Posts Tagged ‘mari nardolillo dias’
GriefSPEAK: Surviving Grief – Mari Nardolillo Dias
By: Mari Nardolllo Dias “Don’t you know I’m still standing better than ever did… looking like a true survivor…” (Elton John) Deb Manzo McDonald posted the following on social media: “42 days ago, life as I know it once again changed, and left me on a path I was not ready for”. She was referring…
Read MoreGriefSPEAK: As told by Mercy – Interpreted by Mari Nardolillo Dias
by Dr. Mari Nardolillo Dias, contributing writer Dog Park Confessions It’s true. We dogs grieve all of the same emotions that go along with grief when we lose a human or a furry friend. In her book, “How Animals Grieve” (2003) Barbara J. King says that humans “can’t understand how [animals] think about death… but…
Read MoreGriefSpeak: What’s your relationship with your grief? – Mari Nardolillo Dias
By: Mari Nardolillo Dias Relationship: “The way in which two or more people or things are related” Maressa did not blink during our two hour entire session. She was wide-eyed and in shock as I waited for her to exhale. Her breaths were a series of short inhales as she spoke in a whisper, as…
Read MoreGriefSPEAK: The New Year Resolution that almost wasn’t – Mari Nardolillo Dias
By: Mari Nardolillo Dias Carmella had one goal, one resolution. Nothing lofty like many New Year resolutions, yet powerful and significant to her. A fingerprint. To be more exact, her deceased husband’s thumbprint. Carmella’s husband Joaquim passed gently without a sound. She planned to have a wake with an open casket (for the sake of…
Read MoreGriefSPEAK: So, this is Christmas – Mari Nardolillo Dias
By: Mari Nardolillo Dias “So, this is Christmas And what have you done Another year over And a new one just begun” (John Lennon) I have received several Christmas cards with letters enclosed. These letters summarize the highs, the lows, and the major happenings of the family members throughout the past year. There are births,…
Read MoreGriefSpeak: Mercy’s Musings – Mari Nardolillo Dias
By: Mari Nardolillo Dias (Written by Mari as told by Mercy) Most of you know me as the grief therapy dog at GracePointe Grief Center. Many of you know through social media that I just had my first birthday, which I like to think makes me wiser. I am getting the gist of this grief…
Read MoreGriefSpeak: No GPS for Grief – Mari Nardolillo Dias
By Mari Nardolillo Dias “I never knew grief felt so much like fear” (CS Lewis) The term “uncharted territory” is often used to describe grief. Oftentimes the phrase is thrown around as a cliché. We need to describe how it feels to be in a place that we have never been before. For those of…
Read MoreGriefSpeak: Work through Trauma, PTSD with a professional – Mari Nardolillo Dias
By: Mari Nardolillo Dias The term “trauma” is often used in thanatology (study of death and dying). Deaths are often categorized as “traumatic” if caused or associated with homicide or suicide, accidental or sudden/unexpected. Thus, the loss may be defined as traumatic loss, and grievers may be diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In…
Read MoreGriefSpeak: What color is your sadness? – Mari Nardolillo Dias
by Mari Nardolillo Dias, EdD, contributing writer “Privilege: Having the rare opportunity to do something that brings particular pleasure.” Grief has no color. Grief has no ethnicity, race, or culture. Nor does grief belong to a social or educational class or gender. Albeit there are different beliefs, values and funereal practices associated with death, death…
Read MoreGriefSpeak: Mediums – Truth or Fiction – Mari Nardolillo Dias
by Mari Nardolillo Dias Angela has been meeting with a medium since her husband passed. He (Charlie) often “comes through” and speaks of memories and experiences that the medium could not possibly be aware of. Last week, Angela’s medium said Charles was asking about their twins, now adults. The medium was not aware that Angela…
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