The Journey from Grieving, to Feeling and Healing

Dr. Edith Eva Eger | TED...

amazing Lady and story.

We all go through feelings of loss, depression, loneliness at various times in our lives.

What we do with those feelings is up to us.

Have a look at this video and her story.

Dr. Edith Eva Eger 

Holocaust Survivor.

    

Dona Anderson

I don't know how she had her tremendous strength to go through what she did and then go into a profession helping others to heal from their loss and traumas.

As an older person now I've lost grandparents, parents, aunts & uncles, friends, and many pets.  

As I think of what to write my eyes are full of tears.

We don't get through life with a free pass to not have those losses.

She had so much to endure from a young age and thankfully she found ways to cope and shield herself from the many dark places that could have taken her in an opposite direction.

I've gotten to experience the many gifts of being part of a family, having a mix of friends from different times and places and hear their stories to tell. 

Our differences can often be opportunities for 

learning and sharing.. 

Our time here on earth is not known, 

lets not waste it.

PS. there are many great comments on You tube for her books as well. 

Thanks for your visit.

New posts every Tuesday and lots in the archives that you can visit, save & share.

I don't know the title yet but

 maybe the Word Contentment is involved.

Dona Anderson

“Rather than being your thoughts and emotions, 

be the awareness behind them.”

― Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

Why don't we feel like we think we should or want to?

We're all Human and that means we all have many choices to carry around.

From happy, to sad, to wanting more, being satisfied, or being lonely & anxious to grateful, calm, and at peace.

And, there're many words for all those feelings & emotions mixed in what we carry within us. 

                                             

                                           Do you say to yourself any of these ...

Why do I start to cry at a beautiful piece of music.

Why do I feel lonely and sad when I have so much to be thankful for.

Why am I tired and stressed out every day.

Why do things irritate me so easily

Why... Why... Why...

How many things make you mad, sad, angry, frustrated, unhappy, stressed ... and then you wonder why you're tired, mad. sad, and stressed.

What can we learn from our feelings and emotions to help us build that awareness we need to support us when we need it. 

See if any of these lines below connect to some of your feelings - what is your word that's missing at the end.

We'll look at the emotions later. 

It's Ok if you add in some more lines if needed ... 

We're just taking a look for now.

The word I'm stands for I AM and this powerful word connects us to our feelings and emotions. 

I'm more sensitive some days than others so I'm feeling   

My body hurts more lately than it used to so I'm feeling  

My sleep isn't very good most nights so I'm

I forget to eat regular meals everyday so I'm

I'm not exercising very often so I'm 

I don't get out to my activities every week so I'm 

I don't see my friends as often anymore so I'm,

Here's some words that may help for building Awareness

Emotions before may be  - Depressed, Sad Stressed Angry Lonely Teary Anxious Gloomy Nervous 

Emotions After could be -  Joy Valued Energized Eager Grateful Needed Admired Carefree Forgiving Healthy

How we change things around is up to each of us. 

Love this quote below by Maya Angelou. 

"Do the best you can until you know better, 

then when you know better, do better." 

Will you let it take You there.

PS. How we breathe also affects our feelings and 

emotions so here's a photo message of mine with words 

from my book Moving Forward from the heart. © 2015

A full healthy breath celebrated.

Take Care and thanks for your visit today.

We're living in very stressful times and our list may be longer than usual so give yourself a break, phone a friend, rest often, eat good foods, go for a walk or sit outside, and take a few extra breaths.

Links for sharing below 

and, I hope you end with I am feeling better.

Visit the Resources page for information.

Love Theme from...

Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet - 

   Joslin - Henri Mancini, Nino Rota

This is Amazing

Dona Anderson

By now You know I often share a music video I find that's  Amazing.

This one has it all.

Spectacular Performance

Beautiful location

Incredible Musicians

From start to finish

It wasn't only my eyes that shed a tear - check out the reviews from others over the years.

Their stories of watching the movie and listening to the music many times years ago, and the love they had and shared that is still felt.

Music sure can connect us to our inner heart where stories and many memories rest, and it can instantly fill our soul bringing us tears and other emotions.

It's been a few years of tears, loss, sadness, stress and more.

Our minds and hearts are full, tired but we have to keep going.

These reviews showed me that their losses were for someone or a time remembered that was deeply felt, loved, missed and it helps us all when the stories are both shared and heard.

We have to keep going.

PS. Often when I write a review it usually seems to be an immediate response, coming from the heart or somewhere else. 

This makes me think it is something that has been there a long time and no thought was needed to write it.  

I guess it was just sticking around, waiting to get out.

Thanks for your visit and love when you share with others so these posts posts get to travel the World.  Links below.

YES it is one of the most beautiful melodies ...

One of the most beautiful melodies ever written...

Dona Anderson

Summer of Music 2022 

Week 3

Soft 

Emotional

Uplifting

Beautiful

 

I've heard it before but not like this ...

Wonderful arrangement.

I also enjoyed seeing the young faces in the orchestra. 

They must have been very excited to participate in this video.

I'm speechless and don't know what else to say other than I'll be doing many repeats.

PS. I hope you're enjoying my picks for this year so far. 

It is quite a mix and hope some are & will become your favorites.  

Lots more to come for you to save and share with others at the various links.

Let's send lots of music around the World over the Summer to help others feel connected, safe and welcomed. 

Thanks for your visit and please come again.

If you miss a week don't worry, posts will be in the Archives.

Take Care.

The losses sure added up

We lost out on the Smiles and more ...

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."           ~Leo Buscaglia~

Dona Anderson

That quote sure fits in with our lives these last few years.

It has been difficult to add up all the little things that come to mind and weigh the losses we all shared.

We lost out on a lot of personal contact, activities, friends and family gatherings.

We lost out on the hello's, smiles, small talk and more.

We lost out on the coffee with a neighbor and those hugs, handshakes or a pat on the back.

At the start of wearing masks I was in a big store and felt uncomfortable, faint like so as I was the only one in that aisle I lowered my mask a little just to take a few deep breaths.

Then a young lady walked over to where I was shopping and angrily told me I was not wearing My mask correctly and I might as well not have one on.

I fixed it as intended and walked away wondering that at least I had one on and she didn't nor any sign of having one.

I don't know if the 2020 pandenic began with a lot of fear and anger or those emotions grew over time.  

Now from the recent shootings and the ongoing war on Ukraine our hearts remain full of much sadness.

Past generations also felt the horror, stress, hardship, and loss from illness, fighting, violence, disasters and war deeply too in their lives. I'm sure a lot of their worries and emotions were kept deep inside and over time seeped out on the the next generation.

In our world now we also have so much news coming towards us daily and we all can see the horror and loss before our eyes so we have to take special care of our own stress, worries and health. 

Hopefully over time we can work to restore those real feelings of safety  community, friendship and help the children get past it all to feel loved and safe again.

Let's open up the doors to

our life and let others in again.

Something Fun to end with.

If you use the letters in the word limes what will you get?

Answer in next weeks post.

Where are your treasures kept

A Story about Boxes ... Really?

Dona Anderson

The holder of treasures ...

Where are your boxes kept?

Are they kept hidden or out for you and others to see.

Often a lot of our treasures are kept hidden in a box and double that when in a drawer, safe, top shelf ... or in your heart.

Is it time to revisit some of them again?

Take them out dust them off and,

Have a look to remember why they mean so much.

Why is it special?

Is it the box or what's inside?

Is it a box made in school shop class, an old music box, cigar or card box, a cedar chest, unused jewelry or silverware chest. 

What's it made of?

Is it a box from a parent or grandparent?

Wherever it came from, it slowly over time becomes a special place for ... things dear to your heart.

I went around the house to check where my boxes were and what was in them and took these pictures of a few. 

 Lucky for You I left the drawers and closet out.

The box I use for my jewelry is mostly full of things I never wear. I don't know where it came from but it was too nice to get rid of. 

In others I found buttons, charms, dog tags, cards, ribbons, souvenirs, concert tickets and other odd things years old that somehow still get left behind when it's clean up time.

I keep some cards in the dresser drawers to remind myself of loved ones and this set of boxes on the side was made by a wonderful friend and it's seen by anyone passing by. 

It's mostly empty except for some sewing supplies from years ago.  

It's funny how a box saved often seems to find something to put inside even if you didn't know you needed it.

Is it time to revisit some of them again?

Take them out, dust them off and,

Have a look to remember why they mean so much.

Why is it special?

Is it the box or what's inside?

Those things dear to your heart.

PS. I hope you're having a great day and now wondering what's in the boxes around your house.

If the boxes have been there for a long time there's no rush to check on them.  

Take Care and thanks for your visit today. 

Information on Resources link at top of page.

Links to save & share below.

All Posts in the Archives are free to view, save & share. 

Here's a One Rose message for you ... 

          "When you feel settled and comfortable, notice yourself taking a breath in, and then slowly letting it out ..."

I underlined the word notice as that's also an important part.

Is Dad having a midlife crisis? -

Laughing with Mary

Is Dad having a midlife crisis? - 

As the kids after one parent passes it's a time we focus on the one left and try to help them with the changes and figuring out what they need to support themselves.

I'm sure a lot of parents now both support the family daily life, meals, shopping, laundry commutes etc. but years ago it was mainly only the wife/mother who was home every day to handle it all.

Thinking back, I don't have any memories of Dad helping with meals, dishes, shopping, laundry, or house work. If not he had a lot to catch up on when Mom got sick and later passing.

My 2 sisters and I lived far away with jobs and children, so I'm sure he had his moments and frustrations.

While I thought the question for the video was a great one, I also was reminded of when Dad started going to a seniors dance night and thinking negatively he never took Mom out.

While there he met a lady he knew from years before that was also widowed and later took her dancing and they went out to supper most nights.

Again, he never took Mom out to for supper.

While I understand his need for companionship I know Mom would have liked the attention of an occasional Date Night to have fun, or a break from cooking the meals every day.

How do we figure it all out?

New dating is important - but can't there be an old married couple time to go out and have Fun ?

A time to remember how and why you fell in love that has lasted through the years.

As time went on we really did appreciate that he had a friend to spend time with. talk to, watch TV with and look after each other.   

PS. I don't know how this happens but a cute video like this one sent me in a different direction. 

I guess that can happen more often then we think with our feelings and words coming from a deep place, a place that may not even be related to what's going on in front of us.

Going forward I think more planed date nights and having fun together while you can is important and helps everyone. 

We often spend a lot of time on work and the daily things and forget to plan those special times that make memories of times well spent.

We're never too old ... 

Take Care, & bye for now.

New posts on Tuesday and over 700 in the 

Archives to view, save & share at your leisure.

It's May already.  

The year is going by fast.

I guess putting our thoughts on paper helps to release and soften some of those inside questions and emotions.  

Sometimes, it just takes a few weeks.

Take Care.

Links for sharing below.                                                  

Dona Anderson

Loss & Rebuilding

 So much heartbreak.

Dona Anderson

Struggling new parents and then this. 

The Loss 

We had a fire that took the first home in our married life.

We were young, poor and bought an older home because the mortgage payments back then were less than paying rent to live in someone's basement.

We borrowed the money for the down payment from a relative, got some used furniture and set up house in March. 

On Good Friday the following year it was  gone.

In a post last month, I wrote about waking up Christmas morning and  our oil tank being empty and this happened 3 months later. 

We were out most of the day as family was in town for the Easter weekend and the oil furnace didn't shut off and started a fire.

We had our baby daughter and leaving home that day with just the diaper bag was all we had left. 

Suddenly our lives had a major change.

Sometimes life gives us a setback that offers a bigger struggle than before.

But the best gift was that we were ok.

Rebuilding

Thankfully we were able to spend some time at my parents before moving on and starting over again. 

In looking back I guess that's maybe the reason I had to go straight home everyday from work, or seeing that first glimpse of our home still there after a vacation was always a huge weight to let go of.

Often it takes years to find out & notice the little changes and things we do unconsciously after a crisis, illness or whatever it was.

but, How do you rebuild a neighborhood.

Luckily we had no loss of life and a home can change locations, or be rebuilt but how do you rebuild a neighborhood that is made up of many memories, families, friends, neighbors schools and more ...

Every time I see the fires, storms, or other disasters in the news I think about all the terrible loss, about being there, the survivors and what they will go through over the days & years ahead.

How do they start over ...

PS. I hope this wasn't a sad post today but I know a lot of us are stressed and feeling the stress of others.  

Let's help when we can by donating & supporting shops and other places that assist in providing free or low cost items that are needed especially in emergency situations. 

And don't forget the animals who lost their home too.

Last years winter pansies.
Love the face on the top one.

Please support the emergency responders who run towards helping and not away from ...

Thanks for you visit today. 

New posts every Tuesday.

You can share posts at the Links below.

Your shares Help us to spread Wellness around the World. Thank You.

Over 650 past posts in the Archives that you can view & share.

Bye for today.  

Let's get Back together again next Tuesday or any day in the Archives. 

Here's a post from last summer to help you relax and enjoy 9 beautiful places from around the world

Lucy & Kelsie on neighborhood watch.

Relax and feel yourself being transported to a place of peace

          

The Sound of Silence 

The Sound of Silence | Simon & Garfunkel (Harp Cover)

  

Dona Anderson

Thank You beautiful young lady.

When I first heard this version of the song I completely softened and after the last couple of years I guess it was needed.

It was Simple, Beautiful and quickly moved deep into my heart. 

I felt like I had angels from above beside me, and reminded me of the angels I had and have here on earth that I'm very thankful for.

PS. I went searching in my book Moving Forward from the Heart to find a few words to finish off this post. I didn't have to go far to find this ending to the meditation, Lullaby of Peace.

Listen to these beautiful notes softly

playing your lullaby, your smooth

soft sweet notes of peace ...

Link here for information on Resources

Moving Forward from the Heart 

©2015

Thanks for your visit today and for helping me

share my Dream to send Wellness out into the

World by sharing with others at the links below. 

Have a wonderful Day!

There is another version of this video where a deer came along and scared her. It would have been nice in the video had it stayed back.

Is there an end to all of this ...

 

Todays post starts with a comment I wrote for the post dated January 12, 2021. 

I thought I'd share it with you.

"This last year has been like a scary movie I wouldn't watch - full of stress, death, violence, hardship, loss, anger and more. 

And, it also has been full of much sacrifice, hard work, help, discovery and dedication. 

I hope going forward it will also be a time for seeing things differently. 

We can't keep old twisted thoughts, anger, language and feelings when there is a whole beautiful world of people wildlife & nature that we are ALL part of that also needs healing, love preservation and kindness.

Let's make our time here one of hope, peace, community and love to help mend our hearts and the world. 

A Huge Thank You to all the Health Care Workers, emergency response and all the others that keep us safe, who stand in lines to hand out food, do testing and the many others who are out working every day to keep our lives somewhat normal."

PS. Good news now is that things are beginning to change and open up. 

We're getting glimmers of hope that over the summer and into fall we'll feel more relaxed and continue to have more good news.   

I'm hoping we get to take in that deep breath to relax and start to let go of some of the layers of stress, worries and anxiety we've carried around for over a year.

Let's make our time here one of hope, peace, community and love to help mend our hearts and the world. 

Take Care.

Dona Anderson

Links for sharing below.

Thanks for your visit today.

Where do those lost things really go ??

 They're so hard to find,

and finally you have to give up or did You?

Dona Anderson

Subscribe to Dona Anderson by Email

It's not the little things like putting something in the wrong cupboard or putting the salt & pepper in the fridge on your way by. (Have You done that too?)

These were all different and important.

My husbands wallet.  

You immediately panic and your jaw drops.

My ID, credit cards ...

Where is it?

We searched the house.

He went back to the stores, parking lots ... no where.

Then after 3 days of worry I found it.  A black leather wallet upright against the back of the black leather chair. 

Just had to be at the right angle to see it. 

One of the kitchen sink stoppers.  

Not a panic but wondering & scratching your head. 

Waiting for it to turn up. 

Looking at each other thinking where is it.

Looking all around the kitchen, in the laundry room, under the sink garbage, basement, everywhere.

About 6 months later it was found.  Somehow it got into the pail for the compost bin and when emptying the bin for new dirt for the garden it appeared.

The cover for the hand vacuum. 

Can't use it now, nothing to hold the stuff picked up.

Ok, just where would that go - it was even placed back into its holder not noticing it was missing that key part.

We ended up buying a new one and months later the part was found under the basement stairs hiding in the dark among the boxes of who knows what. 

No idea how it got or was left there.

It's interesting how these things happen and how the loss affects you in different ways from panic to head scratching to being annoyed and thinking Who Did It. 

That's my story for this week.  

I hope all is well and continue to Take Care.

New post next Tuesday and thanks for sharing with others.

Links below.

PS. One day Years ago at work I looked down at my hand and my engagement ring was missing the diamond. 

Instant Panic, Fear then the Tears.

I was searching everywhere I had been, every part of my desk, crawling around on the floor and asking all my co workers to keep their eyes open. 

Nothing ... I guessed the nightly cleaners would vacuum it up.

Later in the day I opened one of my drawers and there was something on top of the binders.  It turned out to be my diamond but was upside down so no sparkles just looked like some dirt or something. Relief! 

Thankfully, it went back into my ring and 

it's still there all these years later. 

Kelsie says Hi

We all have these stories, what are Yours.

Share in the comments.

What are you really busy with?

How do we Get more done in less time

See if this makes any
sense in Your life?

Dona Anderson

Weekly posts help support our crazy life.

Subscribe to Dona Anderson by Email

How many of us have done this ...

Someone is on their way over and you rush around the house like a crazy person to clean it up.

You're intense, focused and no one gets in your way.

You only have a few minutes and ...

YOU DID IT!

The door bell rings and you're all Smiles. 

So what happens all the other days.

                    

Is this you?

                               It's me many times.

We let our self walk around with no real focus and one thing not finished finds us starting another.

A phone call or thought interrupts you and then you head off off in a different direction.

The sock in the living room may travel around the house and be left behind in yet another room.

Where did the morning go - you haven't even had your 2nd coffee or tea yet.

When I used to work

we had routines, daily and weekly chores, exercise times and to do lists to prepare for things but the holidays and long weekends set me up for not getting done in 3 days what I used to do in 2.

While computers make lots of things easier, they create more things to take your time and sometimes it's like watching TV, it's kind of being there, numb or unresponsive until it's time to eat or go to bed.

It takes us longer to get things done these days when you're on hold for hours or waiting for a call back. You need to do more paperwork for your statements, receipts and make online appointments.

More and more things that you have to do and less and less from the providers. 

You're being swamped with advertising, notifications and another hour goes by.

More things seem to build up and the list of things to do gets longer and longer.

Stress builds up, things get missed and on and on ...

What's going on
and do you need a bit of standing up and dusting off to get back into the World again and find out what makes your Heart Sing.

Where can you find HELP.

Let's make 2021 the year to say Enough and

get our life back - some of it at least.

How will you do it?

I know a lot of people are stressed and struggling with all the things that need to get done these days.

It's Something important to talk about and see what can help,

got any ideas - let us know in the comments.

PS - For the Vinyl Cafe lovers in the audience here's
a Christmas story you'll probably remember

No, it's not the one where Dave cooks the Turkey.

Bye for now, hope you're following by email
and you'll be back next week. 

In the meantime check out these ways to

Rest and Breathe EASY

Love it when the glacier sparkles.

Say the word calm as you breathe in ...

Can you feel calm as you breathe out ...

Mr. Bojangles - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - [With Lyrics]

Do you have songs that make you cry?

The Ugly Cry.

I DO - this is often one of them.

Dona Anderson

Subscribe to Dona Anderson by Email

In my guitar groups music books there are 2 songs that make me cry.

This one and the other is Puff the Magic Dragon.

I love them both but ...

Some days the tears just start to come.

Then it's Quick - find a tissue as tears are running down my face and I need to blow my nose. 

I wonder who else has songs

 that do the same to them for
whatever reason ...

I used to be very sensitive,

much worse than now.  

I couldn't listen or watch some things because the ugly cry would swell my eyes up so bad I just had little slits to see out of the next morning.

Sometimes it was embarrassing especially when we were out at movies or concerts. 

The people beside me weren't always appreciative. 

And, I really felt bad when others told me their problem/story and would apologize that I was sad/tearing up.

Do us sensitive ones ever lose it or

is it just how we're suppose to be. 

Google can Help. 

There's questions & responses to help about

crying if you want to check that out.  

There are even Benefits listed.

I guess I need that cry every once in awhile

which was the second I added Tilly's photo in here.

My first photo message back in 2012 - Miss you beautiful  Scottie Girl.

 Her heart was very Kind & Happy.

Thanks for your visit.

New posts every Tuesday.

Together we're sharing Wellness around
the World - links for sharing below.

PS. I hope I'm not alone in this crying thing and Hopefully

 one day we can get back to those before Covid activities.

We all need these ...

Quiet moments, 

Where do you find Yours?

Dona Anderson
Subscribe to Dona Anderson by Email

One Rose Wellness Message

for you today

There's nothing

 for  you to do,

There's

nowhere for

 you to go,

Simply surrender

to this

quiet moment ...

Do you have Quiet moments?

Where do you find them and for how long?

How do they make You feel? 

Perhaps yours is being away from cars, street noise, machines and being with calming sounds like music, waves, birds or whatever it is for You.

Quiet time also changes over the years as you age and your work & family life changes. 

It can even change through the seasons from outside to inside spaces.

Quiet time also helps connect us to feelings of peace, satisfaction, being grateful and contentment - a word I'm learning more about.

Where do you get your
 special moments.

One Rose Wellness Cards

There's lots of different things to do to relax, reduce stress and support your Health.  
It might start with just focusing on your Breath for a few minutes.

Take Care.

One Rose Wellness Cards are a set

of 105 Messages all from the pages
of  Simply, One Breath At a Time.

More information on the

Resources Page. 

Thanks for Your visit.

Links below for sharing, Thank You.

Hope you'll sign up to get email
 notifications of new posts.

Find more posts for One Rose Messages

at the label below, One Rose Cards

PS. My TV quiet moments is on the CBS Sunday Morning show where they end with a few moments in Nature every week. It's been a favorite for many years. Love it. 💚

I hope you like my photo above - very peaceful and quiet. - leave a comment and tell us about your quiet spaces.