, he was far more likely to grab any opportunity to mindlessly, and tongue-in-cheek, offer up his favorite old standby: “Suffering is good for the character!”

What Singing Does for My Soul

I’ve played violin since age 7, and performing in orchestras, chamber groups and quartets has enriched my life immeasurably. I count my lucky stars that when we were kids, my cousin Judy, four years my senior and whom I worshipped, took up the violin. I had to do everything Judy did, so of course I begged my parents for violin lessons. Judy only played for a year, and I stayed for the rest of my life.

Making Sense of the Distance Between Me and My Terminally Ill Husband

It felt so tragic! There I was, taking care of my terminally ill husband whose impending death from liver cancer had finally drawn near. But he and I had very little to say to one another. What was happening to our relationship?

What If Death Isn���t Tragic?

What if the way we���ve been conditioned to think of death is nothing more than a cultural construct? What if we can think of death in a way that makes it a neutral event in our lives, even a good one? What if it isn���t even an event worthy of our grief?

What If Death Isn’t Tragic?

What if the way we’ve been conditioned to think of death is nothing more than a cultural construct? What if we can think of death in a way that makes it a neutral event in our lives, even a good one? What if it isn’t even an event worthy of our grief?

Finding Support During My Husband’s Terminal Illness

Is support available to a widow/widower-to-be? Will the spouse/caregiver even have the time to seek help prior to their spouse’s death? Will a person in the throes of transitioning from spouse to caregiver even be receptive to a helping hand of any kind?

Finding Support During My Husband���s Terminal Illness

Finding Support During My Husband���s Terminal Illness

Getting the Support I Needed Wasn’t Always Easy

As a surviving spouse, there were times I felt utter despair, and nothing seemed like an adequate option for relieving the hopelessness. In spite of friends’ attempts to console me, at times like this no one seemed up to the task of saying or doing anything that would make me feel better. I felt I had nowhere to turn.

Getting the Support I Needed Wasn���t Always Easy

AAs a surviving spouse, there were times I felt utter despair, and nothing seemed like an adequate option for relieving the hopelessness. In spite of friends��� attempts to console me, at times like this no one seemed up to the task of saying or doing anything that would make me feel better. I felt I had nowhere to turn.

After the Death of My Husband, My Life No Longer Had Any Meaning

How tragic, for life to suddenly lack all meaning! As a surviving spouse, I���d lost the husband and best friend with whom I could share things. Wasn���t my grief bad enough? Now everything I did left me feeling empty, to boot.