THE JOURNEY:What does success in death mean to you? Does it mean you can now walk your dog through the neighborhood and actually look up and smile as people go by? Does it mean that you went and bought flowers for the oak barrel that has been neglected for the past year? Does it mean that you made chocolate chip cookies for the first time in God knows how long? Or did you just go for a ride without crying or talk to your kids about something stupid and inconsequential? As you have probably discovered from my past writings, there are no secret answers to this whole process. What there is are feelings, emotions, perceptions and the heart felt daily views of someone going through their own loss. I am finding that others share the need to know not what the pundits of grief say we should be experiencing, but what is it like on the day to day basis. I have definitely found it helpful to talk and write about this day to day reality. So back to the original question of what success in death means. Yes to all the above but remember its something different for everyone. There is no right or wrong. Being human means to me that I don't have to be like everyone around me and notice and react the same as they do. So create your own successes, notice life, react with your own style. And if you are not there yet, you will be and I wish you the best on your own very special journey.

LONG AND SHORT

THE LONGEST SHORTEST YEAR OF MY LIFE
BRINGS PEACE WHEN NEEDED
SADNESS WHEN REQUIRED
LONELINESS AROUND THE EDGES

IT FIGHTS TO CONQUER FEAR
CELEBRATES THE MANY VICTORIES
AND DARKENS THE DOORSTEP
WITH SURPRISING TIMING

REACHING OUT AND KNOWING
THAT THE FURTHER YOU GET AWAY
FROM THE LONGEST SHORTEST YEAR
WILL BRING PEACE AT LAST
TO THE PLACE YOU GOT AWAY FROM