Lisa Carlson was a passionate advocate for families dealing with death. She wanted people to understand they could care for their loved ones themselves without spending a lot of money.
She wrote the first book that taught families how to handle their dead at home, which helped many realize they didn't have to rely on expensive funeral services.
Lisa was known for her honesty and humor, and she believed laughter could help heal pain. She had a unique, caring spirit that touched everyone around her.
Creativity is a mysterious process that often results in something beyond capture, whether creating life or art.
Loss and failure are parts of the creative process, and handling them can vary based on the medium one works in.
Being vulnerable and sharing the journey of trying, even if it leads to painful outcomes, can create stronger connections and provide valuable lessons in forgiveness and self-discovery.
To live in this world, you must love what is mortal and hold it close to you as your own life depends on it, then be ready to let it go when the time comes.
Grief, starlight, and living from the heart are key themes in this post.
The importance of embracing impermanence and being able to release things when the time comes is highlighted.
The pandemic widened political and emotional rifts that ended a long marriage and left many important conversations unsaid, turning fear into anger between partners.
Lockdowns erased in-person communities and activities that shaped identity, and returning to those spaces now feels alien and difficult.
There are invisible, lasting harms—guilt, grief, and a hollow sense of survival—that aren’t detected by medical tests but stay with people long after the virus recedes.
Losing a pet, especially a dog, can lead to deep feelings of grief and loneliness. Coming home to the absence of a beloved dog can be especially hard.
Grief can feel different depending on who we lose. Each relationship shapes our feelings of loss in unique ways, whether it’s a child, friend, parent, or pet.
Holidays often bring back memories of lost loved ones, including pets. These times can stir up both sweet memories and painful feelings of absence.
Strict pandemic rules like 'no visitors' policies cut families off from loved ones during critical hospital moments, making decisions and goodbyes painfully hard.
A young adult got severely sick with COVID and died after a year of disrupted work and schooling, leaving the family with deep, lasting grief and trauma.
The family feels anger and wants accountability for how the pandemic was handled, while also holding a nuanced view that both living in fear of the virus and mocking it are wrong.
The author is taking a break from writing due to a personal loss and the need to deal with the aftermath, like paperwork and planning.
They have mixed feelings about sharing their emotions with others, feeling torn between desiring understanding and feeling uncomfortable with conventional expressions of sympathy.
The author values genuine connections and sharing experiences with others, but also struggles with the idea of receiving generic or obligatory responses.
Pet owners often create unique voices and stories for their pets, like a little private language that makes life more fun. This 'Dog Voice' reflects the owners' love and imagination.
The bond with pets can feel deeply personal, almost as if they have their own personalities and inner lives. This connection helps owners cope with feelings of loss when pets are gone.
Grieving a pet is natural and shows the strong emotional ties we form with them. Many people have shared similar feelings throughout history, which shows that this love is universal.
Achilles' lament for Patroklos in Iliad 19 explores the impact of Patroklos' death on others, showcasing themes of personal loss and grief.
Achilles expresses a collapse of identities with Patroklos and projects the loss of a single person onto his living father and son, illustrating a narrative of replacement and surrogacy.
Grief is associative and unpredictable, touching not only the mourner but also the internal and external audiences, encouraging reflection on personal losses and the importance of responding to others' suffering.
Human connection is essential for health and well-being. Reach out, reconnect, and stay connected to others.
Establishing a meaningful routine, engaging in volunteer work, and developing personal interests are crucial for a fulfilling retirement.
In times of grief, making an effort to stay connected with friends and accept invitations, even if it feels uncomfortable, can help with the healing process.
The protagonist reflects on his father's life and premature death, feeling the weight of unfulfilled potential.
Returning to his childhood home after facing job loss and relationship troubles, the protagonist grapples with feelings of failure and uncertainty about the future.
Finding an old PlayStation console sparks memories of bonding with his father through a video game, eventually leading to a poignant realization about letting go of past victories.
Personal grief is often an individual experience, and it can be uniquely isolating, but it can also strengthen us as we navigate through it alone.
Adversity, whether from personal loss or external challenges like tyranny, can be faced with practical steps that bring order to chaos, making us stronger and more capable.
Collective grief, experienced together during challenging times, can lead to a shared resilience and solidarity that can fuel movements and revolutions.
Emotions like sadness and tears are normal and can be a sign of strength. It's healthy to let yourself feel deeply and express those feelings.
Journaling can help you understand and release difficult emotions. Writing about your feelings lets you process them better.
Allowing yourself to feel grief can also lead to joy and gratitude. Embracing your emotions can help connect you more with your own experiences and memories.
Our society is going through a period of collective insanity with disturbing events and conflicts.
Finding solace and promoting mental well-being can be achieved through activities like using a steam room and engaging with thought-provoking content, such as books.
Exploring faith, doubt, and deeper questions through literature and music, like the work of Nick Cave, can lead to personal growth and introspection.
Loss can be incredibly overwhelming, and sometimes it can lead to devastating consequences like suicide. The experience of losing a home and a loved one at the same time can multiply the grief.
Being an atheist can change how one processes grief. Without a belief in a higher power, there can be less internal conflict and blame, allowing for a more straightforward acceptance of loss.
Compassion and support from friends and family can help during difficult times. Even in the face of tragedy, the kindness of others can soften the experience of loss.