How often have you felt awkward, not knowing the right thing to say after someone you know has lost a loved one? Feeling someone else’s pain, especially when we personally relate to their type of loss, can be so uncomfortable that we just want to hide away.  But have you ever been on the other side of this experience?  Having just experienced the death of someone you love, have your friends disappeared? Staying present can [...]

There is an ancient Japanese art form called kintsugi, in which broken pottery is reconstructed – and in contrast to typical repair work, the goal of the reconstruction is not to hide the broken places but to emphasize them. In kintsugi, the seams connecting the broken pieces are filled with gold, creating a beautiful piece of art that highlights the history of the object. The object is broken but it is not deemed less valuable. [...]

To anyone grieving the loss of their father this Father’s Day: If this is your first Father’s Day without your dad, our hearts go out to you. Perhaps you want to pretend this day is just another day or perhaps you want to lean into your emotions. Both are allowed. If your father has been gone for years, this day may still come with a sting. It may also come with a smile. One thing [...]